A new state study identifies safety improvements as the top priority for a key highway corridor in East Ohio, despite low congestion risks.  The Ohio Department of Transportation released findings from its comprehensive highway corridor analysis, mandated by Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Legislature.

The study examined how Ohio’s highways can support statewide economic growth over the next 30 years, considering demographics, economic development, congestion risks, and travel needs.  It focused on major interregional corridors and their alignment with ODOT’s mission to provide a safe, accessible, well-maintained transportation system.

In East Ohio, the study focused on the Canton/Youngstown-West Virginia/Pennsylvania corridor (US 30, SR 11), which connects Northeast Ohio with West Virginia and the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.  While the region has experienced population and employment declines in urban cores like Canton and Youngstown, some suburban areas have seen growth.

The study found current and future congestion risks on US 30 and SR 11 to be low.  However, it identified safety concerns along US 30 between East Canton and Minerva, and on SR 11 from the I-80 interchange to the US 224 interchange, which has the highest crash frequency on the corridor.

As a result, the study recommends prioritizing safety improvements on US 30 in Stark and Columbiana counties.  Key strategies include improving intersections, consolidating driveways, and mitigating safety challenges like limited sight distances around curves.

Interstate 80 between the Ohio Turnpike and I-680 interchange has the highest daily volume in the region, between 52,000 and 57,000 vehicles per day.  Interstate 680 in downtown Youngstown also surpasses 50,000 vehicles per day. State Route 11 between Youngstown and Warren and State Route around Warren are the only non-interstate highways in East Ohio with over 25,000 trucks a day.

East Ohio is one of the least congested regions in the state, with current peak period congestion limited to segments of US20 and I-90 in Ashtabula County, US 422 northwest of Warren, the Ohio Turnpike from I-680 to the Pennsylvania state line, and along limited segments of US 62 between Salem and Youngstown.

The study concluded that realigning US 30 between Canton and SR 11 is not recommended due to low congestion risks, high costs, and feasibility constraints.  However, ODOT says will continue to monitor US 30 and SR 11 for development and address any emerging issues.

The broader study noted that East Ohio, despite being a gateway to Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets with assets like ports, universities, and freight hubs, population declined by more than 77,000 residents, or 10% between 1990 and 2020, the highest decline in the state for the period.

The Youngstown metropolitan area also saw significant job losses between 2017 and 2022, losing almost 12,000 wage-and-salary jobs, a 5% decrease. However, the study pointed to recent promising growth in energy and manufacturing, such as the Ultium Cells plant in Lordstown.  Traffic volumes in the region are generally well below roadway capacity, and no congestion risks are expected by 2055 due to projected population declines.