Canton to add roundabouts to Tuscarawas Street W near Aultman Hospital
CANTON ‒ The city is in the process of redesigning a 0.7-mile section of Tuscarawas Street W near Aultman Hospital to improve safety and traffic conditions.
Public Service Director John Highman and Assistant City Engineer Nick Loukas provided a presentation about the plans before Monday's regular Canton City Council meeting, which ended in less than 30 minutes and involved no votes on legislation.
"Planning is still ongoing through the end of this year," Highman told council members.
The Tuscarawas Street W project would involve adding two roundabouts at the intersections of Broad Avenue and Arlington Avenue and replacing the middle turn lane with a landscaped median. The city has spent $2 million on planning and design work so far and is working with Arcadis, a global engineering and consulting firm with an office in Akron.
Optional features, such as a multi-use path, and the total cost will depend on whether Canton receives a U.S. Department of Transportation grant. The city has applied for $12 million through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant program.
With the RAISE grant, the city would spend a total of $25 million to revamp the roadway. Without the grant, the total would be $18 million. The Department of Transportation is expected to tell city officials about the grant outcome in late June.
Additional funding sources include $7.2 million in federal money distributed by the Stark County Area Transportation Study and $3.1 million to $7.2 million in city capital or comprehensive plan funds. Smaller amounts could come from the city's water and sewer funds and the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Right-of-way acquisition will start next year and construction is expected to start in 2025 and finish in 2026.
"We're going to maintain traffic on Tusc the whole time," Loukas said, adding that it might be a single lane in each direction.
Presentation highlights include:
There will be a website and postcards mailed to residents to publicize the project and a public meeting in July.
Maintaining access to the Aultman Hospital Emergency Department is a top priority, Loukas said.
Planners will be meeting with area businesses and property owners to discuss the project in the coming weeks and months.
The roundabouts, median and crosswalks will be done regardless of the RAISE grant. Work also will include stormwater and bus stop improvements and water main relocation.
The optional design features are transit amenities, decorative brick, landscaping, lighting and a multi-use path.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton revamping part of Tuscarawas Street to improve safety, traffic
