Label
DPW030326WLSSAFEROUTESTOSCHOOL
Division of Traffic Management
Gary Stookey, P.E. (x1306)
Revised
Title
Authorizing and expressing the City of Toledo’s support for applications to the Ohio Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Grant Programs for funds to construct infrastructure enhancements and engage in education and encouragement activities to improve pedestrian and bicycle access for students traveling to Washington Local Schools; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Transportation provides funding administered through the Ohio Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements and educational activities to provide safer pedestrian and bicycle access to schools. This program is known as the “Safe Routes to School” program. Applications are accepted to provide funding for improvements and activities that address a deficiency identified in an approved School Travel Plan (Plan) for the school district.
Live Well Greater Toledo (Live Well), a program of the YMCA of Greater Toledo, is a diverse collaboration of community leaders and organizations working together to promote policy, systems, and environmental change for a healthier community. Live Well takes a lead role in advocating for active transportation (pedestrian and bicycle transportation) in the City of Toledo and the region. In 2020 Live Well partnered with the City of Toledo, Washington Local Schools (WLS), TMACOG, ODOT, and Toledo Lucas County Health Department to fund and complete the “School Travel Plan” (Plan) for Washington Local Schools. The Plan documented obstacles for the use of active transportation for students to travel to school and lists a set of improvements and activities to overcome these obstacles. The Plan was endorsed by City Council on February 25, 2020 in Resolution 76-20.
Live Well and the City of Toledo have successfully applied for over $390,000 in grant funds for Safe Routes improvements in 2020, $397,000 in 2022, and $499,708 in 2024. The next priority projects from the list of school route improvements have been identified and an application for $816,834 will be made to the Safe Routes to School Program this round submitted by Live Well and the City of Toledo. Infrastructure improvements include sidewalk construction, crosswalks and ADA compliant pedestrian ramps on Ketukkee between Mayport and cul-de-sac, Tulane between West of Angel and Ruthanne, Angel between South of Tulane to Whitehouse, Ruthanne between South of Engel and Tulane, Engel between West of Ruthanne and Shoreland.
The proposed projects improve both Safe Routes to School and the City of Toledo Bike Plan. Non-infrastructure activities include support for such things as creating “walking school buses,” holding “walk to school” and “bike to school” days, bicycle and pedestrian education programs, and bicycle fix it events and helmet distribution. There is no local matching requirement for these funds.
Passage of this Resolution is procedurally required to allow The YMCA of Greater Toledo and the City of Toledo to receive these grants.
NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved that:
SECTION 1: That the Mayor is authorized to partner with Live Well Greater Toledo, in order to apply to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s “Safe Routes to School” Program for grant funds to construct infrastructure improvements and conduct educational activities related to implementing the recommendations of the Toledo “Safe Routes to School” School Travel Plan as described above and to provide all information and documentation required to become eligible for possible funding assistance from this program.
SECTION 2. That if the grant applications described in Section 1 above are approved, the City of Toledo will enter into the appropriate agreements to partner with Live Well Greater Toledo to complete grant funded improvements and activities.
SECTION 3. That, if grants applied for are awarded, the City of Toledo agrees to obligate the funds required to satisfactorily complete the proposed projects as necessary to become eligible for reimbursement under the terms and conditions of the above grant program subject to future Council authorization.
SECTION 4. That this Resolution is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this Resolution is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and property and for the further reason that this Resolution is necessary for the receipt of the grant funds for the proposed improvements.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 10 nays 0.
Adopted: March 3, 2026, as an emergency measure: yeas 10, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Vanice S. Williams
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: March 4, 2026
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor