CANTON – The St. Lawrence County Health Initiative has awarded $17,000 to ensure safer travel for cars, bicycles and wheel chairs in Colton and Ogdensburg.

Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play Coordinator Tracy Moody said the money would help fund the “Completing the Streets project,” funded by the New York State Department of Health.

“As communities are making difficult choices, today’s announcement represents an important investment in local health and safety programs, helping preserve St. Lawrence County’s quality of life.” said Mrs. Moody.

The City of Ogdensburg and the Town of Colton received a total of $7,000 in March 2013 to purchase materials needed to make these communities streetscapes safer places for all modes of travel, whether it be by car, foot, wheelchair or bicycle, Moody said.

The communities are also slated to receive another $10,000 in funding during 2013 to further support physical activity in their communities.

Colton and Ogdensburg agree, in exchange for funding, to enact a Complete Streets policy within the next 12 months and implement at least one traffic calming strategy to support their new policy.

Traffic calming strategies will be in the form of new crosswalks at key community locations, traffic calming signage and, in some instances, sidewalks to make walking easier and safer to key community gathering places.