Tamisha Matus, health planner with the Union County Health Department, is convinced that a small group of motivated people can make a big difference.
After learning the northern portion of the county will receive a nearly $2 million grant to improve pedestrian walkways thanks to the efforts of a local group, she’s sure of it.
“It just takes the right person, in the right place, at the right time,” Matus said.
Following a meeting with local community members and officials, the Ohio Department of Transportation will spend $1,934,772 to improve walkways in Broadway, Raymond, Irwin and Milford Center.
Matus said the funding came together through a meeting of a working group for the North Union Active Transportation Plan.
She said she was initially disappointed with the turnout, as she invited “probably 40 people” and around a dozen actually showed up.
Matus quickly realized, though, that it was the most motivated and passionate people who were participating.
The group included representatives from ODOT, North Union, the Richwood Public Library, Richwood Council, Magnetic Springs Council, Leesburg Township Trustees, the Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission and design consultants.
Matus said the conversations were completely “organic” and, surprisingly enough, resulted in millions of dollars from ODOT and five Capital Bill applications for which UCHD is awaiting notifications.
She said the discussions built on foundations she has built through attending township and council meetings and connecting with local people.
Relationships she has made beyond the county, such as through attending statewide rural transportation presentations and working closely with the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (CORPO) also came in handy.
Through her work, Matus keeps a running list of areas that local residents and officials feel need improvement and actively seeks funding sources.
So, when ODOT officials said they had funds available for sidewalk repairs in rural areas, she was ready with options.
Specifically, Matus focused on improvements that would “connect people to places,” like parks, schools, bus stops, healthy food locations and businesses, and remove existing safety concerns in getting there.
“We wanted small connections that make a big impact,” she said.
The ODOT funding will make it easier for those living in more rural areas to get to key destinations.
“The goal is to get people to make the choice to be active on their own,” Matus said.
In Broadway, ODOT will add sidewalk to the north side of Route 347, from just west of East Street to the cemetery driveway.
The project will also add an enhanced crosswalk with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB), or the neon, flashing signs that are activated when pedestrians press a button, at the Broad Street intersection connecting to the park.
The project in Raymond will fill sidewalk gaps on the south side of Route 347 and add enhanced crosswalks with RRFBs at the at the Delaware Avenue and Route 739 intersections. The sidewalk will be extended to the east across the Raymond Elementary School property and connect to Wood Longbrake Memorial Park.
Milford Center will see new bump-outs at the Mill Street and State Street intersection. ODOT will also fill in sidewalk gaps on Mill Street between Railroad Street and State Street and add an enhanced crosswalk with RRFB on Mill Street, connecting to Liberty Park.
ODOT will add a sidewalk to the north side of Route 161 in Irwin and an enhanced crosswalk with RRFB near the Post Office, maintaining the existing sidewalk across from the Post Office property, which is the school bus stop for the area.
The projects in the four areas are slated to be completed in 2028, according to ODOT documents.
Matus said no funds will actually change hands, as the projects are located within the public right-of-way, so ODOT will complete them at no cost to the municipalities.
Matus said she is optimistic that pedestrian projects will be completed in the Richwood and Magnetic Springs area in the future, but the sewer project in the area must be completed first so that walkways are not reconstructed then torn apart.
In the meantime, she encouraged community members to get involved and share their feedback.
Matus said those at the health department are eager to find “community-led solutions” and “see where ideas might plug in.”
“There are a lot of conversations happening in Union County,” she said. “People need to let their voices be heard.”