POLAND, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program awarded a $650,000 grant to the village for an infrastructure project aimed at enhancing safety for students walking and biking to school.
The project includes the installation of high-visibility crosswalks at 10 signalized intersections throughout the village, as well as the construction of new sidewalks on College Street, Lee Drive and Michigan Boulevard.
Work is expected to begin in 2028 and is designed to improve accessibility and promote safer travel options for families and students.
“Every child deserves a safe route to school, and this investment in Poland reflects our commitment to building safer, more walkable communities for our students,” state Rep. Lauren McNally of Youngstown, D-58th, said in announcing the grant. “This project is a win for families, neighborhoods and the long-term health and safety of our kids.”
The Safe Routes to School program funds projects that encourage and enable students in grades K-12 to safely walk or bike to school. Supported activities include infrastructure improvements, education and community engagement around transportation safety. Since its launch in 2005, the program has awarded approximately $90 million in funding throughout the state.
Pictured at top: Photo via PolandVillage.org.