RELATED: Liberty Twp. to study two types of walkways over Ohio 129
The township paid $24,850 to study the first of four possible pedestrian-friendly routes. Estimates came in at between $3.2 million to $4.1 million, depending on the exact location of the bridge. Trustees also sought an estimate to build a full bridge — transporting both people and cars — in that location, but that option would cost $9.5 million.
“That one was quickly thrown out,” Liberty Twp. Trustee Board President Tom Farrell said.
The township has been meeting with stakeholders, such as the hospital and owners of the mega mixed-use center, hoping to forge financing partnerships for a broad plan to build several pedestrian bridges and a tunnel between commercial areas that are currently separated by highways.
Creating a walkable community is not merely an amenity but a must-have to compete for desirable business developments, Farrell previously told the Journal-News.
“According to all of the experts, in order to have a sustainable urban design, with walkability for health, environment and economic benefits, the experts in zoning are saying that the suburb of the future, in order to be sustainable, must have these features,” Farrell said. “They must have these features because not only do the Baby Boomers want them, but (so do) the millennials and everyone in between.”
Liberty Twp. Trustee Steve Schramm agreed creating a walkable community is a worthy goal. And because state and federal funding won’t be available — a combination of private and public property disqualifies projects like these for public funding — the township must find private benefactors, he said.
“We’re pretty adamant that we don’t want to spend Liberty Twp. money, and I would guess the county would probably be on a similar stead,” Schramm said. “Without any direct way to recoup those dollars, there’s just no way you can justify spending public money on it.”
The Journal-News did a quick poll on the West Chester and Liberty neighbors page on Facebook and the feelings are mixed. Many people like the idea, others questioned who would use the walkways and the cost to maintain it. Several people commented it would be great for high schoolers without cars and families who have children receiving care in the hospital. But others said it would be a waste of money, and dollars would be better spent on other things like more sidewalks throughout the township.
MORE: Future of Liberty Twp. suburbia: Walkability
Liberty Twp. Trustee Christine Matacic said using township tax dollars is not something she would consider for this project because there is $200 million to $300 million worth of major infrastructure work anticipated in the next dozen years, such as the Millikin Road interchange.
“That’s quite a bit of money that we need to use our tax dollars for right at this point,” Matacic said. However, she added, “if we don’t set up something like this as a vision, it’ll never happen.”
Farrell said all the stakeholders he met with — there are at least a dozen — agreed to pen letters of support for the project, a show of community support that can be used to cull grant money. Then he’ll be returning to those same stakeholders.
“Our intentions then are to go back to the stakeholders and say okay we now have some numbers, before it was a guess, before it was a vision,” Farrell said. “Now we have some cost numbers and we need to secure private financing. How much are you willing to donate?”
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