Funding awarded to transit agencies for safety improvements

MID-MICHIGAN (WNEM) – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is receiving federal grants to improve safety in transit agencies with new thermal camera systems.

MDOT is set to receive over $551K from the Federal Highway Administration so thermal cameras can be installed on up to 60 transit vehicles. MDOT said the cameras will improve detection of vulnerable road users around transit vehicles.

Cities in mid-Michigan included in the funding are Alma, St. Louis, and Ithaca.

Brett Baublitz, the Alma Transit Center transportation director, said the funding will help residents save on car repairs by detecting deer and other objects that cause a higher amount of accidents.

"The city of Alma and our city of St. Louis, city of Ithaca, and Pine River Township Authority (SLIPR) partners are excited to join MDOT in implementing thermal camera systems in our buses and vans," Baublitz said. "As a college town and a multimodal community with pedestrians, bicyclists, and an ever-growing population of electric bicycles, unleashing this new technology will help prevent pedestrian/vehicle conflicts and save lives."

These cameras will improve detection of road users, like pedestrians and bicyclists, in a different lighting conditions and environments, according to MDOT.

To learn mOre about the new camera systems, visit MDOT's website .