Ontario approves 2026 School Travel Plan for walking & biking safety

ONTARIO — Ontario residents could see safer streets, more sidewalks and improved bike paths in the coming years without spending a dime from local taxes.

On Wednesday night, Ontario City Council unanimously approved a resolution accepting a Safe Routes to School School Travel Plan for Ontario Local Schools. The plan outlines strategies designed to improve safety, health and mobility for students and residents who walk or bike in the community.

It was developed by Burton Planning Services in collaboration with the school district, and paid for by a grant via the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The early work included extensive data collection, community meetings and draft recommendations shaped with input from city staff, school officials and residents.

Plan is the first step in securing additional state funds

The plan is a prerequisite to allow the city to apply for additional state grants to fund sidewalks, crosswalks, signals and other mobility enhancements in areas within two miles of the school campus — from neighborhoods like Marshall Park to intersections along Shelby-Ontario Road.

City leaders have described the effort as a long-term strategy. In previous reporting, former Mayor Kris Knapp said the city will improve walkability step by step, alongside its broader strategic goals, though the process might take years.

School district representatives have supported the effort, noting many existing neighborhoods lack safe walking infrastructure, forcing families to rely on cars or buses, even for short distances.

While approval of the plan does not immediately result in construction, it positions Ontario to seek future funding that could finance sidewalks, pedestrian signals, bike paths and safer crossings, with the goal of boosting health and equitable access for residents of all ages.

The plan prioritizes infrastructure improvements based on their community needs, safety concerns, feasibility and projects that would bring the greatest impact and connect the most students.

It also includes a table documenting active transportation crashes that occurred within five miles of Ontario Local Schools.

While the data only covers incidents from 2019 to 2023, the plan notes a serious crash involving a student pedestrian occurred in 2018 at the intersection of Dunlap Drive and Shelby-Ontario Road.

According to the plan, there were 15 crashes during the reporting period, including 11 pedestrian crashes and four bicycle crashes. While none were fatal, two resulted in serious injuries and seven resulted in minor injuries.

The travel plan states community engagement is an essential part of the process.

Report informed by caregiver surveys, community input

Caregiver surveys were sent to parents and guardians of the three target schools, receiving 239 responses. Around 40 percent of caregivers reported living within two miles of their child’s school.

Roughly 75 percent of those said their child asked to walk or bike in the past year — with interest highest among students who live within 1.5 miles of school.

Motorized transportation remains the most common mode for students of all distances, highlighting distance and infrastructure gaps as the main barriers for walking and biking.

Roughly 72 percent of parents and caregivers who responded to a survey conducted by the project team indicated they feel it is unsafe for their children to walk or bike to and from school.

Multiple factors contributed to those concerns, including traffic volume, vehicle speed, distance, lack of sidewalks and the safety of intersections and crossings.

Participant feedback revealed both distance and safety concerns limit the ability of families to walk or bike to local schools. Many respondents noted their homes are simply too far away for non-motorized travel to be practical.

Safety was a recurring concern, particularly along Shelby-Ontario Road between West 4th Street and Milligan Road, where the absence of sidewalks and dedicated pedestrian or bicycle facilities made the area feel unsafe.

Survey respondents identified several intersections, including Shelby-Ontario Road at Park Avenue West and Rudy Road at Park Avenue West, as significant barriers to walking and biking. Additionally, residents cited high traffic speeds and volumes along State Route 314 as a deterrent to pedestrian and bicycle use.

Despite these challenges, many participants expressed strong support and excitement for potential pedestrian improvements, especially in areas near the schools and Marshall Park.

“My children would love to walk to and from school more often but the lack of sidewalk makes it unsafe. If there was sidewalk further down Shelby-Ontario Road in both directions from the school and down Milligan, several students would be able to safely walk or bike,” one caregiver comment said.

Other items addressed

Also during Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Josh Bradley also announced applications are open for Ontario’s Hometown Hero banners.

Residents can find the application on the left side of the homepage at ontarioohio.org and must submit a completed form along with a photo. The deadline to apply is March 15, with banners scheduled to be installed during the second week of May, Bradley said.

Wednesday also marked the first council meeting with Michael Morton serving as Ontario’s new service safety director.

Morton previously worked as Ontario’s zoning inspector from 2020 to 2024. More recently, he served as the village administrator for Bellville.

“I’m confident the council will find Michael extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with,” Bradley said.

The mayor also acknowledged Brian Williams, who filled the city’s bailiff position after it had remained vacant for about a year.

Bradley noted the open position placed a slight strain on the police department, with officers working overtime to help cover the role. Williams retired as an Ontario police officer last year, and his first day in the new position will be Feb. 5.