The Village of Bluffton learned last week that it is a major recipient of a 2019 Ohio Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant. The funds will be awarded in 2023.

Nineteen Ohio municipalities were selected to share $16.1 million in funding. Bluffton will receive $840,000, which is one of the largest state grants ever received by the village.

Jesse Blackburn, village administrator, informed Bluffton council about the grant at its Sept. 9 meeting.

Click here to view the entire list of grant recipients.

He explained that the funds will create a 10-foot wide pedestrian pathway and 6-foot side sidewalks along State Route 103 from the County Line Road to Lions Way Trail.

Here’s the wording about the project from ODOT: “to  construct a shared use path along the south side of State Route 103/Jefferson Street from the County Line Road to Wendy’s Restaurant. The path will then cross the road and continue east on the north side of State Route 103. Ending along Commerce Lane, it will turn north and connect to the Lions Way Trail.”

Blackburn said that the project will also include decorative street lighting along the entire path.

The 2023 project ties in perfectly to the Jefferson Street upgrade. The result will be an attractive and safer route from Interstate 75 to Bluffton’s downtown.