The city of Hamilton has recently undertaken two actions that will be welcomed by walkers and bicyclists, and may increase the likelihood of additional grants.
City Council merged Hamilton’s new Active Transportation Plan with its overall strategic improvement plan, referred to as Plan Hamilton. The council also authorized a grant application to obtain $187,290.00. The money from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Clean Ohio Trail Fund was to go to linking bike paths along the Great Miami River to those along the Little Miami River by the construction of a Miami-to-Miami bike trail spanning a mile and a half.
A poster printing service is an effective way of informing the public of city improvements from which they can benefit.
The first action concentrates on improvements for pedestrian and cyclists. As road-paving projects arise, a document, created with the help of a consulting firm, is consulted for each individual stretch of road to determine whether a bike lane should be added.
Hamilton’s eligibility for the Safe Routes to School grant of $367,000-plus was the result of the city’s work on an active transportation plan. The money was used for sidewalks leading to Linden Elementary School.
Completed in 2018, the Miami-to-Miami Action Plan prioritized a route following a portion of the old Miami & Erie Canal corridor. Hamilton’s local-share payment of the Action Plan would go from $423,112 to 46,822 with the hoped for ODNR grant.
