Ohio Governor and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced funding for dozens of transportation safety projects aimed at preventing two specific types of deadly traffic crashes in Ohio.
A total of $54 million from ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program will go toward traffic safety projects in 30 counties. The projects will specifically reduce the risk of pedestrian-involved crashes and roadway departure accidents, both of which are responsible for increased fatalities in recent years.
“With Ohio’s new distracted driving law, we’re beginning to see drivers’ focus return to the roads, but we must also ensure that the roads themselves are structurally safe as well,” said Governor DeWine. “The infrastructure projects we’re funding today will be designed to help prevent deadly crashes.”
Safety projects that aim to prevent pedestrian fatalities include the installation of high-visibility crossings, advanced yield markings, improved lighting, and new traffic calming mechanisms, such as speedbumps. Pedestrian-activated signals near schools will also be installed.
To combat roadway departure crashes, safety projects will widen shoulders, flatten slopes, remove deep ditches, and install rumble stripes, especially on high-speed rural roads.
Mahoning County:
Mahoning Struthers Bridge Street Pedestrian $ 1,000,000
