Improvements to Williamson, McGuffey school routes in the works

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio Department of Transportation has approved the city’s Safe Routes to Schools Travel Plan, and grants to fund improvements for McGuffey and Williamson school areas are next on the agenda.

City council Wednesday approved two ordinances regarding the plan.

One authorizes the city’s board of control to apply for a $375,000 grant from ODOT for safe routes funding for the William Holmes McGuffey and Williamson elementary schools.

“It will add sidewalks around the schools and crosswalk at Williamson [Avenue] and Market Street and new pedestrian crossing signage” at that intersection, said Tom Hetrick, neighborhood planner at the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Agency.

Some streets around McGuffey don’t include sidewalks so those will be installed. Signage will be added as well as flashing school zone lighting and bike racks at both schools, he said.

A second ordinance approved Wednesday seeks $30,000 from ODOT to fund a two-year, part-time safe routes to school coordinator.

Read more about the plan in Thursday''s Vindicator or on Vindy.com.