Stow Gets $284,000 in Grant Money for Safer Routes to School

A three year project is coming to more than $284,000 worth of fruition. 

Stow officials and public school members were working with the national Safe Route to Schools Infrastructure Program and learned April 4 the Ohio Department of Transportation is granting the city and school district $284,290 to make improvements to paths students take to walk or bike to school.

"It's to fund infrastructure improvements and education so students can walk and bike to school more safely," said Council Vice President Sara Drew, who is involved with the program.

Also involved in the program is Superintendent Dr. Russ Jones, Assistant Planning Director Rob Kurtz and Fire Safety Educator Sandy Ray.

Kurtz said the money, which is a grant that will be funded 100 percent by ODOT, should come to Stow soon.

He added the project will begin after the engineering designs are finished by the end of 2011. Construction will continue into 2012.

Drew said improvements to be made are: infrastructure improvements; sidewalk improvements; increasing accessibility to schools; safety improvement; new striping and signage; extending sidewalks and moving access points across the road.

"It's not that we think it's unsafe now, but we've identified things to make it safer," said Drew, adding the improvements will come to ,, , and .

Ray will focus on educating students on the benefit of walking and biking to school and knowing the right safety skills and how to be alert and aware of potential dangers, said Drew.

Stow was also approved for the installation of "speed feedback monitors” at three locations: Fishcreek Elementary; Highland Elementary/Lakeview Intermediate; and Echo Hills Elementary.

"The feedback monitors are fixed LED signs that will flash the speed of passing vehicles as they pass through the school zone. These devices do not include any automatic photographic system that identifies individual vehicles, but are intended to increase motorists’ awareness and reduce speeds inschool zones," said Kurtz.