Wooster has been awarded $750,000 in state funding to build a new shared-use path connecting parts of the city and expanding travel options for pedestrians and bicyclists.
According to a community announcement, the money comes through the Ohio Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternatives Program, known as TAP, which supports projects aimed at improving safety and transportation connections.
City officials said the grant will help fund construction of a 1.25-mile shared-use path linking Venture Boulevard and Silver Road in Wooster's New Clear Creek Run neighborhood.
"We are excited to see this project gain support at the state level," Joel Montgomery, the city's director of administration, said. "We are grateful for State Representative Craig's work in putting Wooster on the radar for these funds. Opportunities like this allow us to leverage outside funding to make important infrastructure improvements while being responsible stewards of local taxpayer dollars."
The project was one of 17 selected through the latest round of TAP awards. The program provides funding for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, projects that improve access to public transportation, transportation connections to community destinations, environmental mitigation efforts and other transportation improvements.
City officials said the path is intended to provide residents with another way to travel through the area while improving connections between neighborhoods and supporting future residential growth.
"This project is about more than building a path," Montgomery said. "It is about creating connections between neighborhoods and giving residents more safe options to move throughout their community. Investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure are an important part of planning for Wooster's future."
The TAP award is one piece of a larger effort to secure outside funding for transportation and infrastructure projects across Wooster.
According to the announcement, the city has secured more than $9.4 million in competitive grants and external revenue allocations for road improvements, paving projects, pedestrian safety work and intersection upgrades.
Officials said eight awarded grants account for a significant share of the estimated $15.1 million in planned improvement costs. Funding sources include TAP grants, Highway Safety Program grants, Large Cities funding, Urban Paving funds and Congressionally Directed Spending.
"Being successful with competitive grants takes significant planning, coordination and preparation," Montgomery said. "Every dollar we can bring back to Wooster through these programs is a dollar that can help offset the cost of projects that would otherwise rely heavily on local funding."
The city outlined eight projects expected to move forward in the coming years:
WAY-Wooster Bike Loop Phase 3: Estimated construction cost of $1.9 million with $1.4 million in TAP and safety grant funding. Targeted construction: 2026.
WAY-VAR Wooster Streets Paving FY26: Estimated construction cost of $900,000 with $637,000 in Large Cities funding. Targeted construction: 2026.
WAY-302-0.51 Pedestrian Improvements: Estimated construction cost of $780,000 with $630,000 in safety grant funding. Targeted construction: 2027.
WAY-VAR Wooster Streets Paving FY27: Estimated construction cost of $1.2 million with $500,000 in Large Cities funding. Targeted construction: 2027.
WAY-W. Milltown Pedestrian Improvements: Estimated construction cost of $670,000 with $536,000 in TAP and safety grant funding. Targeted construction: 2028.
Cleveland Road Roundabouts: Estimated construction cost of $7 million with $3.75 million in Congressionally Directed Spending. Targeted construction: 2029.
WAY-SR83/SR302 Urban Paving: Estimated construction cost of $1.9 million with $1.3 million in Urban Paving funding. Targeted construction: 2029.
Clear Creek Area Shared-Use Path: Estimated construction cost of $750,000 fully funded through a TAP grant. Targeted construction: 2031.
Officials said the projects include roadway preservation work, pedestrian-safety improvements, additions to the city's multi-use path network and intersection upgrades designed to support future transportation needs.
More information about city projects and engineering schedules is available at woosteroh.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: New Wooster path gets $750K boost from state transportation grant