RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer Announces $6.5 Million for Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program to Improve Infrastructure

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

October 21, 2024

Gov. Whitmer Announces $6.5 Million for Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program to Improve Infrastructure

LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a $6.5 million award in funding to 27 municipalities and eight transit agencies as part of the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant (SSSG) program. The program supports quick-build projects led by incorporated cities and transit agencies that improve plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, parking areas and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility and strengthened commerce.

"Today’s infrastructure investments will help dozens of communities across Michigan become more walkable, bike-friendly, and accessible to transit," said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office, we have been fixing the damn roads, and we are now up to 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges, supporting more than 89,000 jobs. But our work to upgrade infrastructure is also about making our cities and towns more livable and accessible to everyone with projects to promote road safety and connect neighborhoods together. Together, we will keep building up our infrastructure—of all kinds—and making our communities better places to live, work, and invest."

This program is administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME). 

Grant awards range from $35,000 to $200,000, funding projects that will reconceive streets for a variety of mobility options, including streetscape improvements, transit facilities, sidewalk infill programs, nonmotorized pathways, safety improvements and public spaces that provide improved access and a range of uses for all of us, no matter our age, ability or preferred ways of getting around.

SSSG Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 awards:

County	Applicant	Project/Route	Grant Amount
Berrien	City of Benton Harbor	Empire Avenue Sidewalk Improvements	$ 200,000
Berrien	City of Bridgman	Bridgman Sideyard	$ 158,000
Calhoun	City of Springfield	Springfield Public Space Connector Project	$ 160,850
Calhoun	City of Battle Creek / Battle Creek Transit	Solar-Powered Bus Stops	$ 195,500
Delta	City of Escanaba	Ludington Complete Street Project	$ 200,000
Genesee	Mass Transportation Authority	Perry Road Trail	$ 200,000
Genesee	City of Flushing	Pedestrian Crossing Signs and Signals	$ 44,356
Gratiot	City of Alma	Alma Multi-Use Path SRTS, Heartland Trail, Community Connector	$ 168,800
Houghton	City of Hancock	Elevation Street Sidewalk Connector	$ 200,000
Houghton	City of Houghton	Bridgeview Park Improvements	$ 200,000
Ingham	Capital Area Transportation Authority	Transit to Trails	$ 163,400
Iron	City of Caspian	Apple Blossom Trail Improvements Project	$ 200,000
Iron	City of Iron River	Apple Blossom Trail Boardwalk Replacement	$ 200,000
Isabella	City of Mt. Pleasant	Mid-Michigan/GKB Pathway North Connection	$ 200,000
Jackson	City of Jackson	MLK Jr. Equality Trail Extension	$ 200,000
Kalamazoo	Metro	Campus Loading Zone Bus Stop Upgrade	$ 200,000
Kalamazoo	City of Kalamazoo	Kilgore Connector: Kalamazoo Streets for All	$ 200,000
Livingston	City of Brighton	7th Street Sidewalk Improvement Project	$ 200,000
Marquette	Marquette County Transit Authority	School, Park, and Transit Connection at KI Sawyer	$ 196,753
Marquette	City of Negaunee	Negaunee Downtown Enhancement Project - Phase 2	$ 200,000
Mecosta	City of Big Rapids	Sidewalk Infill Program	$ 200,000
Monroe	City of Monroe	City of Monroe Sidewalk Development - E. First Street and Jerome Street	$ 125,632
Oakland	City of Southfield	Southfield Bus Stop Improvement Program	$ 200,000
Ottawa	City of Zeeland	Main Avenue Rapid Flashing Beacons	$ 35,000
Presque Isle	City of Onaway	City of Onaway Shared-Use Path Project	$ 200,000
Roscommon	Roscommon County Transportation Authority	St. Helen Safe Passage	$ 200,000
Saginaw	Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services	Bus Stop Amenities Improvements	$ 200,000
Van Buren	City of Hartford	60th Avenue Sidewalk Extension	$ 200,000
Washtenaw	Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority	Fourth Avenue Street and Transit (FAST) Improvements	$ 200,000
Washtenaw	City of Ann Arbor	Fourth Avenue Street and Transit Improvements	$ 200,000
Washtenaw	City of Ypsilanti	Ypsilanti Safe Neighborhood Connections	$ 200,000
Wayne	City of Dearborn	Dearborn MoGo Expansion Project (West Warren Avenue and Salina Neighborhood)	$ 200,000
Wayne	City of Northville	Pedestrian Midblock Crossings Adjacent to the Proposed Downs Development	$ 200,000
Wayne	City of Detroit	Next Stop Detroit	$ 200,000
Wexford	City of Cadillac	Lakeside District Improvements	$ 200,000

“Enhancing a city’s walkability enhances the community itself, enabling residents to better connect with neighbors, nature, and local businesses,” said state Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-West Bloomfield). “I am thrilled that MDOT has chosen the City of Northville as an award recipient. Whether walking, running or biking, adding these pedestrian midblock crossings around the proposed Downs Development will be critical for residents to navigate their community with ease and safety.”

"The Shared Streets and Spaces grant is a crucial investment in making communities like Jackson more accessible and connected," said state Senator Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.). "The funding awarded to extend the MLK Jr. Equality Trail — Jackson’s most used non-motorized pathway — will help residents walk or bike more safely and easily to work, school, and other key destinations like the MLK Rec Center and downtown. This project is a great example of how state support can improve Michiganders' quality of life by creating vibrant, inclusive public spaces that everyone can enjoy."

“Improving public transit makes communities safer and more attractive for workers, shoppers, and visitors,” said state Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City). "Investing in Saginaw’s transit amenities is key to our future population growth, and will provide a better experience for current residents as they travel to work, school, or anywhere else.”

“I’m thrilled to see this investment being made in our Southwest Michigan community to make our streets safer for bikers and pedestrians,” said state Representative Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph). “This funding will allow us to enhance public transportation, improve accessibility and promote environmentally sustainable practices in Benton Harbor and Bridgman. This is a fantastic step in the right direction to achieving stronger community relations where everyone has access to safe, efficient transportation.”

“This is great news for residents of Battle Creek and Springfield and will improve our mass transit systems,” said state Representative Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek). “In Springfield, riders will see major improvements at Upton and 26th Street with the Public Space Connector Project. Additionally, Battle Creek riders will soon have solar powered, interactive displays at major stops that will provide real-time schedules and route information.”

“I am ecstatic the city of Northville was chosen to receive these investments,” said state Representative Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth). “Securing this grant not only implements three needed pedestrian walks near the Downs Development, but it also ensures our community is connected and better accessible through these walkways. One of the pedestrian crosswalks will connect Hines Park Trail with the River Park Trail; this will get more people outdoors and linked to our city’s local amenities.”

"The League of Michigan Bicyclists is proud to have helped secure funding for the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant program," said John Lindenmayer, executive director of the League of Michigan Bicyclists. "We appreciate MDOT's leadership with this exciting new program and are honored to have been involved with the inaugural round of grants. The SSSG program is a unique, new opportunity for the state to provide much needed funding to improve the bike ability of communities across the state. These projects will improve bike safety and encourage more people to ride for transportation and recreation."

MDOT Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 budgets include a total of $6.5 million intended to make communities more walkable, bikeable and transit- and micromobility-friendly. The SSSG program was highly competitive, with the program receiving 69 complete (and all outstanding) applications requesting $12.8 million in funds. 

Application reviewers consisted of representatives from MDOT, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) regional prosperity team, OFME, Michigan Main Street, the Michigan Infrastructure Office, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the League of Michigan Bicyclists, the Michigan Association of Planning, and the Michigan Municipal League. The following elements were considered in scoring the applications: project innovation; level of coordination; equity target areas and populations; ease and readiness of projects; consistency with local, regional, and state plans; public engagement efforts; diversity of project type; and geographic distribution across the state.

Any questions about the SSSG program should be submitted to [email protected].

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