Crocker-Stearns funding facing 20 percent cut
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published July 27, 2005

Mayor Thomas O'Grady is concerned that federal legislators may be taking the proposed Crocker-Stearns extension project down the wrong road.

Members of the House and Senate conference committee are working on resolving the differences between the two versions of transportation project legislation. One Senate proposal would cut $180,000 out of the $900,000 obtained by Rep. Dennis Kucinich and his colleagues in the House legislation. If approved, the fund reduction would be part of an across-the-board 20 percent cut in House priority projects.

O'Grady said taking $180,000 out of the long-awaited project would be a blow to North Olmsted and the Westshore.

"We've been working on getting that project underway for some time," O'Grady said. "It's been in the planning stages for over 30 years. To lose that kind of funding at this stage would be a major problem for the work. It's a major project for our area because there is no major north-south connector for transportation in our region."

Because of tight fiscal budgets in recent years, North Olmsted has had problems obtaining its share of funds for the Crocker-Stearns extension project, which will provide connections between the two heavily traveled roadways.

O'Grady said North Olmsted would be hard-pressed to find the funds else be hard-pressed to find the funds elsewhere.

"At this point, I would say we are concerned about the possible loss of funds at the federal level," O'Grady said. "If the one bill does indeed come to pass, then we would have to make some very hard decisions in the city at the budget level."

George Nashar, chairman of North Olmsted's Streets and Transportation Committee, said he's concerned the project may be delayed.

"We're supposed to get it going in 2006 and losing $180,000 could hurt that," Nashar said. "If we don't get the amount of federal money we anticipated it could push it back again and after nearly 30 years people don't want that. If we had to find it somewhere else I don't know where we would get that kind of money right now."

O'Grady said he does not want to make the project wait any longer.

"We really don't want to do that, and I don't think we can do that much longer," O'Grady said. "If we lose those federal funds, then I think we would have to look at other areas of the city budget to try and find the money and keep the project moving forward."

O'Grady said he wants to see how the federal legislation is finalized before speculating on what action the city would take to compensate for the loss of any federal funds.

"We're in close contact with Congressman Kucinich about the situation and he is working closely with us to try and ensure the funding," O'Grady said. "I also discussed the situation with Sen. (George) Voinovich at a recent meeting and he was sympathetic to our concerns. I've followed that up with letters to Sens. Voinovich and (Mike) DeWine about the situation. We're going to stay on top of this."

In his letter, O'Grady outlined how the Crocker-Stearns project has developed and how the loss of $180,000 would have a major impact on the North Olmsted portion of the project.

"It is imperative that you understand that this project not only enhances North Olmsted, but also the many other communities on the west side of Cuyahoga County and the eastern portion of Lorain County," the mayor wrote.

"Based upon the needs in this city and the importance of this project for our region, I cannot urge you strongly enough to reject the proposal to reduce House High Priority Projects."

Doug Gordon, Kucinich's press secretary, said the congressman is working to preserve the House funding.

"He has been speaking with his colleagues in the Conference Committee and he closely been monitoring the progress of all the transportation projects in the district," Gordon said. "In particular, he has been working on the concerns expressed by Mayor O'Grady because he knows how vital the project is to that area. He's confident the district projects will receive appropriate funding."

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough said he supports O'Grady's efforts.

"That project benefits the entire Westshore," Clough said. "Westlake, North Olmsted and everybody involved has worked very hard to try and get the project underway. We would support Mayor O'Grady in asking that the funds remain in the project and that the project be kept on track."

Officials from Voinovich's office are still in the process of reviewing the matter and are awaiting a final decision from the conferees.