East Holmes gets share of $9.8 million Ohio Safe Routes to School grant

Kevin Lynch, The Daily Record
·3 min read
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COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks recently announced funding awards of more than $9.8 million for projects that will improve safety for students walking and biking to and from school in 25 counties.

A total of 45 projects were selected through a competitive process by a committee made up of experts from ODOT, the Ohio Department of Health and local entities. One of those was in the East Holmes Local School District at Winesburg Elementary School.

The Safe Routes to School program provides funding for infrastructure like new sidewalks and path extensions, crosswalks and rapid flashing beacons, bicycle lanes and other safety equipment around Ohio schools. It also provides programming for communities to help encourage and enable K-12 students living within 2 miles of their schools to walk or ride a bike.

“Walking and biking is a healthy way for children to get to and from school, but we must ensure each student can do so safely. This program provides that opportunity,” DeWine said in a news release.

The East Holmes project

The project in Winesburg includes construction of new sidewalk along the north side of Winesburg Elementary from the termination of the existing sidewalk to the west edge of the school property (adding approximately 230 linear feet of sidewalk); adding a retaining wall between the new sidewalk and the adjacent ground to accommodate elevation differences; installing a crosswalk across County Road 160 near the school; solar-powered flashing crosswalk advisory signs; installing street lighting along CR 160, and constructing a new sidewalk between County Road 160 and Parkview Avenue.

The projected cost is $214,500 and is funded by ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program.

"We are thankful for this grant opportunity at Winesburg," East Holmes Superintendent Erik Beun said. "We look forward to working with the county on a project that will improve safety around the school and town."

County Engineer Chris Young added he is excited Holmes County won the grant award. He is waiting for grant agreements from the state before moving forward.

Other Holmes County ODOT projects this year

Other Holmes County ODOT projects presented and finished included the Trail Rehab between Killbuck and Glenmont and the Millersburg Sidewalk project.

Workers put the finishing touches on sidewalks earlier this summer that were set on the south side of Millersburg through an OPDOT grant.
Workers put the finishing touches on sidewalks earlier this summer that were set on the south side of Millersburg through an OPDOT grant.

This project is in conjunction with the Holmes County Park District and The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 11. Construction includes 3.99 miles of trail to be built on the abandoned railroad bed from the village of Glenmont to the village of Killbuck. The trail will follow along beside Black Creek before returning to the rail bed. The trail will be similar to the existing trail through the county providing for multiple users including horse-and-buggies, bikes, pedestrians and other non-motorized vehicles.

Projected cost of the project is $3.67 million.

A stretch of the Holmes County Trail will be paved from Killbuck to Glenmont through an ODOT grant. The project is expected to take place in 2024.
A stretch of the Holmes County Trail will be paved from Killbuck to Glenmont through an ODOT grant. The project is expected to take place in 2024.

The asphalt trail will be 16 feet wide generally with some sections 12 feet wide minimum, across existing bridges and for short distances to avoid wetlands and stream impacts. Four existing bridge crossing will be modified to add wood railings and an asphalt trail surface to walk and ride on. Several deteriorated culverts will be replaced, and new culverts will be added to maintain existing drainage.

This project is scheduled to sell in November. The estimated start date is January with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2024.

Millersburg sidewalk project

A pedestrian improvement project along South Washington Street (US 62/SR 83) in the village of Millersburg that began in May is complete. Construction included approximately 1,100 linear feet of concrete sidewalk along the west side of South Washington Street, from near South Monroe Street to near Glen Drive. Improvements also included new curb ramps, drive approaches and/or curbs, catch basins, mailboxes and signage. Utilities were relocated as needed. That project cost $260,000.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: East Holmes shares in Ohio Safe Routes to School grant awards