Township nets $1.4 million SEMCOG grant

By Dana Casadei

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) presented Bloomfield Township with a $1.4 million check for the 2027 Telegraph Road Safety Path Project at their meeting on Monday, Nov. 10.

The Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant that was presented will help fund a safety path along Telegraph Road, from Mall Drive to to Golf Drive, with the ultimate goal to connect and eliminate gaps in the path along northbound Telegraph Road. This route was identified in the Safety Path Master Plan.

“Getting this funding will really help push this project forward,” said Karyn Stickel, Vice President from Hubbell, Roth & Clark (HRC), the consulting engineering firm the township uses.

The 1.4 mile long, 6-feet wide safety path will connect with the safety path completed in 2024 from a different TAP grant. That constructed safety path ran from Mall Drive to Clinton River Trail. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps will be installed at applicable intersections and driveways as well. 

Even though a township mileage helps pay for the safety path, HRC and the township are always looking for more funding to help things move along a little quicker, especially on projects of this capacity. For this particular project it would have taken considerably longer if only paid for through the mileage.

The minimum amount awarded via a TAP grant is $200,000 and there is no maximum amount. 

In total, the project will cost just over $2.3 million, with the TAP grant paying for $1.4 million and Bloomfield Township will pay roughly $897,000. The grant will help pay for 50-60 percent of the project. 

The topographic survey was completed earlier this month, and officials are still looking at what easements might be needed.

Bloomfield Township last received a TAP grant in 2020, with the construction completed in 2024 along Telegraph Road. This also included ADA crosswalks in three locations, two of which are crossing Telegraph Road that were never there before.

“Because of the success of that project, we felt imperative to apply for another TAP grant that covers the extension of the northbound Telegraph Road,” said Corey Almas, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services. 

“I’m sure a lot of you have been up to see it; it looks great,” Stickel said. “It really has helped connect those areas.”

Bloomfield Township applied for this TAP grant last February, and were rewarded it in May. 

A TAP grant is a competitive grant and federally funded, with the township contributing a minimum of 20 percent match. This grant only funds construction so the township is responsible for the design engineer, construction engineering, and any right-of-way acquisition. 

Construction plans for the 2027 safety path project were completed in November, with bidding to occur in late 2026, and construction to start in the summer 2027.