Pontiac Awarded Grant for Pike Street Clinton River Trail Connector Project

Pontiac Awarded Grant for Pike Street Clinton River Trail Connector Project

(City of Pontiac, June 27, 2023)

On Tuesday, June 27, the City of Pontiac received a notice of funding award from the Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) in the amount of $16,328,000 in support of the City’s Pike Street Clinton River Trail Connector Project. This project will make pedestrian improvements along approximately four miles of road in Pontiac and will install the North Spur Trail (NST) along the former Grand Trunk-Belt Line Railroad right-of-way. Roadway improvements will be made on the primary corridor of Pike Street and the key connecting roads of Front Street, Eastway Drive, and Bagley Street.

In addition to this phenomenal announcement, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has welcomed a grant proposal for up to a $4 million match to support the project.

“We are grateful to Senator Peters, Senator Stabenow, and Congresswoman Stevens for their support and advocacy for this project and for a full award from the Department of Transportation,” said Mayor Tim Greimel. “The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. foundation is also a wonderful partner to the City, and we appreciate their commitment to supporting transformation in our community,” said Mayor Tim Greimel. “The Pike Street Clinton River Trail Project, which is now fully funded at $20,328,000, is critical to a vibrant downtown and to enhanced transportation in Pontiac.”

The proposed project will not only reconstruct a deteriorating roadway, but it will transform the 4-mile corridor to address critical safety deficiencies, improve traffic operations, and support economic vitality in the downtown core of a Historically Disadvantaged Community. The active transportation infrastructure improvements, with both on-road and off-road facilities, will provide new meaningful, safe, accessible connections, and eliminate barriers for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Investments in infrastructure are investments in our communities, our economy, and our safety,” said Senator Gary Peters. “I’m proud to have helped enact the bipartisan infrastructure law that made this funding available for these much-needed improvements in Pontiac that will also boost the local economy.”

“The Clinton River Trail is a wonderful recreational resource for families in Oakland County and across the states to walk and ride bikes. This investment makes important connections in Pontiac to expand access for residents and users across the state,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow.

This project will address regional gaps in pedestrian and bicycle accessibility and the proposed trail will specifically help to implement the following regional policies:

• Connect and expand the network of walking and biking infrastructure in the region to provide a safe, comfortable, and convenient experience for people of all ages and abilities; and,
• Ensure equitable access to core services and regional destinations for pedestrians and bicyclists, including connections to other transportation modes; and,
• Promote healthy lifestyles and vibrant communities with expanded options for pedestrian and bicycle mobility, recreation, and tourism.

The Pike Street Clinton River Trail Connector is a critical local and regional project whose planning has spanned many years. The project has been developed in conjunction with and in support of several important local and regional planning documents which identify existing challenges and provide a road map for a stronger and more vibrant community and region.

“We are truly excited that Pontiac is the recipient of the RAISE Grant. For the Clinton River Trail to have a cross-town connection through the center of Pontiac is wonderful! Improvements to Pike Street that will contain both a separate bicycle cycle track as well as a shared-use pathway for pedestrians will be a great enhancement for vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian users. This is going to be one more way for people to enjoy downtown Pontiac,” said Melinda Hill, President of the Friends of the Clinton River Trail, an advocacy group that helps promote and educate residents about the rail-trail.

Engineering and design for the project is currently underway and construction is set to begin in the spring of 2024 and end in the fall of 2026.

About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect the devotion of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the Foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the Foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org.