City of Wooster Awarded Grants to Fund Major Road and Pedestrian Improvements
The City of Wooster is set to receive $750,000 through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), providing significant funding toward a new shared-use path that will improve pedestrian and bicyclist access in the city.
TAP awards funding to communities for projects that expand transportation options, improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, and better connect neighborhoods, businesses, and community destinations.
“We are excited to see this project gain support at the state level,” said Joel Montgomery, director of Administration for the City of Wooster. “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 City will use the TAP funding to help construct a 1.25-mile shared-use path connecting Venture Boulevard and Silver Road in Wooster’s New Clear Creek Run Neighborhood.
The new path will give residents another way to travel throughout the area by encouraging walking or biking while creating a safer, more connected community. The project is also expected to support continued residential growth by improving travel options.
“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.”
Wooster was one of 17 projects selected for funding through the latest TAP awards, which were chosen from a larger pool of applications. TAP funding can support a variety of transportation-related projects, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure that improves access to public transportation, projects that connect residents to community activities, environmental mitigation, and other improvements that enhance transportation options.
The $750,000 TAP award is part of a larger effort by the City of Wooster to secure competitive state and federal funding for critical infrastructure improvements.
To date, the City has secured more than $9.4 million in competitive grant funding and external revenue allocations to support a series of infrastructure, street-paving, pedestrian-safety, and intersection improvement projects.
Together, the eight awarded grants represent a significant portion of the estimated $15.1 million in upcoming improvement costs across the city. The secured funding includes awards through the Transportation Alternatives Program, 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,” said Montgomery. “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 funded projects represent a multi-year investment in Wooster’s transportation infrastructure and include improvements to roadways, multi-use paths, and intersections.
The following projects have received funding and are anticipated to move forward over the coming years:
- WAY-Wooster Bike Loop Phase 3 — Targeted Construction: 2026
Estimated Construction Cost: $1,900,000 | TAP/Safety Grant Funding: $1,400,000 - WAY-VAR Wooster Streets Paving FY26 — Targeted Construction: 2026
Estimated Construction Cost: $900,000 | Large Cities Funding: $637,000 - WAY-302-0.51 Pedestrian Improvements — Targeted Construction: 2027
Estimated Construction Cost: $780,000 | Safety Grant Funding: $630,000 - WAY-VAR Wooster Streets Paving FY27 — Targeted Construction: 2027
Estimated Construction Cost: $1,200,000 | Large Cities Funding: $500,000 - WAY-W. Milltown Pedestrian Improvements — Targeted Construction: 2028
Estimated Construction Cost: $670,000 | TAP/Safety Grant Funding: $536,000 - Cleveland Road Roundabouts — Targeted Construction: 2029
Estimated Construction Cost: $7,000,000 | Congressionally Directed Spending: $3,750,000 - WAY-SR83/SR302 Urban Paving — Targeted Construction: 2029
Estimated Construction Cost: $1,900,000 | Urban Paving Funding: $1,300,000 - Clear Creek Area Shared-Use Path — Targeted Construction: 2031
Estimated Construction Cost: $750,000 | TAP Grant Funding: $750,000
Although the projects span several years, the combined investments reflect a coordinated approach to maintaining existing infrastructure and preparing Wooster’s transportation network for future needs.
Projects include roadway resurfacing and preservation, improvements designed to enhance pedestrian safety, expansion of the city’s multi-use path network, and intersection improvements.
For more information regarding upcoming city projects and engineering schedules, please visit the City of Wooster’s official website www.woosteroh.com.