Department of Roads hosts Safe Streets for Macomb County community open house

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – As part of the Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) ongoing mission to provide the public with a safe and efficient transportation system, the agency is developing a Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan (CTSAP), known as Safe Streets for Macomb County. After a comprehensive review of Macomb County’s traffic and safety data and gathering input from community leaders and the public in 2024, MCDR hosted a community open house to share the preliminary draft of the safety action plan and recommended safety improvements with the public.

“The team at the Department of Roads is committed to the safety and well-being of every resident, motorist, and visitor traveling on our roadways,” said Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel. “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.”

Based on public input from more than 1,450 respondents, feedback from community leaders and crash data analysis, Macomb County’s safety action plan identified five strategy areas to focus on countywide. The strategy areas include:

• Complete Streets and vulnerable road users
• High risk drivers
• Impaired driving
• Intersections
• Speed

“Public safety is our number one priority. We are constantly exploring new ideas and implementing technologies, strategies and projects that enhance overall traffic safety,” said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. “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.”

In response to traffic incidents and adverse road user behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving and risky pedestrian habits, MCDR applied for and secured a $1 million planning and demonstration grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program in 2023. The SS4A grant program aims to improve safety for all users, eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries from crashes, explore technology solutions, and identify projects and strategies to improve transportation safety.

_{*Data does not include crashes on interstate highways (I-94 or I-696)}

Although the total number of fatal and severe crashes remain near or below pre-pandemic levels, serious injury incidents on the roadways have increased gradually since 2020.

_{*Data does not include crashes on interstate highways (I-94 or I-696)}

By adopting a safe system approach, Safe Streets for Macomb County is focused on creating a balanced transportation network that promotes safety, accessibility and connectivity. Key recommendations of the safety action plan include physical preventative and mitigation strategies designed to enhance the safety of the road network, behavioral strategies and interventions aimed at influencing and improving the behaviors of individuals to reduce risks and prevent crashes, and policy guidelines and strategic decisions established by MCDR to help improve the safety of Macomb County’s transportation network.

Next steps include identifying specific projects, action steps and timelines, and applying for federal grant dollars to start implementing the safety action plan. Additional information regarding Safe Streets for Macomb County, including resources from the open house and public survey results, are available below.