Projects in three Michigan cities aimed at improving road safety will receive funding from a federal grant.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $66.9 million in funding from the Biden administration’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program for three Michigan cities, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Wednesday.
Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Menominee are the cities set to receive funding. The money will go toward two shared-use paths in Detroit, 3.5 miles of improved transportation in Kalamazoo, and improvements at the Menominee Harbor in the Upper Peninsula.
How funding will be used in Detroit
In Detroit, $20.7 million will be put towards a project in the Joe Louis Greenway and Iron Bell Trail systems. According to U.S. DOT two shared-use paths, designed for nonmotorized users, will be built to improve safety. The improvements will be made to paths on both Woodmere Street and Dequindre Street.
“The project will address safety, reduce air pollution, and improve quality of life through more affordable transportation options and aims to address historic inequities caused by transportation infrastructure,” said a description of the project from U.S. DOT.
According to U.S. DOT, quality of life for residence is expected to increase.
“Quality of life is anticipated to increase due to more affordable transportation choices via expanded active transportation opportunities, reduced vehicle dependance, and connections to existing transit corridors.”
Construction is expected to begin in October of 2025.
How funding will be used in Kalamazoo
In Kalamazoo, $25 million will be put to rebuild and convert 3.5 miles of roadway. This project will improve safety for walkers and bikers.
Five segments of streets are set to be rebuilt. The 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.
“Safety will be addressed through the construction of new sidewalks, lighting, bicycle lanes, traffic calming measures, and improved traffic flows,” said U.S. DOT. “The improvements aim to reduce transportation-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Quality of life will be addressed by providing more affordable transportation choices that reduce transportation cost burdens and improve public health.”
Construction is set to begin in August 2027.
How funding will be used in Menominee
In Menominee, $21.2 million will be put toward improving the Menominee Harbor.
“The project will reconstruct a deteriorated dock wall, install approximately three rail spurs with switching capability, add covered storage, and purchase and install various cargo handling equipment to redevelop Menominee Harbor’s general cargo transportation terminal.”
U.S. DOT said the project will reduce the number of heavy-duty trucks on the roads which will enhance safety for travelers.
The project is expected to begin in January 2026.
More projects announced across US
These Michigan projects were announced alongside $1.8 billion for 145 other projects across the country. The total amount of RAISE funds is now more than $7.2 billion for over 550 projects across the country.
Wednesday’s announcement is a part of the Biden administration’s effort to allocate funds from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in 2021. The announcement comes on the heels of the 2024 presidential election.
“Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re funding projects across the country to make roads safer, make it easier for people to move around their community, make transportation infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather, and improve supply chains to keep costs down for consumers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Buttigieg also said there were more than 1,000 applications for projects this year. The applications came directly from communities around the country.
The RAISE program was known by TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) during the Obama administration. During the Trump administration, it was known as BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development). Fifteen Michigan projects won awards totaling almost $180 million across those eras.
To view all the projects U.S. DOT announced Wednesday, along with a description of them, you can click here.