October 22, 2021 3:40 a.m.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have announced that the county has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Oregon Transportation Commission, as part of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Competitive Construction Grant Program.

Commissioners along with Public Works staff submitted the grant application cooperatively with three key contributors – the South Umpqua School District, Douglas Education Service District, and Thrive Umpqua, formerly known as the Blue Zones Project. Grant funding will focus on improving the school zone near Canyonville School, located on North Main Street. The release said much like the other SRTS projects in the county, the improvements will benefit not only students, staff and parents during school hours, but also residents and visitors to Canyonville’s Main Street every day.

Commissioner Tom Kress said Douglas County was one of only two applicants in Oregon to be awarded the full $2 million in funding for the 2021-2023 grant cycle. The county was one of 43 applicants to receive grant dollars from the Safe Routes to School Competitive Grant with ODOT. Kress said the enhancement of North Main Street in Canyonville has been pursued for many years., dating back to the 1990’s.

Proposed improvements include the installation of continuous sidewalks with ADA ramps and buffered bicycle lanes on both sides of North Main Street between Gazley Ridge Road and 1st Street in Canyonville. A rapid flashing pedestrian beacon, new school warning signs and new painted pavement and curb markings will be installed near the school. The release said the improvements aim to increase the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, maximizing healthy and efficient non-vehicular travel to and from Canyonville School.

The Canyonville SRTS project is currently seeking bids for the design work and is slated to begin construction sometime in 2023.