DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Dayton is looking to reshape its infrastructure with a RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The city is hoping that the grant will be approved by June. The goal is to enhance and improve the current infrastructure of heavily traveled corridors while connecting people to employment, educational, and cultural opportunities.
But most importantly, the project would improve safety and accessibility for transportation.
“Try to bring all these pieces together and kind of catalyze the innovation and creation that is happening within the city,” said David Escobar, city engineer for the city of Dayton.
The grant would allow for the redesign of West Third Street, Washington Street, Patterson Boulevard, Main Street, and Stewart Street.
Between the corridors, the project will bring new concrete sidewalks, planter beds with trees, new lighting and removal of some traffic lanes.
“There’s some curbing sidewalk, some resurfacing, some beautification, lighting and different other items, adding infrastructure for bikes and pedestrians. You know, just trying to make the connection between west and East and then north and south as well. From the VA down to the developments of the fairgrounds,” said Escobar.
This isn’t the first time Dayton has applied. Previously, the city applied and nearly crossed the finish line, but didn’t make it.
As for this year’s hope, Escobar says they’re confident but cautious.
“I’m hopeful we get a lot of good letter support from our delegations at the federal level. So that’s that’s always a positive, you know, and local support as well. So there’s a lot of lot of good interest, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” said Escobar.
And as far as feedback from the community, that’s something Escobar says they’re not there yet.
“Until we ultimately get across the finish line with the proposed project, we kind of temper excitement. So nobody’s nobody’s expecting something that is still up in the air,” said Escobar.
The city is currently waiting for approval before it starts designing and developing.
If approved, the project wouldn’t break ground until 2027.
