Crocker-Stearns extension gets extra federal funding
By Jeff Gallatin
Westshore
Published Aug. 3, 2005

Area officials think an additional $480,000 in Congressional aid for the Crocker-Stearns extension will help put that long-awaited project on the road to success with nearly $1.4 million in federal transportation funds.

"That's great for the entire area; we can certainly put the funds to good use on that project," said North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady, who last week was expressing concern that one Senate bill would have cut $180,000 out of the $900,000 approved for it in House of Representatives legislation. "That project will be a major benefit for not just North Olmsted and Westlake, but the entire Westshore. It will provide a major north-south artery road, which we really don't have at this point."

However, instead of cutting funds for the project when the House-Senate Conference Committee resolved differences between the two versions of the transportation project, it added the $480,000 for a total of $1,380,000 for the project.

Officials for Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-10, and Sen. George Voinovich said they were both working hard to get the Crocker-Stearns extension and other area transportation projects through.

"Congressman Kucinich had earmarked the legislation and was talking to different people about it," said Doug Gordon, Kucinich's press secretary. "He was very aware of its importance to the area."

Marcie Ridgway, Voinovich's press secretary, noted Voinovich had talked with O'Grady about the matter in July and received O'Grady's letter telling him North Olmsted would be hard-pressed to make up any cuts in federal funds.

"The senator worked on that and several other projects with other Ohio legislators to make sure they were funded," she said.

Kucinich said the final transportation bill was good for the area.

"This is a good day for Northeast Ohio and the nation," Kucinich said. "Northeast Ohio needs this money. Our community's economic strength, our ability to create jobs and improve business productivity, and our desire to create a safe, efficient transportation system are all-dependent upon increasing investment in our infrastructure. "This bill will yield substantial job growth and other economic benefits."

Both O'Grady and his Westlake counterpart Dennis Clough were pleased by the final federal figure.

"It's something people have been working on for a long time," Clough said. "I'm glad to see that North Olmsted is retaining funds it had sought for the project and I'm glad that Westlake will be getting some assistance from this as well."

George Nashar, chairman of North Olmsted City Council's Streets and Transportation committee, said the move should keep the project moving ahead again.

"People have been waiting nearly 30 years for this project," said Nashar, who has been on North Olmsted City Council for 16 years. "If they had cut the funds I'm not sure where we would have found funds in the city. Instead, there is additional help and it should still get going in 2006."

O'Grady said there will be an additional benefit to North Olmsted.

"When we get the extension up and running in a few years it will alleviate a lot of the traffic on some roads like Barton and Bradley and all the side roads that people have been taking to try and get through the area," O'Grady said. "That will be better for the neighborhoods and the traffic flow. We're certainly appreciative of all the hard work Congressman Kucinich, Senator Voinovich and all the officisals put into it on behalf of our area."

Clough said the extension will also bring additional people to and from the area for their jobs and visiting area shopping destinations.

"It will provide a strong economic benefit," Clough said.