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ISSUE #84

Lorain’s Journey to More Biking and Walking!

How It Started

In 2017, Lorain County Public Health (LCPH) reached out to Lorain City Schools (LCS) and the City Engineering Department to help start a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. This kickstarted SRTS and active transportation planning in the city. The City has maintained momentum with assistance from LCPH, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the stakeholder group Lorain Connected. Between 2018-2024 the City of Lorain has received over $15 million in funding from grants and other outside sources for active transportation or active transportation-related projects. This includes SRTS, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ), Regional Transportation for Livable Communities (TLCI), ODOT Safety, and federal funds.

Lorain adopts first combined Safe Routes to School and Active Transportation Plan in the state of Ohio. (Key Partners: LCS, LCPH, ODOT)   Lorain implements the Washington Avenue Bikeway, which features the first advisory bike lanes in the State of Ohio.   Lorain updates their Active Transportation Plan and celebrates successfully implementing several sidewalks, curb ramps, safe crosswalks near schools, road diets with traditional bike lanes, bike boulevards, and shared use paths that had been identified in the 2018 plan. (Key Partners: LCS, LCPH, ODOT) Lorain begins concept design on a signature corridor project, LOR Broadway Corridor Project, which includes traffic calming and a protected bikeway. (Key Partners: NOACA, ODOT) Lorain is awarded a $1.5 million RAISE grant to improve East 36th Street and add a multiuse trail.     The Waterfront Redevelopment Project will bring a new park and better access to the waterfront. The countywide Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will be adopted in 2025. The City of Lorain has served as a stakeholder throughout the process and will continue to collaborate to support implementation of $2 million in Planning and Demonstration Activities. (Key Partners: LCPH, County Engineer, ODOT, other county villages and cities)

Learning from Lorain - How Your Community Can Get Started

• Start with a plan. This allowed Lorain to understand their current infrastructure, identify network gaps, and build community consensus. The plan identifies priorities and is easy to reference as funding becomes available. Remember, ODOT funds Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School planning.
• Collaboration is key. Lorain collaborated closely with the county health department, which helped them to leverage funds and resources. In addition, both agencies were able to move toward the common goal of improving the health and overall wellbeing of residents.
• Messaging should be community-specific. Streets are for everyone! Many people forget that streets are for more than just moving cars from point A to point B; they are a hub of community activity. This message may resonate with your community; or another benefit, such as economic development, tourism, or improved quality of life, may be more meaningful. Find out what is important to your community and build on that.

Read more about Lorain's Active Transportation journey here: Implementing Active Transportation Improvements Through A Collective Impact Model Lorain, OH.

Announcements

• Reminder that the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant program’s next application deadline is January 30, 2025.
• Save the Dates! On April 29 and 30, 2025 ODOT will host the Ohio Active Transportation Conference. The conference will highlight best practices for advancing statewide goals related to walking and biking. 
  • Interested in presenting? Submit proposals by January 17, 2025.
• The Safe Routes to School Project Application is open and project applications are due March 7th, 2025. Check out the Application Guidance to prepare and submit an application. Note that the infrastructure project maximum has been increased to $1M!
• Systemic Safety Applications are now due March 31^st and must be coordinated with respective ODOT Highway Safety District Coordinators at least six weeks in advance of the due date.
• Check out ODOT’s current special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans.

Questions? Feedback?

Drop us a line, bikeohio@dot.ohio.gov