The City of Struthers will receive a $500,000 grant from the State in order to make a school route safer for students.

On July 2, the State and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced $8.5 million in grants for infrastructure projects to improve safety for K-12 students walking and biking to and from school in 19 counties.

Projects were selected by a committee from ODOT and the Ohio Department of Health based on the ability to demonstrate improved bike or pedestrian connectivity, improved safety, number of students impacted, economic need and available funding.

The city will use its grant to improve the side path along the east side of 5th Street from Elm Street to Poland-Struthers Road.

The project, expected to be completed by 2027 according to ODOT, will benefit those students in Struthers Middle and High School, which are in direct proximity to the project.

Since its inception in 2005, ODOT's Safe Routes to School program has provided more than $83 million to schools, municipalities, health districts, park districts or key non-profit partners to improve safety for students.