- Port Washington and Strasburg are receiving funding through Ohio’s Safe Routes to School program for new sidewalks.
- The program is designed to encourage students to walk or bike to school.
COLUMBUS ‒ Two Tuscarawas County communities will receive more than $500,000 in state funding to improve safety for students walking and biking to and from school as part of the Safe Routes to School program.
More than $9.8 million was awarded for projects in 25 counties.
“Walking and biking is a healthy way for children to get to and from school, but we must ensure each student can do so safely. This program provides that opportunity,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in making the announcement.
New sidewalks in Port Washington
The village of Port Washington received $221,000 to install about 6,980 feet of new sidewalks throughout the core of the village to connect residences to Port Washington Elementary School on Arch Street.
According to a press release from the state, the current sidewalks in the village are deteriorated beyond repair and require reconstruction to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. These streets include portions of Main Street, School Street, Arch Street, North St. Clairsville Street and St. Clairsville Road.
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Plans call for construction of sidewalks on both sides of Main Street, on School Street from Main Street to the elementary school, one side of Arch Street and then one side of St. Clairsville Street to the traffic light on Main Street, according to Mayor Tom Gardner.
Village officials will be meeting Tuesday with representatives from the Ohio Department of Transportation to discuss the project.
Work is not expected to begin before 2024.
“There are a fair amount of students that live in the village that do walk to school,” said Indian Valley Superintendent Ira Wentworth.
He noted any student living within one mile of a school building is not eligible for busing, according to state law.
“So that’s the entire village of Port Washington. Many will walk to school, and because of safety, some parents will arrange their schedules to drop their child off or to pick their child up at the end of the day. Having sidewalks and crosswalks that are highly visible, hopefully that will not only enhance safety, but we might pick up some more walkers to school,” he said.
Arch Street, which runs parallel to U.S. 36 in town, has no sidewalks, and many students who walk to school come down that street. Installing sidewalks on Arch Street “would be good for our kids and the entire community,” Wentworth said.
Sidewalk rehabilitation in Strasburg
The village of Strasburg will receive $309,000 through the Safe Walks to School program.
The funds will be used to rehabilitate 3,440 feet of sidewalks along First and Second streets NW to promote walking and biking to the Strasburg-Franklin Local School campus.
Since its inception in 2005, ODOT’s Safe Routes to School program has provided more than $75 million to schools, municipalities, health districts, park districts, and key non-profit partners to improve safety for students.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at [email protected].
