Local News

Columbia Drive ‘Road to Progress’ opens

ST. CLAIR TWP. -- After making progress for 20 years toward the opening of a new road in St. Clair Township, "Columbia Drive-The Road to Progress" was officially opened with a ribbon- cutting ceremony Thursday morning.

"I'm proud and thankful to have the opportunity to be part of this special day and the journey it has taken to get here and celebrate the opening of Columbia Drive," Trustee Jim Sabatini said. "Through perseverance and hard work our township is moving forward."

The event was attended by many of the people involved in the project including township trustees, Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson, Mike Pusateri, Pusateri Excavating; Columbiana County Commissioners, the St. Clair Road Department crew, chiefs, officers and firefighters from the townships police and fire department, Dallis Dawson of Dallis Dawson and Associates, the engineer behind the project, Linda Bailiff, Ohio Public Works; State Representative Monica Robb Blasdel (Dist. 79-R) and others.

According to Sabatini, the "Road to Progress" began with a vision formed 20 years ago to move the township forward to provide a safe and prosperous place to live.

Trustee Bob Swickard gave some background leading up to the creation of Columbia Drive and referred to the township as a constant work in progress.

Swickard recalled how he and Sabatini penned the township's 20/20 Vision plan on one of several trips the two made to Washington DC to get funding that was submitted to the Ohio Department of Development in 2001.

The 20/20 Vision Plan led to the identification of five key projects the township was in of to help alleviate traffic issues and increase development.

The Columbia Drive project began with a second widening of state Route 170, increasing it from three to five lanes. Next was the construction of McGuffy Drive and then the creation of Columbia Drive in two phases.

Columbia Drive Part A was completed in 2008 at a cost of $750,000 and paid for with grant funding. Columbia Drive Part B was completed Oct. 2023 at a cost of $2.3 million. Part B was funded with a $1.8 million dollar interest free loan from Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC), a $250,000 grant from the Columbiana County Commissioners and $250,000 from St. Clair Township TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District Money.

McGuffy Drive alleviated state Route 170 of approximately 6,000 cars.

Swickard noted that prior to the new road's construction when a traffic count was done during peak traffic times there were 27,000 cars on state Route 170 and the township only had a population of 8,000 which means that there were a lot of people coming in from all over to shop in the area.

The trustees made sure to thank Fiscal Officer Deb Dawson for being ready when the opportunity to proceed with Part B of Columbiana Drive presented itself and worked with (Bert) Dawson and Bill Helscel, Columbiana County Engineers Office to secure the loan needed.

Bailiff noted that the loan was quite significant in many ways. In the 37 years/37 rounds of providing infrastructure dollars, the loan to St. Clair Township for the project was the largest loan made by the OPWC in Columbiana County and the largest one in OPWC's District 14.

Typically, most of the funding goes into repair and replacement projects because the law says they take priority over new or expanding projects which don't really get that much money, Bailiff said.

"Funds are very competitive. As you can imagine, infrastructure needs are vast, significant and everywhere in the state of Ohio, nationally and even internationally," Bailiff said. "But what makes this project so significant is that it brought crucial elements to the table that District 14 recognized and scored accordingly."

The project ranked fourth out of 39 applications in that round and scored a maximum number of points in eight of the 12 categories.

"That says a lot about perseverance. The community determined it addressed a critical need for the county and it brought 21% of other funding sources to the table including federal dollars and the project has the ability to generate revenue," Bailiff said. "Again, this is very significant and not very common. The project is important and significant regionally so with that I want to congratulate the St.Clair township administration."

Trustee Jordan Williams said the trustees are thankful that the OWPC awarded the loan to the township and is grateful to the Columbiana County Board of Commissioners for their contributions.

"The vision of the St. Clair Township Board of Trustees, my predecessor, Mr. Jim Hall, and Fiscal Officer Deb Dawson is coming to fruition," Williams said. "I'm grateful for the work and perseverance of all the people and agencies involved. It is an exciting day for St. Clair Township, and I am thrilled with the opportunities this new infrastructure will present."

"Just about everyone here today has had a hand in this and I think we can all be real proud of what was accomplished here by the perseverance that a lot of people had for a long period of time," (Bert) Dawson said.

Dawson said the next step would be since they have the money, lighting up the street.

Dawson recalled being a child and going with his dad in 1952 Plymouth to Neffer's Ice Cream. Back then the area was all farmland.

"Since then, it's all changed and it will all continue to change, "he said. "This road to progress will continue to change. You can come back here in 20 years, and it will be built up on both sides. It will mean jobs, it will mean opportunities for our schools to grow, for our township to grow and I just think it will be an unmitigated great thing for moving forward and that a lot of people's work is accomplished."

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com