Updated Feb. 11, 2024
Akron City Council passed the new administration's $361,004,779 Capital Investment and Community Development budget plan at its Feb. 12th meeting. Akron's Planning Commission approved the budget plan at their final 2023 regular meeting. Council's Planning and Economic Development Committee held multiple public hearings after which a final vote was taken.
25% of revenues for the proposed capital improvement plan come from local sources. The other three-fourths come from state, federal, and private sources with the majority coming from the state of Ohio. A significant majority (58%) of the 2024 capital improvement plan will be spent on sewer projects. This is typical given the EPA-mandated sewer overhaul. 11% is proposed for parks and recreation maintenance. 6% for transportation-related projects (including road resurfacing). 4% is proposed to improve and maintain public facilities. Finally, only 3% of the 2024 capital improvement plan dollar are designated to support housing, and just 2% for economic development.
Highlights for Ward 8 include:
- Castle Blvd Rail Crossing ($127,000) - addition of a traffic signal at Castle and Winhurst for railroad crossing control, preemption for rail.
- Castle Blvd. Storm Outlet ($205,000) - replacement of the Castle Blvd. storm sewer outlet which is failing and causing erosion of the slope.
- Fire Station #12 Replacement ($586,000) - while the new station sits technically in Ward 4, these close out dollars will pay for the demolition of the vacated fire station on W. Market St across from Acme #1.
- Miller Road Resurfacing, Ridgewood-Market St ($500,539) - remove/replace existing asphalt, upgrade curb ramps, apply new pavement markings for traffic control.
- Riverview Road Resurfacing ($400,000) - closeout charges for roadway improvements.
- Akron-Peninsula Rd Multi-Use Trail ($50,000) - design for multi-use trail along Akron-Peninsula Rd.
- Northwest Rec Center ($50,000) - renovations to softball field including new scoreboard.
- CVSR Merriman Valley Train Station ($100,000) - design of a Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train station in the Merriman Valley Business District.
- Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Program ($1.7M) - this city-wide program will include "patch and match" improvements to Wiltshire Road this summer (I've been promised). This is not a full roadway improvement, so it won't address failed curbs, driveway envelopes, etc. Rather it's a process where the city removes broken sections of concrete and replaces with new concrete. This is not a global solution to all the failing concrete roads in Ward 8 and across the city, but it's a start. The Public Service department knows we need somehow rid Akron of concrete roadways, and they are working on cost-effective solutions.
Have an idea for the 2025 capital budget? Let me know!