Congressional staffer discusses how infrastructure bill could fund U.S. 30 extension
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Could any part of the new federal infrastructure bill help fund the extension of the U.S. 30 expressway east from Canton to Columbiana County?
A staffer for U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez went over the elements Friday morning in a virtual meeting with officials of three counties.
Congress in November passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law.
Extending U.S. 30 to Route 44 is expected to cost at least $110 million. Extending the highway to state Route 15 in Columbiana County is expected to cost more than $1 billion.
Mike Cunnington of Gonzalez's office displayed a handout that listed different grant programs local governments could pursue.
That includes programs with an assortment of acronyms like RAISE, which stands for Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, which the bill allocates $7.5 billion. Or INFRA, which stands for Infrastructure for Rebuilding America, allocated $3.2 billion. Or obtaining financing by borrowing money through Surface Transportation Private Activity Bonds, for which the infrastructure bill allocates $500 million.
“US DOT has been very aggressive about getting this money out the door," he said.
More: Schuring: Consultant's death will not set back U.S. 30 project
Going over Route 30 funding options
Cunnington addressed officials from Stark, Columbiana and Carroll counties who make up the Regional Transportation Improvement Project.
The infrastructure bill makes it easier for entities like the RTIP to apply directly for federal grants or government-facilitated bond financing, he said. And the use of private partnership financing would improve the chances of getting the grant.
He also raised the question whether U.S. 30 could be designated an Appalachian highway, making it eligible for even more grant funding.
Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said the RTIP's consultants told him they're reaching out to 75 investors to see if they'd be interested in helping to finance the construction of the U.S. 30 extension.
In return, they would obtain an interest in the use of right-of-way along the corridor for commercial uses like high-speed broadband network connections or towers. Schuring referred to conversations he's had with CG/LA's investment officer Anand Hemnani and consultant Gordon Arbuckle of 2025 Law and Policy.
In response to a question by Stark County Engineer Keith Bennett, Schuring said he opposes a bill proposed by State Sen. Stephen Huffman, R-Tipp City, to reverse for five years the state gas tax increase of 2019, which funds road improvements. Schuring called it "the most nonsensical thing," saying it would only save an Ohio motorist an average of $150 a year.
Reach Robert at (330) 580-8327 or robert.wang@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @rwangREP.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Infrastructure bill could fund U.S. 30 expressway east from Canton
