The Macomb County Department of Roads has launched the Safe Streets for Macomb County initiative to improve road safety. The department recently presented its strategy at a community open house, focusing on five key areas: Complete Streets, high-risk drivers, impaired driving, intersections, and speed, according to the Macomb County.
In 2023, Macomb County received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program to address fatal and serious injury crashes, which have increased since 2020. The funding will help improve roadway safety through new technology and strategies. Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel said, "Safe Streets for Macomb County will bolster the Department of Roads existing strategies, identify additional opportunities to promote safety on our roadways and allow Macomb County to maximize future federal and state grant funding opportunities."
Macomb County's Safe Streets initiative addresses the high number of road incidents, with 414 fatal crashes and over 2,000 serious injuries reported from 2014 to 2022. Macomb County Department of Roads Director Bryan Santo said, "We’ve made significant investments in the safety of our transportation infrastructure while incorporating the use of the latest traffic technology. The Department of Roads will continue to explore new traffic and safety technologies, identify and implement projects, and pursue federal and state grant opportunities to enhance safety for all road users in Macomb County." The Safe Streets action plan includes finalizing specific projects, action steps, and timelines. The plan aims to launch with federal grant funding in the near future, and the community can view details on the open house and survey results on the county's website.
