Safe Streets for Detroit (SS4D) FAQ's

Rapid Implementation Locations

+ Chalmers (Outer Drive to Seymour)​, D4
+ Conner (Chandler Park to Warren)​, D4
+ Evergreen (Pembroke to Curtis)​, D1
+ Harper (Dickerson to Conner)​, D4
+ Jos Campau (McNichols to Carpenter)​, D3
+ Joy (Greenfield to Hubbell)​, D7
+ Linwood (Davison to Tuxedo)​, D5

+ Mack Ave (Dequindre to Gratiot)​, D5
+ Meyers (McNichols to Puritan)​, D2
+ Schaefer (7 Mile to Fullerton)​, D7
+ Shoemaker (McClellan to St. Jean)​, D4
+ Van Dyke (E. Warren to Vernor)​, D4
+ Wyoming (Oakman to 7 Mile), D2-D7

Enhanced Protection Locations

+ E. 7 Mile (I-75 to Gratiot)​, D3
+ Chicago (Greenfield to Hubbell)​, D7
+ Harper (Edsel Ford to Cadieux)​, D4
+ Hayes (7 Mile to Outer Drive)​, D4
+ Livernois (I-94 to I-75)​, D6
+ Plymouth (M-39 to Schaefer), D7

Traffic fatalities are rising nationwide, with 42,915 deaths in 2021—the highest number since 2005. Detroit has long struggled with high traffic fatality rates. In 2017, the city’s fatality rate was 15.3 per 100,000 people, the third highest among major U.S. cities. By 2020, this rate nearly doubled, increasing by 88% to 28.7, far outpacing national trends. This increase is especially concerning given that 57% of Detroit residents live in Historically Disadvantaged Communities, and 35% live below the poverty line. 

In response, Detroit has launched the Safe Streets for Detroit (SS4D) program, backed by a $24.8 million U.S. DOT Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant. This initiative is part of the city’s broader efforts to improve roadway safety through its 2022 Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). The SS4D program is a crucial step in making Detroit's streets safer and more equitable for all residents. 

Through the 2022 SS4D Project, Detroit aims to achieve the following goals:

+ Reduce severe crashes on High-Injury Network (HIN) corridors by implementing evidence-based safety interventions, from rapid fixes to long-term infrastructure improvements, targeting dangerous behaviors and persistent crash patterns.

+ Upgrade infrastructure in areas with high numbers of vulnerable road users, including signal improvements, enhanced school zones, trail crossings, and other key locations that require urgent attention.

+ Deploy emerging safety technologies to complement traditional engineering solutions and further enhance safety outcomes.

+ Implement a comprehensive engagement and evaluation framework to build community support, assess progress, and ensure continued momentum for Detroit’s long-term safety strategy.