ODOT awards routes funding

The funds are for
engineering plans.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Parents in some communities soon may no longer feel the need to transport their young ones to school.

Six local communities and school districts have been awarded a collective $60,000 to engineer plans that would make walking or riding a bike to school more safe and more attractive to young people.

The funds were awarded through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School initiative.

Under the program Boardman Township, Lowellville Village and Watkins Christian Academy each will receive $6,000, while Poland Township will receive $24,000. In Trumbull County, Hubbard will receive $6,000 and Liberty Township will receive $12,000.

Justin Chesnic, public information specialist for ODOT, said the initial funding is for engineering purposes only. He said the communities receiving may be able get additional funds for actual implementation of the plans at a later date.

“They come up with a plan that is what the $6,000 is for. If that plan is approved, they can receive money for infrastructure,” he said.

Chesnic said each district was allotted $6,000 per school to be included in the plan. Those districts receiving more than $6,000 have several schools included in the plan.

Chesnic said the creation of the bike/walk routes is part of a larger plan in getting young people to be more active.

“This program is only for within a three-mile radius of the schools. Within that radius we want to encourage kids to walk or ride their bikes. It’s better for the environment and better for the kids’ health, too,” he said.

Many of those plans will be similar to an idea being put forward in Liberty.

Township Administrator Pat Ungaro said township officials envision placing sidewalks in front of the school starting at Murray Hill Drive and going over to Church-Hill Road. He said plans ideally would include additional sidewalks along Church-Hill Road.

“We are putting together a plan now for all this now. There are apartments all along [Route] 304 and what I would like to see is sidewalks down 304, Murray Hill and Shady Road,” he said. “It really could be a combination of walking and biking trails, a combination of those things.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com