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Council discusses safer-routes grant and a master sidewalk plan to connect neighborhoods and schools
Summary
Council members discussed applying for an ODOT safer-routes-to-school grant (up to $1 million per project) and the need for a consolidated pedestrian master plan to put feasible projects “on the shelf” for grant applications and phased construction.
Councilors raised the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safer Routes to School program, noting the grant can fund engineering, design and construction up to $1 million per project and could support pedestrian connections linking Chestnut Commons and housing areas to the school.
Council members said the village lacks a single comprehensive master plan for sidewalks and trails that could be divided into phases and used to submit competitive grant applications. Members described best practices used in other jurisdictions: have an engineered plan with clear start and end “dots” (GPS points) for each segment so grantors can evaluate discrete projects and developers can be asked to connect those dots as subdivisions are approved.
Staff and council agreed to revisit prior walking-path plans, to consider hiring the comprehensive-plan consultant the village is meeting on April 13, and to develop a phasing approach so the village can pursue targeted grants as they become available.
Ending: Council asked staff and the planning consultant (if retained) to develop a phased pedestrian master plan and to research the application timeline and requirements for ODOT’s Safer Routes grant.
