The City of Stowe Council voted on Oct. 9 to adopt an updated Safe Routes to School travel plan required by the Ohio Department of Transportation to apply for infrastructure and noninfrastructure grants.

The plan, presented by Planning Director William Cowan, updates a 2010 document and maps high-priority sidewalk, crossing and education needs within two miles of the city schools. Cowan told council the ODOT program reimburses up to 100% of eligible infrastructure costs (engineering, design, construction, right-of-way) up to $1 million per project and up to $60,000 (or $120,000 for two-year projects) for education and encouragement activities.

Why it matters: adoption restores the city's eligibility to compete for ODOT funds that can pay for sidewalks, crosswalks and safety education without local matching funds. The plan prioritizes improvements around Fish Creek Road, Graham Road and near the high school and Holy Family School, and proposes both short-term education efforts and longer-term sidewalk construction.

Cowan said the update included walking audits at every school, parent and principal surveys and an equity analysis that highlighted areas with higher concentrations of disadvantaged residents. He told council that about 60% of students take the bus, roughly 30% travel by family vehicle and a small percentage walk or bike, and that 56% of responding parents described walking and biking as "unsafe" or "very unsafe" under current conditions.

Cowan said the city has previously used Safe Routes to School funding for sidewalk construction and improved crossings and that the updated plan will allow the city to submit applications early next year; he noted ODOT website shows a March 6, 2026 application deadline for the next funding cycle.

Council members emphasized the volume of sidewalk needs identified in the plan and asked administration to pursue both grant applications and local budgeting to accelerate repairs and gap-filling. The council adopted the supporting resolution by roll-call vote; the measure was presented with an emergency clause.

"In order to apply for this funding, the plan has to be updated every five years," Cowan said during committee presentation. "Last time this was updated was in 2010. So we are 10 years behind the ball, but we're getting updated so we can be eligible for funding."

What happens next: staff will complete a final public comment exhibit from an Oct. 27 open house, seek endorsements from school leaders and submit grant applications. Council and staff discussed using the plan to prioritize local sidewalk investments if state funding is not awarded.