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Dearborn mayor announces traffic study, new school‑zone signs and in‑car alerts after student crash
Summary
Mayor Abdul Ahmed told the Dearborn School Board the city will commission traffic studies, install roughly 300 school‑zone signs, deploy traffic‑calming devices and integrate in‑car alerts after a student was struck by a vehicle. He said the city will coordinate with MDOT and Wayne County where it lacks direct authority.
Mayor Abdul Ahmed told the Dearborn City School District Board of Education that the city will commission traffic studies on Ford Road and Schaefer and other locations, install new school‑zone signage and push to integrate in‑car alerts after a student was struck by a vehicle earlier this year.
Ahmed said the city is working in coordination with the superintendent and school trustees and has asked traffic engineers to examine multiple crossing options, including the possibility of a pedestrian bridge. "We're going to advocate and lobby for the recommendations with the appropriate bodies," Ahmed said, adding the city will press the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Wayne County Public Services Division where roads are under their control.
The mayor told the board the city plans to purchase roughly 300 school‑zone signs for installation around school buildings. He also said the city has secured a grant for traffic calming measures and expects to install "light up" traffic signs and speed humps near schools and parks in the spring. Ahmed said the city has already installed three speed‑hump locations and has received about 300 additional speed humps for distribution across school and park areas.
Ahmed described enforcement steps the city is taking: police have issued what he called a record number of citations this year — "almost 25,000" — and towing of vehicles for reckless driving has increased. He said the department's data show a disproportionate share of citations involve drivers ages 16 to 24 and stressed parental responsibility in talking with new drivers.
A representative from NewLab, a local startup incubator, suggested the district and city use existing vehicle alert technology in cars to warn drivers when they enter school zones. "If you're in your car and you're entering a school zone, can we have that alert saying that you are entering that?" the commenter asked.
Ahmed said the city is already installing HAS Alert (referred to in the meeting as Hasseler/HAS Alert) on police and fire vehicles and hopes to extend the system to school buses so that in‑car systems tied to participating original equipment manufacturers will warn drivers when emergency vehicles or stopped school buses require attention. He said a press release on the rollout was scheduled for the Thursday after the meeting.
Ahmed also said engineers will evaluate alternate crossing locations near Ford Road and Schaefer — possibly Horger or other nearby crossings — and asked the state to review the pedestrian bridge at Ford and Chase for upkeep and lifespan. He noted Ford Road is under state control and Miller Road is under county control, so any changes to speed limits or state‑owned roadway infrastructure will require coordination with MDOT or Wayne County.
Trustees and city officials discussed increasing school representation on traffic bodies; Ahmed said the city is considering appointing Trustee El Jahami to the traffic commission so schools have a direct voice.
The mayor closed by urging continued collaboration between the city and district on infrastructure and safety measures.
