Council Approves New Safe Routes to Schools Project
Duxberry Avenue and McGuffey Road in Linden to get sidewalks
[COLUMBUS, OHIO] Columbus continues to work toward retrofitting our neighborhoods with sidewalks. On Monday, October 14, 2019, Council approved ordinance 2520-2019 to install sidewalks along Duxberry Avenue and McGuffey Road near Linden-McKinley High School and Hamilton STEM Academy for a total cost of $519,778.52.
“We want to keep our children safe and out of the street when they are walking to and from school,” said Councilmember Shayla Favor. “We are paying close attention to this critical issue, and working toward getting sidewalks everywhere they’re needed in Columbus.”
As part of this project, Duxberry Avenue from Lexington Avenue to Hamilton Avenue will receive sidewalks. McGuffey Road from Duxberry Avenue to Clinton Street will also receive upgrades.
“A large number of streets in our neighborhoods were not built to accommodate sidewalks, nor the growth our city has seen,” said Favor. “This issue needs to be addressed methodically as we expand our sidewalk footprint.”
The funding in this year’s 2019 capital budget allocated more than $6.1 million for sidewalks and other pedestrian safety improvements.
The project is a part of the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program, which uses a data-driven process to evaluate the highest safety needs for schools within the city. The SRTS program compliments other city sidewalk projects that are based on their alignment with citywide priorities like improving access to bus stops, parks, libraries, and employment centers.
Work is scheduled to begin on November 4, 2019.
Additionally, in 2018, City Council funded the following schools for new sidewalk installations:
- Independence High School
- South High School
- Lincoln Park Elementary School
- Livingston Elementary School
- Highland Elementary School
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