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DPW says federal grants are funding street-safety work; advocates press council to codify 'Complete Streets' ordinance
Summary
Deputy DPW officials told the Detroit City Council they prefer using federal 'Safe Streets for All' grants rather than codifying a Complete Streets ordinance now; advocates including the Detroit Greenways Coalition urged enacting an ordinance to lock in safety gains.
Detroit Department of Public Works staff told the City Council on Aug. 31 they are actively implementing Complete Streets practices using federal grants, but do not support moving the policy forward as a standalone ordinance at this time.
"Director Brundage is not in support of this being through an ordinance per se," Christina Peltier, deputy director for Complete Streets at DPW, said, adding the department is using about $75 million in 'Safe Streets for All' grants to reduce crashes and is working with the office of highway safety. "We are actively working to reduce those crashes with the federal dollars we've received," she said, and offered to take specific questions back to the director.
Advocates pushed back at the council. Todd Scott, executive director of the Detroit Greenways Coalition, urged codifying Complete Streets to ensure long-term protections and to guard gains made under current leadership. "We would like to see Complete Streets codified because we know, as we've seen in Washington, D.C., how things you think are stable can change overnight," Scott said. He presented data he said showed a 20 percent reduction in road fatalities in Detroit in 2024 but noted the city still recorded 104 road deaths.
Council members asked for continued coordination between DPW, council offices and outside partners to identify costs and potential grant opportunities. Member Johnson and others noted that council may submit an ordinance for consideration without departmental approval if they wish to start the legislative conversation. DPW staff replied that while departmental approval is not required to introduce an ordinance, the department has operational concerns tied to funding and implementation.
What happens next: Advocates asked the council to support member-led efforts to bring an ordinance forward; DPW agreed to take questions to Director Brundage and to continue discussions about costs and grant support. The council also noted stakeholders are working to seek external grant funding to offset city financial burdens for rollout and maintenance.
