West Chester Twp. has identified about 16 projects that will be TIF funded in 2017. Of the township’s $33.6 million budget for capital improvements projects, more than $27.2 million will be funded through TIFs.
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“Since 1990, approximately $32.4 million of roadway improvements have been funded by TIF, and West Chester has reaped more than $3.4 billion in new investment, over 32 million square feet in new construction, and over 36,000 new jobs overall,” said Barb Wilson, township spokeswoman, in an email.
In addition, TIF funding has used on public safety projects totalling $24.4 million; about $10 million in parks and recreation projects; and $14 million was used to purchase the land and build the MidPointe Public Library West Chester branch in 2009.
“Completing these improvements and purchases with TIF has allowed the township to continue the fire and police levies 10 years and six years, respectively,” Wilson said.
Among some of the projects the township is planning to use TIF funding for are:
- $3 million to widen Allen Road from Union Centre Boulevard to Muhlhauser Road and adding sidewalks on both sides of the road.
- $3 million to widen Windisch Road to imporve traffic capacity from Allen to Crescentville roads.
- $2.5 million to widen Cincinnati-Dayton Road from north of West Chester Road to I-75 that will add sidewalks, benches and street lighting.
- $1.3 million will be used for asphalt paving of township and county roads within TIF Districts.
- $1 million is slated for two street lighting projects along Union Centre Boulevard: one from I-75 to Cincinnati-Dayton Road, and the other from Beckett Road to Ohio 747.
- $500,000 will be used to install irrigation and landscaping medians on Union Centre Boulevard east of I-75 to "beautify the east entry into West Chester."
- $400,000 will be used to install artificial turf on the infield of two large fields at the West Chester baseball complex to remain competive for select baseball tournaments and attract tourism dollars.
One major project already underway is the $12 million improvement to the Union Centre Boulevard/Interstate 75 interchange. Two different interchange designs are being reviewed by the Ohio Department of Transportation. The project includes reconfiguring lanes on the overpass and entrance and exit ramps, and aesthetic improvements.
“We’re still investigating (the interchange designs),” said Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens. “We’re waiting for some additional information from our consultants on the price of either design.”
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