Pickerington’s latest Safe Routes to School project expected to be finished this year
After receiving a state grant to construct sidewalks near a Pickerington elementary school and junior high, city officials expect the latest Safe Routes to School project to be completed by the end of this year.
The Ohio Department of Transportation announced last May the city would receive $400,000 to install 2,700 lineal feet of sidewalks on the north side of West Columbus Street and Long Road between Hill Road North and Poplar Street.
The project is expected to enhance safety for students walking to and from Pickerington Elementary and Ridgeview Junior High School. City Manager Greg Butcher said design work is done and a construction contract is expected to be awarded in July.
"It is our goal to have construction completed by the end of the year," Butcher said. "It provides connectivity to the subdivisions adjacent to West Columbus Street and Long Road, with the ultimate goal of providing safe walking for Pickerington Local School District students.
"Specifically, this sidewalk will allow for safe walking to Pickerington Elementary and Ridgeview Junior High School," he said.
Butcher said the project will have the added benefit of improving walkable access to Olde Pickerington Village.
While it originally was estimated to cost $500,000, the project now is expected to cost $390,000. If that number hold out, the sidewalks will be added at no cost to the city.
"Historically, the program has allowed for the construction of safe walking paths for students that enable them to get to and from school without walking on streets," Butcher said. "Additionally, there have been not only encouragement for students to utilize safe walking as a way to get to school, but also as a wellness initiative."
ODOT's Safe Routes to School program was launched in 2008.
It provides funding for infrastructure projects within two miles of schools serving K-8 classes, with ODOT reimbursing up to 100% of eligible costs for all phases, including preliminary engineering, detailed design, rights of way, construction and construction engineering.
According to ODOT's website, the program provides up to $4 million in funding annually.
The project to install sidewalks on Hill and Long roads received the maximum funding allowed.
ODOT’s website says a “comprehensive approach” to Safe Routes to School includes “infrastructure and non-infrastructure countermeasures and programs."
Butcher, who was Violet Township's engineer for 18 years before becoming Pickerington city manager in August 2019, said this year's SRTS project will be the local community's fifth since 2008.
Past projects have resulted in more than $1.5 million being granted to Pickerington and Violet Township for sidewalk connections to Fairfield Elementary, Harmon Middle School, Violet Elementary and Diley Middle School, he said.
"We are aggressively looking at it and will likely be pursuing additional Safe Routes to School grants, perhaps as early as this year," Butcher said. "Potentially, we've identified Pickerington Elementary and areas west of Diley Road for future projects."
In addition, Butcher said city officials hope more sidewalks will be installed in coming years to enhance walkability throughout the city.
As part of that effort, Pickerington City Council doubled the city’s typical funding for sidewalk projects from $150,000 to $300,000 in this year's budget.
"We are actively evaluating where the city can construct new sidewalks with a goal of providing better walkability for all people," Butcher said.
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Pickerington’s latest Safe Routes to School project expected to be finished this year
