U.S. Department of Transportation Awards $66 Million to Michigan Communities to Fund Road Safety Projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27,2024
Contact: Michiganinfrastructure@michigan.gov

U.S. Department of Transportation Awards $66 Million to Michigan Communities to Fund Road Safety Projects

Projects will revitalize communities, improve road safety and reduce air pollution

LANSING, Mich.— The Michigan Infrastructure Office today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grants to three key infrastructure projects in Michigan. These grants, totaling over $66 million, will support transformative developments to enhance connectivity, safety, and quality of life in Detroit, Menominee, and Kalamazoo.

Funding from the RAISE program, part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), is split equally between urban and rural areas across the country. A large percentage of grants support regions defined as historically disadvantaged or areas of persistent poverty. Investing in key transportation infrastructure initiatives through programs like RAISE grows the economy by making transportation infrastructure more resilient, accessible, and affordable and reducing air pollution.

"Investing in our infrastructure is more than just improving roads or bike lanes. It’s an investment into the success of Michigan communities,” said Zachary Kolodin, Michigan’s chief infrastructure officer and director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. “Thanks to the Biden administration and our representatives in Washington, Michigan has brought home even more federal funding to better the lives of our residents. This funding will foster communities where families flourish and businesses thrive while helping us reduce air pollution to reach the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.”

Joe Louis Meets the Iron Belle: Connecting Communities in Detroit

The city of Detroit received $20,704,712 to fund the construction of two shared-use paths that will be part of the Joe Louis Greenway and Iron Belle Trail systems. Improvements will be seen on Woodmere Street and include a shared-use path that will be constructed within the right-of-way between Fort Street and Vernor Highway. Improvements will also be made to Dequindre Street, including a shareduse path and a sidewalk that will be constructed within the right-of-way between Mack Avenue and Warren Avenue. Construction is expected to begin in October 2025. Project benefits include:

•  Reduced lane and vehicle speeds will protect the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike 
•  Reduced air pollution by decreasing vehicle miles traveled and implementing nature-based solutions
• Expanded affordable transportation choices, reduce vehicle dependence and connect to existing transit corridors

KKIL Terminal Improvements Project: Improving Freight Movement and Reducing Gas Emissions

The city of Menominee received $21,252,532 to make improvements to its marine terminal, operated by KK Integrated Logistics. These improvements include reconstructing a deteriorated dock wall, installing approximately three rail spurs with switching capability, adding covered storage and purchasing and installing various cargo handling equipment to redevelop Menominee Harbor’s general cargo transportation terminal. Construction is expected to begin in January 2026. Project benefits include:

• Reduced number of heavy-duty trucks on roads, enhancing safety for all travelers
•  Reduced transportation-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by shifting truck trips to marine and rail
• Increased freight movement by enhancing maritime navigation and rail capacity at the KKIL Terminal 

Downtown Kalamazoo Multimodal Transportation Network Improvement Project: Creating Safer Streets and Reducing Air Pollution

The city of Kalamazoo received $25,000,000 to rebuild and convert five segments of streets from one-way to two-way roads to create a connected multi-modal network. Segments include West Michigan from Douglas to Michigan, South from Stadium to South Pitcher, Lovell from Stadium to Portage, Stadium from Lovell to Michigan, and Douglas from Kalamazoo to West Michigan. In total approximately 3.5 miles will be improved with complete street enhancements. Construction is expected to begin in August 2027. Project benefits include: 

•  New sidewalks, lighting, bicycle lanes, traffic calming measures and improved traffic flows, enhancing transportation for everyone
• Reduced transportation-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
• More affordable transportation choices, reduce transportation cost burdens and improve public health through community-driven planning

Passed in 2021, the BIL has created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Michigan to improve its infrastructure by rebuilding roads, bridges and rails, expanding access to clean drinking water, ensuring every Michigander has access to high-speed internet, tackling the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice, and investing in communities that have too often been left behind. To date, Michigan has received more than $10.8 billion from the BIL, which has been invested directly in communities across the state.

For more information about the Michigan Infrastructure Office, please visit www.michigan.gov/whitmer/issues/michigan-infrastructure-office.

ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INFRASTRUCTURE OFFICE

The MIO is responsible for organizing and executing Governor Whitmer’s vision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshaling resources, and partnering with local officials, federal partners, and outside stakeholders to ensure resources sent to Michigan through BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), are used efficiently and effectively.