WARREN — City council on Wednesday unanimously approved six infrastructure projects targeting upgrades to traffic signals, roads and sidewalks to enhance safety and accessibility, particularly for low-income residents and those with disabilities, beginning in the 6th Ward.

Paul Makosky, director of Warren’s Engineering, Planning and Building Department, said the consent agenda items were needed to leverage federal funding to minimize local costs.

A report from his department states that the first project allocates $760,000 in federal grants to replace outdated traffic signal heads citywide. Most signals, aged 30 to 40 years, exceed their 20-year lifespan, and new installations will improve traffic flow and safety.

Two road resurfacing projects also gained approval.

Main Avenue, from the city’s southern limit to South Street (U.S. 422), will undergo a $1.1 million overhaul, with 80% funded federally. The project is scheduled for 2030. Elm Road, from South Street to the state Route 82 bypass, will see a $4.2 million resurfacing, also 80% federally funded, and is set for 2031. These roads, last paved in 2014 and 2016, respectively, aim to ensure smoother, safer drives, according to a report.

Additionally, two sidewalk repair initiatives, Neighborhood Sidewalks Phase 1 and Phase 2, will improve walkways in underserved areas.

The report states that Phase 1, which will cost $553,330, targets streets including Sunset, Bonnie Brae and Westview, while Phase 2, at $557,455, covers Larchmont, Youngstown Road and others. Both projects, which are 80% funded by federal Transportation Alternatives Program grants, address neighborhoods where 35% of residents live in poverty, 13.2% have disabilities, and 12.7% lack vehicles that are rated higher than Ohio’s averages, per U.S. Census data.

The report states that from 2010 to 2019, Warren recorded 88 pedestrian accidents, including seven fatalities, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Upgraded sidewalks, compliant with accessibility standards, aim to reduce such incidents by providing safe, walkable paths, especially for wheelchair users.

The final measure permits the Ohio Department of Transportation to maintain a bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad on U.S. 422, fully state-funded, planned for 2027.

Makosky said preliminary engineering for the sidewalk projects is complete, with detailed designs slated for 2026, pending grant approval.

The projects will use existing public land and replace only damaged sidewalk sections to cut costs. By securing federal funds, Warren aims to enhance infrastructure without straining local budgets, fostering a safer, more accessible community, Makosky said.