Construction along North Main Street is on track to begin in July — now that Akron City Council has given the much-debated project the go-ahead.
At Monday’s council meeting, legislation that will allow the city to begin sending improvement cost estimates to impacted property owners was put to a vote after Ward 2 Council Member Phil Lombardo requested prior to the meeting that it be removed from the consent agenda.
The resolution passed 11-2 with Lombardo and At-Large Council Member Eric Garrett objecting.
The project will be completed in 2027.
Lombardo, who has previously spoken against the project, said he feels concerns of business owners and residents on North Main Street were valid — from traffic congestion to safety on adjacent streets. Garrett echoed concerns from North Hill business owners, particularly the potential negative effects construction would have on their operations.
“I know a lot of times we suggest that over time they would actually be able to survive,” Garrett said, “but it’s going to be hard for some of those entrepreneurs over there.”
What will the improvements look like in Akron’s North Hill?
The road diet includes reducing the current four-lane road to one lane in each direction — with a central left-turn lane. The project will also add parking lanes, bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.
In addition to resurfacing North Main Street — which will create a new traffic pattern with bike lanes and parking lanes — other changes include:
- Upgrading the water main.
- Removing traffic signals at Frances Avenue and East Mildred Avenue and adding new traffic signals elsewhere.
- Adding four protected pedestrian crossings.
- Planting trees along the street.
- Adding new bus stops.
- Replacing drive aprons and curb extensions.
- Improving pedestrian infrastructure to meet ADA regulations.
While the project was initially estimated to cost $45 million, the final total is $18.4 million. When the project was first conceived, there were ideas for additional features such as roundabouts, but the city did not receive related funding, Director of Public Service Chris Ludle told Signal Akron.
What’s the next step for the North Main Street project?
When construction begins in July, according to planning documents, there will be at least one lane operating in each direction as well as continued bus service.
Before construction can begin, impacted property owners will receive a cost estimate for the improvements — they will be responsible for a portion of the costs related to reconstructing curbs, sidewalks and driveway approaches, among other items. The assessment for property owners is around $300,000 in total, Ludle said April 24 at a Public Service Committee meeting. This represents less than 3% of the project budget.
Estimates will be mailed to residents and advertised in a local newspaper, Ludle said at the meeting. Residents, he added, will have the opportunity to attend a hearing and object to the cost.
Once the project is completed in 2027, Ludle said, there will be a 1-year period before property owners receive a bill for the cost of improvements. Property owners can pay this bill immediately or pay it off along with property taxes over a 10-year period.