Columbus, Ohio – Ohio is investing $8.8 million in projects designed to give students safer ways to walk, bike or ride scooters to school, with improvements planned in communities across the state.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced the latest funding through ODOT’s Safe Routes to School program. The 2026 awards will support 17 projects across 14 Ohio counties, ranging from new sidewalks and shared paths to safer crosswalks, flashing beacons and traffic calming measures.
“Investing in our children’s safety, health, and well-being is one of the most important things we can do for Ohio’s future,” said Governor DeWine. “These Safe Routes to School grants empower local communities and give families peace of mind that their student can safely walk or bike to school every single day.”
The projects will receive support for different stages of development between state fiscal years 2027 and 2030, including preliminary engineering, design, right-of-way acquisition and construction. Funding will also support non-infrastructure work, including school travel plans, education and safety campaigns.
Projects will improve sidewalks crossings and school connections
Several communities received substantial awards for physical improvements near schools.
The Village of Mechanicsburg in Champaign County was awarded $663,000 for traffic calming improvements at three important crossings on West Main Street and High Street. Plans include curb extensions, flashing beacons, a raised crossing and speed bumps to improve connections between a neighborhood and the K-12 school campus.
Miami Township in Clermont County will receive $549,814.50 for improvements near Boyd E. Smith Elementary School. The project includes about 1,300 feet of sidewalk along Jer Les Street, as well as a pedestrian hybrid beacon and refuge island at Branch Hill-Guinea Pike.
Pickerington received $1 million to complete gaps in a multi-use path along Long Road, creating a continuous connection to Diley Road and Pickerington Elementary School.
Columbus will receive $500,000 for new ADA-accessible sidewalks along both sides of Livingston Avenue between Elderwood Avenue and Hamilton Road.
Another $1 million award will go to Colerain Township in Hamilton County. The project calls for 2,150 feet of sidewalk along Springdale Road to connect Taylor Elementary with an existing sidewalk, along with new crosswalks near the school.
Toledo received $816,834 to address sidewalk gaps in the neighborhood south of Shoreland Elementary. Improvements are planned along Kettukee Trail, Angel Avenue, Tulane, Ruthanne Drive and Engel Boulevard.
Canton will receive $775,425 for improvements around Glenwood Intermediate School. Plans include a sidewalk or shared-use path along 44th Street, a mid-block crossing with a refuge island and flashing beacon, and a walkway connecting 44th Street with the school’s main entrance.
“Every child deserves a safe, accessible path to school, whether they’re walking, riding a bike, or using a scooter,” said Director Boratyn. “By investing in pedestrian and bike infrastructure, we are creating healthier, more connected communities across all of Ohio.”
Other projects are spread across several parts of the state. The Village of Leesville in Carroll County received $197,700 for design work on a 2,700-foot shared-use path, flashing sign, high-visibility crossing and additional sidewalk serving the Conotton Valley Schools campus.
Heath in Licking County received funding for two projects. One $67,500 award will support improvements at South 30th Street and Wedgewood Drive and Fieldpoint Road, including curb ramps, a high-visibility crossing, flashing beacons and a sidewalk extension. A separate $571,800 project will add sidewalks along Oberlin Drive and Colonial Drive, creating a connection to an existing path serving Heath High School and Heath Middle School.
In Trumbull County, Howland Township received $77,000 toward a project proposing 5,931 feet of sidewalk along Niles Cortland Road NE between High Street and Carriage Hill. Niles was awarded $500,000 for pedestrian improvements near Niles Middle School, including work involving sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic signals.
Franklin in Warren County received $547,611 for improvements at East 4th Street and Beam Avenue near Franklin Intermediate and Junior High. Curb extensions are expected to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance from 45 feet to 24 feet. Plans also include realigning the school drive and filling sidewalk gaps.
The Village of Beverly in Washington County received $500,000 for improvements along State Route 60 in front of the school. Plans include wider sidewalks, repaired curbs, flashing beacons, sidewalk gap improvements, lighting and other traffic calming measures.
Not all of the funding is for construction. Lorain County Public Health received $40,000 for a two-year Safe Routes to School coordinator who will work with five schools in Sheffield-Sheffield Lake. Summit County Public Health received $48,000 for a coordinator and activities at 15 priority Akron Public Schools, including walk and roll to school events, safety supplies, wayfinding and policy work.
ODOT says walking and biking to school can provide students with regular physical activity while supporting mental health, academic performance and long-term wellness. Fewer vehicle trips can also reduce traffic and air pollution around schools while helping families spend less on fuel. Infrastructure built through the program can benefit entire neighborhoods rather than students alone.
Ohio’s commitment to the program stretches back more than two decades. Since Safe Routes to School began in 2005, ODOT has awarded nearly $100 million to schools, municipalities, health districts, park districts and nonprofit organizations working to improve student safety and encourage active transportation.
