Rep. McNally Announces $650K State Grant to Improve Student Safety in the Village of Poland

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced that the Village of Poland in Mahoning County has been awarded $650K from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program. The funding will support a major infrastructure project aimed at enhancing safety for students walking and biking to school.

“Every child deserves a safe route to school, and this investment in Poland reflects our commitment to building safer, more walkable communities for our students,” said Rep. McNally. “This project is a win for families, neighborhoods, and the long-term health and safety of our kids.”

The project includes the installation of high-visibility crosswalks at ten signalized intersections throughout the village, as well as the construction of new sidewalks on College Street, Lee Drive, and Michigan Boulevard. Work is expected to begin in 2028 and is designed to improve accessibility and promote safer travel options for families and students in the Poland school community.

The Safe Routes to School program funds projects that encourage and enable students in grades K–12 to safely walk or bike to school. Supported activities include infrastructure improvements, education, and community engagement around transportation safety.

Since its launch in 2005, the program has awarded approximately $90M in funding across Ohio.