With its newly adopted plans in hand, Oshtemo Township is moving to apply for a Safe Streets for All federal grant, a competitive U.S. DOT program that could fund up to $8 million in safety improvements with a 20% township match.
Staff identified the township’s DDA area as the focus, citing a disproportionate share of serious and fatal crashes in that corridor. Oshtemo accounts for about 30% of crashes in Kalamazoo County despite representing just 10% of the population, largely due to pass-through traffic on US-131 and I-94.
Specific projects under consideration include intersection realignment at Atlantic and Parkview, pedestrian crossing improvements on 9th Street north and south of Stadium Drive, and a possible roundabout at 9th Street and Stadium.
The township adopted its plans partly to become eligible to apply for the grant independently. Staff said they wouldn’t submit the application if the math on the match didn’t work out.
