News Summary
The York County Council has approved funding to begin design work on eight road projects under the Pennies For Progress initiative, aiming to enhance local infrastructure. A $20 million loan will allow work to start ahead of receiving tax funds approved in November. The Pennies For Progress program is expected to generate $410 million over the next seven years for county-wide road improvements.
York County Council Takes Big Steps Forward on Road Improvements
Exciting news from York County! The York County Council has given the green light for funding to kick off design work on eight road projects, all part of the Pennies For Progress initiative that local voters approved just last November. This is a major step in enhancing the infrastructure in our community and fixing those bumpy roads we all love to complain about!
In a previous meeting back on January 21, the Council decided to “fast-track” some of these Pennies Five projects. They approved a significant loan of $20 million from the County’s general fund, enabling work to start immediately. With the Pennies For Progress tax approved, the County won’t actually receive those tax funds until October, making this loan a critical piece of the puzzle.
Getting Things Rolling
This loan will be recouped over three years through the funds collected from the one-cent sales tax. The fifth round of the Pennies For Progress program is anticipated to generate approximately $410 million over the next seven years. This enormous sum will help county-wide road improvements, making daily commutes a little more bearable for all of us!
The eight projects that received approval are as follows:
- Tom Joye Rd/St. Paul Church Road: $283,430
- US 321/Devinney Road: $246,682
- Bethel St./Jackson Terrace: $321,365
- Ebinport Rd/Marett Blvd: $875,966
- Church St/E. Jefferson St.: $344,645
- Church St/E. Liberty St./Hunter St: $375,765
- US 21 Widening: $4,853,228
- Hwy 49/Blucher Circle: $409,438
It’s important to note that these amounts cover only the engineering design costs and do not factor in the eventual construction expenses.
More Projects in the Pipeline
Earlier this year, in March, two additional projects were also approved for design. These include US 321/Old North Main St. for $366,835 and Hwy 55/Maynard Grayson for $107,477. It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot of activity on our roads soon!
Alongside these eight projects, the Council is also embarking on around $15 million in road resurfacing projects anticipated to start this year. A total of seven more design agreements are expected to come before the council for approval in the near future, so stay tuned for more updates!
The Legacy of Pennies For Progress
The Pennies initiative first launched back in 1997 has been a game-changer, leading to substantial improvements in the county’s road networks, including the widening and resurfacing of hundreds of miles. The fifth round of the program allocates $225 million to tackle projects not completed from previous campaigns due to inflation and rising costs, which have sadly been amplified by the recent global pandemic.
Among these planned improvements, a highlight is the extensive work on U.S. 21 in Fort Mill, set to be the largest new project at a staggering nearly $45 million. This is four times the cost of the next biggest project, showcasing just how invested we are in upgrading our roadways!
Past voter turnout for the Pennies campaigns has been impressive, with approval rates on the rise over the years. The upcoming Pennies 5 initiative coincides with a presidential election, which usually boosts voter turnout even more, meaning it could be a great opportunity for folks to show their support for our roads.
In fact, if the Pennies 5 initiative doesn’t get the nod from voters, it’s safe to say that the ambitious list of proposed projects may never see the light of day. So, it’s critical for everyone to stay informed and engaged in this discussion as the vote approaches!
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Additional Resources
- Herald Online: Local News Article 1
- Wikipedia: Road
- Herald Online: Local News Article 2
- Google Search: York County Pennies For Progress
- WSOC TV: Multimillion-Dollar York County Road Project
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Infrastructure
- Herald Online: Politics & Government Article
- Google News: York County Road Improvements
- Herald Online: Local News Article 3
- Google Scholar: York County Council
