Changes delay plaza project

ODOT's procedure changes will affect more than just the Youngstown project.
& lt;a href=mailto:rgsmith@vindy.com & gt;By ROGER SMITH & lt;/a & gt;
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Last-minute bureaucratic steps will push the Federal Street reconstruction project start into early next year.
City officials were crushed to learn that the project to reopen downtown's pedestrian plaza to traffic would endure yet another long delay.
New Ohio Department of Transportation procedures effective today are to blame. The city was nearly ready to bid out the project after almost seven years of preparation.
'Changed the rules'
"This was like putting an arrow through my heart," said Carmen Conglose Jr., city deputy director of public works. "They changed the rules in the middle of the game."
ODOT's new procedures, which apply statewide, are to tighten oversight of how local governments spend federal dollars, said Jennifer Richmond, an agency spokeswoman. A $2.08 million grant is funding the bulk of the $3 million Federal Street project.
The changes affect all communities that use ODOT's Local Public Agency process. The program lets local governments handle much of a highway project itself, instead of the state. The idea was to reduce the burden of the shrinking state transportation department. ODOT, however, wants to assure local governments are spending federal money properly.
Federal Street was among the first projects to come under the program, Conglose said.
'Disappointed'
Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, whose ward includes downtown, said, "I'm disappointed as hell. You can't believe how disappointed I am."
Conglose stressed that the city was ready to start the project. The city now will spend a minimum of four to six months complying with the new requirements, he said.
ODOT's procedure changes will affect more than just the Youngstown project, said Kathleen Rodi, director of transportation at the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
Highway projects in Warren, Niles, Mahoning and Trumbull counties and the village of Poland likely will see some delay until those governments can comply with the new rules, she said.
Youngstown asked about getting a waiver from the new rules for the Federal Street project. ODOT said there is no process for that, Conglose said.
So, the city now will bid out the project around Jan. 1, presuming there are no further delays, he said.
The city was to use the federal grant by early 2004. But no agency has told the city that the grant is in jeopardy, Conglose said.
The city can do some work in the winter. The public, however, probably won't notice much progress for a while, Conglose said.
"You likely won't see too much action until spring," he said.
& lt;a href=mailto:rgsmith@vindy.com & gt;rgsmith@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;