Ungaro still has hope for Hubbard Expressway project

The state says a median would cause accidents on state Route 46.
By IAN HILL
and SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITERS
Liberty Township Administrator Pat Ungaro says he believes there's still hope for the Hubbard Expressway project, even though the state had been expected to scrap the project Monday.
"I'm not so sure it's over yet," he said.
The proposal to add a median to state Route 46 in Austintown, however, is most likely dead, Ungaro said, adding that he didn't think the Ohio Department of Transportation was going to change its position.
Ungaro, in his capacity as a member of the state Transportation Review Advisory Council, discussed the projects Tuesday with Mohamed Darwish, deputy director of ODOT District 4. The two met at a press conference on the governor's plan to improve transportation across the state.
ODOT was set to relinquish sponsorship of the $75 million Hubbard Expressway project Monday after no other communities agreed to sponsor the construction. The expressway would link Interstate 680 with Interstate 80 in Hubbard Township.
Ungaro said he believes he can work with TRAC and the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to keep the project alive. He wouldn't go into more detail, noting that more discussions would have to be held to reach a "reasonable compromise."
ODOT officials could not be reached.
Economic development
Ungaro said Darwish gave him information Tuesday showing how the project cost of the Hubbard Expressway has increased from $45.3 million to $75 million.
"I don't think any of these issues are enough to stop a project if it's important enough," he said.
Project supporters, including Ungaro, have said the expressway is needed to encourage economic development on Youngstown's East Side and in Hubbard city and township. ODOT said its mission is to address safety concerns, not to promote economic development.
John Getchey, Eastgate executive director, said he's still heard no word from ODOT about the expressway and Eastgate's request to extend the deadline for finding a new sponsor by at least 30 days.
Officials involved with the proposal said $400,000 of an original $3.2 million in federal funds is still available to complete the environmental documents that determine if the highway can be built.
There is also $2.7 million in state funds earmarked for the final design. The four-lane highway has been discussed at least since 1956.
Route 26 in Austintown
ODOT also announced earlier this year that it doesn't expect to turn Route 46 in Austintown into a boulevard with a raised median despite the request of a group of local residents and officials. The state is planning to widen Route 46 into as many as five lanes.
Ungaro said Darwish told him that the median would force drivers to make U-turns on the road to reach businesses and homes, thus increasing the number of accidents that would occur on the road.
Ungaro said he also mentioned to Darwish that there is still some concern in Austintown about ODOT's decision to build two new bridges to carry Interstate 80 across the Meander Reservoir.
Local and state officials had asked ODOT to build a causeway across the reservoir to provide access for emergency vehicles. ODOT scrapped the proposal because it would cost $22 million more than expected.