Cincinnati students map dangerous school routes

Students and parents in Cincinnati marked up maps at Westwood Town Hall on Monday night to show city officials where the walk to school feels most dangerous. The public session is part of an update to the city's five-year Safe Routes to School plan.

City officials previously reported that nearly one in four traffic crashes in Cincinnati over the last three years occurred within 1,000 feet of a school. This current phase of the plan focuses on the western corridor, which includes Ethel M. Taylor Academy, Rees Price Academy, Robert Academy, and Western Hills High School.

Ava Robinson, a Western Hills student, pointed to specific hazards in the Clifton neighborhood where she lives. She noted that streetlights in that area are often dim or out. Robinson said she was once clipped by a school bus on her way to class.

Richard Cox, also a student at Western Hills, described the frustration of crossing streets near school. He said that when pedestrians press the crosswalk button, most cars pass by instead of stopping. Cox said the wait for buses and traffic makes morning arrivals stressful.

Robinson suggested several changes to improve safety in the area. She proposed narrowing the lanes for cars to create wider sidewalks. She also called for more bike lanes and additional streetlights.

Councilmember Mark Jeffreys said the city will use this direct input to identify specific trouble spots. The health department is preparing a $1 million grant application to fund the necessary improvements. Jeffreys explained that officials will design solutions based on the community's feedback about specific intersections.

The city health department expects to submit the state grant application in early 2027. The funding would pay for the infrastructure changes identified by students and residents during these planning sessions.