Rep. Troy Announces $1 Million Traffic Safety Grant for Willoughby Hills Sidewalk Project
COLUMBUS - State Rep. Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) today announced that the City of Willoughby Hills has been awarded a $1,017,000 Traffic Safety Grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to support a sidewalk expansion project along SOM Center Road (SR-91) and Chardon Road (US-6), a key commercial corridor for the city.
“As a member of the House Transportation Committee and the House Finance Committee that worked on the Ohio Department of Transportation budget, I strongly advocated for more traffic improvement dollars to address critical public safety issues such as this one in Willoughby Hills,” said Rep. Troy.
The grant will help fund the installation of new sidewalks along the business corridor to eliminate longstanding gaps in pedestrian access. These additions are part of Willoughby Hills’ broader infrastructure improvement plan and are intended to increase the safety and accessibility of the area.
Willoughby Hills Mayor and Safety Director, Christopher Hallum, emphasized the importance of this project, recalling often seeing residents, including “the elderly and folks in wheelchairs,” navigating the shoulder of the busy road to get from business to business. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project’s progress and the improvements it will make to the city.
“Mayor Hallum has contacted me on several occasions seeking whatever assistance might be available to help install needed sidewalk infrastructure along the state (SR-91) and federal (US-6) highways that intersect his community. I’m glad that we have been able to designate dollars in the transportation budget bill to address this situation, and I applaud Mayor Hallum and his City Council members for their efforts in justifying the importance of this funding to state decision makers," concluded Rep. Troy.
The ODOT grant will cover approximately one-third of the project’s total cost, with the remaining funding coming from a Lake County Community Development Block Grant and Willoughby Hills’ remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds—federal dollars that were allocated to local governments for pandemic recovery and economic revitalization.
In addition to improving pedestrian safety, Mayor Hallum hopes the project will support continued business development, demonstrating the city’s commitment to both current businesses and prospective investors in the area. The business district is already home to several restaurants and shops with plans for several additional businesses underway – including a new Chipotle, which began construction in June.
Construction on the sidewalk project began in mid-June and is expected to be completed in early August. According to Mayor Hallum, pedestrians are already utilizing the completed sidewalk segments, and he is glad to see the positive impact the project is already having on his community.