Buckeye Reporter

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, alongside Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn, has announced a $137.5 million investment in traffic safety projects across the state. The funding will support 55 new projects in 41 counties as part of Ohio’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, which is noted for its high per capita investment in roadway safety.

Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating, "Ensuring the safety of Ohio's roadways is always one of our top priorities. Whether you’re driving or walking, we want every Ohioan to get where they’re going safely." Among the projects, 22 are aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety through new sidewalks, shared use paths, and improved crosswalks. Last year saw 125 pedestrian fatalities in Ohio, with 50 reported so far this year.

Five projects will focus on reducing roadway departure crashes by widening shoulders or realigning curves. Roadway departures account for about half of all traffic deaths in Ohio annually. The Highway Safety Improvement Program targets areas with a history of fatal or injury crashes where previous measures have failed.

"These targeted, data-driven investments not only improve safety for local communities but strengthen the transportation system across Ohio," said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. She added that since implementing the largest highway safety program per capita nationwide, traffic deaths have been declining since 2021.

Additional improvements funded by this grant include intersection upgrades, roundabouts, reduced collision U-turns, and a realignment project.

Information from this article can be found here.