The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
City to apply for sidewalk grant
Aim to ensure safe commute for kids to and from school
Avon City Council will apply for grants to make it safer for youngsters to get to and from school.
In establishing a Safe Routes to School plan, Ryan Cummins, engineer for the city of Avon, said officials will target sidewalk upgrades on Nagel Road between Pear Street and Schwartz Road in the vicinity of East Elementary School.
As part of Avon’s citywide active transportation plan completed in 2019, Cummins said several areas around East Elementary, Heritage Elementary School and Avon Middle School were identified to make it safer for students to walk and bike to school.
The city is seeking $207,200 from the Ohio Department of Transportation for an estimated project cost of $351,500 that would upgrade sidewalks and crosswalks.
The funding would implement portions of the identified travel plans to provide a consistent and safe sidewalk system.
In addition, Cummins said the city is examining possible drainage improvements along Nagel Road in sections where the sidewalk is close to the existing roadway and would look to move the sidewalks farther away in these specific areas.
“We’re not looking so much at condition; we’re looking at filling in gaps,” he said.
Mayor Bryan Jensen said Council likely will aim to supplement some of the costs not covered by the grant when the funds become available to make sure the sidewalks in are consistent and uniform.
The city will apply for the funding in early March with a decision expected in May or June.
If approved, the funding would be available to use for the 2024 fiscal year.
The city developed its Safe Routes to School plan through grants from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative.