Muskegon and Detroit are two of the 47projects announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation to receive funds from the department’s TIGER (Transprotation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) 2012 program. In total, 47 projects in 34 states will receive $500 million.

Muskegon will receive $1.35 million for the county to extend transit services to rural parts of the county not currently served. The funding comes from a recommendation through the Muskegon Area-Wide Plan, a land-use and economic development plan, as well as a recent technical assistance grant which called for expanding transit services to rural parts of the county as a top priority.

Detroit will receive $10 million as part of a $24 million project to support the “LINK Detroit” project, a series of multi-modal infrastructure improvements that will connect multiple destinations in downtown Detroit. The funds will be used to return a number of bridges to a state of good repair and enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety along the so-called “Dequindre Cut”.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.