Safe Routes to School Projects Construction Concluding

After significant effort in the planning, funding and design of these projects, the improved “safe routes” to school for children have finally become a reality as construction began in earnest over the summer. 

The City of Stow was awarded a total of $700,655 in grant money from ODOT through the Safe Routes to School Program since 2009. As students return to school this year, many of them will find improvements such as new sidewalks or enhanced relocated crosswalks that will provide additional safety during their journey to school.

Safe Routes to School is a national program funded by the Federal government and administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). The primary goal of the program is to provide safe routes for children to walk or bicycle to school and the potential benefits of the program are: increasing physical activity in children; decreasing vehicle congestion around schools; decreasing fuel consumption/pollution. 

In order to be eligible to apply for these funds, the city was required to prepare a School Travel Plan, which involved public input, parent surveys, and the coordination of city and school administration, City Council, and the School Board.

Engineering consultants were provided by ODOT to make recommendations on potential improvements that would increase the safety and remove potential impediments in the students’ walking/bicycling routes.

The projects completed or already under construction to date include: 

• Speed Monitors (Installed by ODOT in 2012) Stow Road @ Echo Hills Elementary, Fishcreek Road @ Fishcreek Elementary
•  New sidewalks/trailso Call Road (Friar Road to Fishcreek), Northview (Mohican to Graham), Rose Ave (Northview to Silverwood), Hanna Road (Greentree to Silvercrest), Indian Trail path (Indian Trail School to Pinehurst Rd), Pave existing path between Lillian Rd and Mohican 
• Crosswalk Improvementso Fishcreek/Call (Fishcreek Elementary), Graham Road (Lakeview Intermediate/Highland Elementary), Arndale/Stow Roads (Echo Hills Elementary), Indian Trail path (Echo & Maple Roads)o Stow Road (Maplewood and King Drives)