Dearborn council backs $3.3 million Safe Routes to School grant application for 11 schools

The Dearborn City Council on June 9 approved a resolution authorizing the city to seek $3.3 million from the Safe Routes to School program to fund pedestrian and bicycle-safety infrastructure improvements serving 11 Dearborn public schools, plus non-infrastructure educational programming of up to $15,000 per school.

Maria Willett, the city’s director of philanthropy and grants, and Micah Sale, executive director of special populations for Dearborn Public Schools (and superintendent-designate), told the council that staff and school representatives conducted walking audits at each selected school to identify safety needs. They described an active coordination process with the Michigan Safe Routes program and said the city’s application requests the state to cover the typical 20% local match, which the administration said would reduce the city’s immediate local match obligation to zero if the waiver is approved.

Officials said the grant would support engineering, design, construction and programmatic education (walk-to-school events, bike-safety programs). The resolution authorizes the director of philanthropy and grants to act on behalf of the city in developing the project and, if awarded, executing project agreements. Council members praised the collaboration with schools and transportation staff and approved the resolution by unanimous consent.

Staff and the administration flagged potential follow-up steps if the grant is awarded, including design work, coordination on speed-limit changes near certain schools and budgeting for any city responsibilities not covered by the grant. The council asked staff to return with next steps if the city receives funding.