Toledo: Grant received for Front, Main streets improvements

A $28 million federal grant for the City of Toledo’s River East project will support major improvements to the Front Street and Main Street corridors, connecting East Toledo to the downtown riverfront and Glass City Metropark, mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said.
The grant award, announced last week, will also cover safety improvements and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with disabilities, the mayor said.
“By connecting neighborhoods, enhancing safety, and creating a family-friendly, walkable destination in the Garfield neighborhood of East Toledo, we are reshaping Front Street into a gateway to riverfront revitalization,” he said.
The mayor noted Front Street has high traffic volumes and speeds and few intersections with signals, making crossing difficult for pedestrians and other users. Front Street’s intersections with Main and the Craig Bridge – key points of connection to the two bridges that link East Toledo with the downtown area – are also among the most dangerous in the region by crash severity.
Dave Zenk, executive director of Metroparks Toledo, said that although the Glass City Riverwalk is only a quarter completed, it is creating a momentum and “having a transformative effect on the community.”
“All levels of government are working together, along with neighborhoods and businesses, to create the best riverfront in the nation,” he said “Bringing federal dollars back to Northwest Ohio for Front Street, the Martin Luther King Bridge, and Riverwalk is critical to realizing our vision for the region.”
Mayor Kapszukiewcz said the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a total of $48 million in grants to the city.
The latest grant was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.
“In recent years, the City of Toledo has made significant investments to revitalize our downtown and riverfront districts,” Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur said. “With the Glass City Metropark among its most popular attractions, neighbors and visitors from across our Northwest Ohio region will experience economic opportunity and cultural amenities afforded by greater access to our improving waterfront.”