HOWLAND — Pedestrian safety was a front-and-center topic Wednesday as trustees entered an agreement with a local goods producer to improve the quality of access in its area.

Trustees approved an agreement between the township and Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic Corporation, a Warren-based induction heating and melting systems manufacturer, to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility along Overland Avenue.

According to the resolution, the township agrees to administer and oversee the project’s implementation and cover the engineering and administrative costs, while Ajax TOCCO will cover the improvements.

Planning Director Kim Mascarella said the $28,440 listed as the project’s estimated cost is the project’s cost alone — not including the administrative and engineering costs. She said those are estimated to be $4,000. The township will ultimately own the improvements, however, as they are located in one of its right-of-ways.

Mascarella said the company’s management reached out to the township, expressing concerns about Overland Avenue’s safety — especially with their parking lot being across from their facility.

“The facility is located on the north side of the street, and all of their parking is located on the south side of Overland, and they have two or three shifts,” Mascarella said. “So there’s a lot of employees crossing the street, and they commented they’ve had some near-misses.”

Mascarella said representatives asked if there was anything the township could do to help slow traffic and make people aware that there were many people crossing the street.

She said the township enlisted the services of GPD Group, a Youngstown-based architecture firm, which put together a plan to increase signage and add crosswalk markings. The agreement presented at the meeting was the final product of that planning, which will allow the improvements to begin.

“(Public Works Director) David’s (McCann) group have ordered some signs and speed limit signs, so they’re going to be installed in that,” Mascarella said. “It’s a collaborative project, and Ajax TOCCO is very grateful for the improvements there.”

PEDESTRIAN VISIBILITY

During the meeting’s public comments session, one resident expressed her concerns about pedestrians walking at night throughout the township.

Arlene Keen, a Howland resident of 47 years, told officials that she was concerned about the safety of walkers in the neighborhoods, saying that there were no sidewalks or streetlights on the roads — only in intersections.

Because of that, Keen said she was asking them for help informing residents, possibly on the township’s website, about wearing visibility shirts or vests — like the one she wore to the meeting as an example — when they walk to help motorists see them better.

“I work at the Ohio Turnpike, and so I come home at 10, 11 at night, and sometimes I see walkers out with black, dark clothing,” Keen said. “One lady last summer, she was dressed in black with white tennis shoes; (the shoes) was the only way I saw her. She was walking along the left-hand side, but I’m asking for your help if there’s any way we could promote the visibility vests.”

Police Chief Nick Roberts said anyone can come to the police department and pick up a visibility vest for free; all they have to do is bring identification showing they live in Howland. “Also, our officers carry those in their cars, so if they’re driving at night and see someone wearing all black, they’ll give them one for free,” Roberts said.