MDOT Secures $11M in Federal Grants to Boost Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Key Takeaways
- Eight counties—including Delta, which received two awards—will benefit from new pathways, crossings, sidewalks, and bike facilities.
- The funding consists of conditional commitments requiring close coordination between state and local agencies.
- Project awards range from $151,416 to more than $4.3 million and follow increases in pedestrian and bicycle crashes in Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has received $11 million in federal Transportation Alternatives Program grants to advance multiple safety projects aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle travel across the state, according to an MDOT press release.
The program funds state-approved projects, such as separated pathways, pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, bike lanes and other multimodal infrastructure improvements. MDOT noted that the awards are conditional commitments, requiring the agency and local governments to meet strict federal criteria to unlock the funding.
Eight Counties Selected for Multimodal Upgrades
Projects receiving grant support are in Ionia, Muskegon, Oceana, Oakland, Iosco, Oscoda, Delta and Dickinson, with Delta County awarded funding for two separate initiatives. Project allocations range from $151,416 to more than $4.3 million, MDOT said.
The grants arrive as Michigan continues to see elevated numbers of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists in 2024, underscoring the need for expanded safe-travel options, according to MLive.