SEMCOG Grants to Help Local Cities with LED Streetlights, Pedestrian Paths and More

(SEMCOG, March 22, 2023)

Michigan – SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, has awarded $29.5 million in federal funds to 48 projects throughout the seven-county region to support carbon dioxide reduction and air quality through transit, on-road, non-motorized, and LED lighting solutions.

“Reducing transportation-related emissions and improving the region’s air quality are key to SEMCOG’s planning efforts,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG. “These investments in cleaner, more environmentally-friendly equipment and infrastructure will help reduce emissions and build a more sustainable transportation network to benefit all travelers,” said O’Leary.

The Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) is a federally funded program to improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide from on-road vehicle sources. SEMCOG administers the CRP for Southeast Michigan by working with eligible road and transit agencies to develop projects that maximize air quality improvements.

Selected projects from local communities, road commissions, and transit agencies across the region include transit, EV and alternative fuels infrastructure, roundabouts, LED lighting conversions, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and traffic signal and intersection enhancements.

Total carbon emissions reduced in this round of awards amount to 41 million kg/year, the equivalent of over 100 million miles driven by gasoline-powered vehicles.

This announcement of $29.5 million in CRP funds is for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The complete listing of awards is by county and includes the fiscal year construction may begin.

View the complete list of CRP awards.     Projects are awarded CRP funds based on criteria adopted by SEMCOG’s Regional Review Committee, which is made up of local elected officials in Southeast Michigan.

Several projects are in Oakland County.  Hazel Park, West Bloomfield, Addison Township, Birmingham, Pontiac, Berkley, and Southfield will have LED streetlight conversions.  Troy will be getting a non-motorized sidewalk and pathway along Wattles Road, plus modernization of traffic signals and pedestrian enhancements to Player Drive at Rochester Road. The Road Commission for Oakland County also  For the full list visit https://smcg.informz.net/SMCG/data/images/CRP.AwardsTable.NewsRelease.2023.pdf

*Emissions estimates derived from the USEPA Digital Emissions Quantifier.