News to us: Austintown told roundabout coming
$2.2M project set for ’27; trustees feel excluded
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AUSTINTOWN -- An infusion of state transportation money will bring a big change to a busy intersection.
Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday announced $61 million in funding for 27 new traffic safety projects in numerous counties. This round of funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Improvement Program includes the installation of Restricted Crossing U-Turns, roundabouts, sidewalks and other safety measures.
Of this, $2.2 million is planned for installing a single-lane roundabout on state Route 46 at New Road. Construction would begin in fiscal year 2027, according to the governor's announcement.
It is one of 17 new roundabouts to be added in Ohio as part of this program.
As the state proceeds to move forward with the project, however, Austintown Trustee Robert Santos said state officials have not spoken to "anyone from Austintown about it."
Santos added that the board of trustees feels excluded.
"We feel very discouraged that we have not been involved," Santos said. "The state's lack of communication is very disheartening, especially since we've been communicating about a sound wall for residents near the highway area (of state Route 11). … You would think they'd involve us."
Santos also is concerned about the Associated School Employees Credit Union located in the northwest corner of the intersection.
"As for future development, I would like to know if the business zoning has been considered," Santos explained. "We want to make sure that what they are planning is inclusive of everyone."
STATE PROCESS
According to the state, however, a roundabout is a proven safety countermeasure to reduce speed and prevent severe crashes at intersections. And, the projects were selected by a committee made up of ODOT staff with a background in funding and program management, safety analysis, traffic operations, roadway design and highway management.
"Safe roadways are essential to connecting people and businesses across Ohio," DeWine said. " With the investments made in these projects, we will help save countless lives on Ohio's roads."
Roundabouts are a proven design to reduce crashes by more than 48 percent, and serious injury and deadly crashes by nearly 80 percent when compared to a signalized intersection, according to the announcement. These roundabouts are designed with large trucks and farm equipment in mind and will include a "truck apron" in the middle that allows larger vehicles to ride up over a curb as they navigate through.
Other safety measures include a road reconfiguration, known as a road diet. This seeks to reallocate the cross-section of an existing road to better serve all modes of travel -- including walking, biking, and driving.
"Our top mission is to ensure that our roadways are built to be as safe as possible. The measures we're implementing with this program further that mission not only on roadways that ODOT maintains, but those maintained by local partners too," ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said.
Under the DeWine-Husted administration, ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program has grown to $185 million provided annually and is one of the largest traffic safety programs in the country, according to the governor's office.