SHELBY — Shelby City Schools has set its sights on improving safety measures for students who walk or bike to school.
The district will receive consultant assistance from the Ohio Department of Transportation to help develop a school travel plan for three of its schools.
Assistance from ODOT is estimated to cost $65,000, with funding expected in 2025.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks announced the investment of more than $8 million in projects — including Shelby — on July 2.
DeWine’s press release said funding is being awarded by ODOT as a part of its Safe Routes to School program, which “supports education initiatives and builds infrastructure such as sidewalks and enhanced pedestrian crossings.”
Shelby Mayor Steve Schag submitted an application to participate in the program earlier this year.
The program is funding 29 projects in 19 counties throughout the state this year. A full list of projects is detailed via the ODOT website.
School travel plan ‘a win’ for increasing student safety
In 2022, Shelby City Schools opened a new pre-K-8 building — bringing all district students to one campus.
The district’s current high school building — located across the street from the pre-K-8 building — opened its doors in 2013.
Paul Walker, the district’s assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, said recently awarded funding is the first stage in developing a school travel plan.
“We’re going to be able to do some planning and take a look at the campus, to see what areas could use more safety measures,” Walker said.
The assistant superintendent said consulting assistance from ODOT will also address students who walk or bike to St. Mary School, 26 West St.
St. Mary School, sponsored by the Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, is a private faith-based school in Shelby serving students in grades pre-K-6.
“It’ll (school travel plan) be really good for the kids, because anything we can do to make it (walking or biking to school) safer for our kids is a win,” Walker said.
ODOT program invests more than $83 million to improve student safety
Safe Routes to School funding helps cover project development, right of way acquisition, construction, non-infrastructure programming and school travel planning activities.
Since its inception in 2005, ODOT’s Safe Routes to School program has provided more than $83 million to schools, municipalities, health districts, park districts or key non-profit partners to improve safety for students, the press release said.
Projects are competitively selected by a committee made up of subject matter experts from ODOT and the Ohio Department of Health based on the ability to demonstrate improved bike or pedestrian connectivity, improved safety, number of students impacted, economic need and available funding.
