SHELBY – Shelby students will have a safer walk to school in the coming years.
The district received notice Tuesday that it has been approved for a state grant of up to $609,000 to install a new sidewalk on Shelby Avenue from West Smiley Avenue to State Street and a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon on West Smiley Avenue at Post Street.
The Ohio Department of Transportation will award the grant through the Safe Routes to School program.
“This is very exciting for the City of Shelby. Mayor Schag, Joe Gies, and everyone else at the city should be commended for applying for the Safe Route to School grant and working with the school to make this happen,” Superintendent Michael Browning said. “These improvements will help our students get to and from school safer, which is extremely important.”
Mayor Steve Schag also weighed in.
“This is truly good news for the city of Shelby and our Shelby school system,” he said. “This project will enable and encourage children to walk to school. It will also make bicycling and walking a much safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age.”
Jeremy Adato, ODOT District 3 SRTS coordinator, told Principal John Gies the news, saying the selection process was “difficult.”
“Projects were ranked statewide based on many factors and once ranked, final selections were determined by a committee composed of ODOT staff, along with representatives from education, health and advocacy,” he wrote in a letter.
The funding is contingent on completion of a final scope meeting with ODOT district representatives and the project sponsor. Funds for the project will be available during Fiscal Year 2028.
“I want to extend my thanks to all those who were involved in the entire grant application process,” Schag said. “It really was a team effort by so many city and school officials. We are grateful to ODOT for recognizing the need for this important project.”
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Students at Shelby City Schools will get safer walks with new sidewalk through ODOT grant
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
