Eastgate planning authority awaits OK from government

YOUNGSTOWN -- Officials from the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments are confident their planning process will be approved by the federal government later this month.
"I think they felt we wouldn't have any problems," said Kathleen Rodi, a projects engineer for Eastgate.
Planning process: Eastgate officials met with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration for two days this week to discuss approval of the planning process.
The two federal agencies must approve the planning process every three years for Eastgate to be eligible for federal funding.
Eastgate is responsible for creating short- and long-term plans to address planning issues in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and in Conneaut in Ashtabula County.
Public involvement: Rodi said that after this week's meetings federal officials praised Eastgate for involving the public in the planning process. However, they also said that Eastgate's plans don't take into account the possible development of a major freight business in the area.
Eastgate should plan for that possibility, the federal representatives said.
The final certification report is expected to be issued before the end of May.