Council approves TAP application for 1.25-mile Venture Boulevard shared-use path

Wooster City Council voted unanimously Nov. 3 to authorize the director of administration to apply for Ohio Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds for a shared‑use path project along Venture Boulevard.

Resolution 2025-65 authorizes application to ODOT for TAP funds and authorizes the director to accept and execute any required documents if the grant is awarded. Council member presentation said the project would construct roughly 1.25 miles of shared‑use paths to connect Clear Creek Park and Walton Woods to the city's existing path network. The project cost estimate presented to council was $900,000; the TAP program can fund up to 80% of eligible costs. The administration said the project is currently programmed for 2029 and that the TAP application deadline is Nov. 30; there is no local cost to apply.

Council moved to suspend the rules and place the resolution on third and final reading. Roll call votes were recorded during the suspension and adoption motions; the clerk recorded affirmative votes from the council members present and the resolution was adopted that evening.

Context and next steps: Administration noted this pedestrian/bicycle connection could be a candidate for multiple funding sources and observed that, in some cases, existing TIFs in nearby locations might serve as a local match for construction if council later chose that route. If the TAP application is successful, the city will need to execute ODOT agreements and provide any match required by the grant program.