HOWLAND — Township trustees have approved using up to $40,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for a state Route 46 sidewalk project.

Kim Mascarella, township planning director, said a plan has been developed to determine where residents believe improvements are needed and then township officials will decide how to address them. Howland has received a $120,000 Ohio Department of Transportation grant to work on the plan. Mascarella said the sidewalk will allow people to safely walk and ride bikes around the township.

Mascarella said the proposed sidewalk will be north from the diverging diamond at state Routes 46 and 82 all the way to Howland Corners. She said the sidewalk will connect at the diverging diamond to East Market Street and be along the east side of Niles Cortland Road (Route 46).

She said the sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure were part of the township’s comprehensive plan.

Mascarella said the township will pursue grants for improvements. She said Toole Design facilitates the planning process and the grant money is paid to the firm rather than the township.

Mascarella said public input is being sought through a survey and map on the township website

locates dangerous intersections and where walking and biking routes should be added.

She said many people have commented at public meetings about being safe on their bikes traveling in the township, but noted the danger of crossing Route 46.

SPEED SIGNS

In other business, the township will use $5,977 in American Rescue Plan funds for the purchase of two additional police department speed signs. Police Chief Nick Roberts said the signs are not speed cameras, but let drivers know the speed they are traveling.

Roberts said the township now will have four signs, which are located in areas where there has been speed reported.

“We put the signs up in different neighborhoods where we receive speeding complaints.They collect a lot of good data for us such as how many vehicles are on that road and peak times when we have speeders on that road. This tells us what time we need to have officers in these areas,” Roberts said.

The first two signs were purchased last summer and sit below a speed limit sign.

“As someone approaches, these signs will flash how fast you are traveling,” Roberts said.

Trustees also are moving forward to get several streets paved in 2025 through the Ohio Public Works Commission.

Among the streets scheduled to be paved are Avalon, Valacamp and Crestview roads at a cost of $706,041.

Trustees approved participating in the Ohio Public Works Commission state capital improvement and local transportation improvement program. Howland will pay $556,041 for its local share of the project.

Officials said they use road levy money for projects like this.