The city of Urbana will receive $2 million for upgrades to street safety along Scioto Street and Miami Street, according to an announcement of funding from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the state’s Small City Program provides federal funds to small cities with populations from 5,000 to 24,999 that are not located within a Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ boundaries. This program may be used for any road, safety, or signal project on the Federal-aid system.
A funding limit of $2 million per project is set. ODOT will provide up to 80% of the eligible costs for construction and construction inspection only. Historically, the funding amount for this program has been approximately $10 million annually.
The project in Urbana will replace various warranted signals along the U.S. Route 36/Scioto Street/Miami Street corridor. Work also includes installing pedestrian signal heads and push buttons, installation of radar detection, and installation of new cabinets and controllers.
According to a statement from the city of Urbana, there are currently 53 cities in Ohio that can apply for this funding on a yearly basis. This program may be used for any road, safety, or signal project on the Federal-aid system.
As noted in the project description provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation, this grant will be utilized to replace traffic signals along the U.S. Route 36/Scioto Street/Miami Street corridor with new traffic signals.
The city of Urbana’s existing traffic signalization system along this corridor was originally installed back in 2000/2001 and is nearing the end of its useful service life. Work also includes installing pedestrian signal heads and push buttons, installation of radar detection, and installation of new cabinets and controllers.
Devices for radar detection include three primary types of equipment that can be utilized to cycle/change a traffic signal. Presently, the city of Urbana utilizes wires that are installed in the pavement to cycle/change a traffic signal. Radar detection and camera detection are the other options available other than wires installed in the pavement. The city of Urbana is planning for radar detection within the scope of this project.
No work is planned for Monument Square specifically within this project.
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Adams Township in Champaign County also received funding in this cycle under the township sign program project. The funding amount for Adams Township is $11,107.56.
