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Worthington advisory board outlines 2025 bicycle and pedestrian projects; council approves related capital funding and adds sidewalk gaps to street program
Summary
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board presented its 2025 priorities — including bicycle boulevards, sidewalk-gap repairs and Olentangy Trail maintenance — and City Council approved capital funding and directed staff to include sidewalk-gap work in the annual street and sidewalk maintenance program.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board presented a set of infrastructure and program priorities on March 17, and Worthington City Council approved a related capital appropriation and amended the city’s street and sidewalk maintenance ordinance to include sidewalk-gap repairs.
The board’s Rebecca Green gave an overview of accomplishments since 2020 — rapid‑flash beacons, a sidewalk‑gaps pilot, a bicycle‑boulevard pilot and an interactive bike‑rack map — and said the group will focus in 2025 on implementing bicycle boulevards in Colonial Hills, Olentangy Trail maintenance and additional sidewalk connections. “Our mission statement is to connect the community by advocating for enhanced mobility for all citizens and visitors on bike and foot,” Green said during the presentation.
Council members asked staff about how sidewalk‑gap work would be coordinated with the annual paving program and how residents would be notified. City staff said homeowners with identified sidewalk gaps will receive individual letters and can choose to have the city build the sidewalk at no cost to the homeowner; outreach mailers and social media updates will follow once contractor start dates are set. On the street program, City Engineer John Moorhead (staff) said the engineering team sent letters to property owners and had three properties committed at bid time and had since added a fourth to the program.
Council also considered two pieces of legislation tied to the board’s work. Ordinance 8‑2025, the 2025 street and sidewalk maintenance appropriation, was amended to award the paving contract to Strauser Paving and passed after a roll call vote. Moorhead told council the city received four bids, that Strauser was the low bidder and that the city could award four project alternates because the bids came in below the estimate. Moorhead explained Strauser is expected to begin producing asphalt at a new plant in April, which contributed to lower regional prices. He said the city requires plant certification and batch receipts; “they cannot sell us asphalt unless it meets those standards,” Moorhead said, describing the inspection and certification process used to verify mix specifications.
Separately, Ordinance 9‑2025, an appropriation in the capital improvements program for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, passed on roll call. Moorhead summarized five projects funded in the appropriation: a feasibility study of Worthington‑Galena/Schrock Road area, an update to the master plan, a Pike Boulevard section study, a grant application for Olentangy Trail maintenance, and intersection/bike‑lane work at Karen Avenue including a bike box. He added the 315/161 interchange concepts would be advanced so the city could pursue funding through COTA’s LinkUs/ODOT partnership when available.
Board members and staff said maintenance on the Olentangy Trail could include resurfacing, widened path segments or bridge replacement; staff noted adding water fountains would be more complicated because water lines are not readily available along long trail sections and would likely involve coordination with park and utility providers. Green and Moorhead said the board will refine language on bicycle boulevards after resident feedback from the pilot and develop a stronger communications plan for 2025 events such as Stroll & Roll and bike‑safety workshops.
Council members and staff said the combined approach — programming, pilot follow‑ups and dedicated capital funding — is intended to advance several near‑term projects this year while keeping longer corridor work on a planning timeline. Council approved the ordinances and directed staff to proceed with the contract and the funded project work.
The board encouraged residents to participate in meetings and public outreach as implementation proceeds; staff said they will begin direct homeowner outreach this month and publish construction timelines once contractor start dates are confirmed.
