YORK COUNTY, SC: On Monday night York County Council approved funding to begin design work on eight Pennies For Progress road projects that voters approved in November.
On January 21st Council voted to “fast-track” some Pennies Five projects by approving a loan of $20 million from the County’s general fund to begin work on these projects. This was done because even though voters approved the one-cent sales tax last November, the County doesn’t begin receiving those funds until this October. However, Council’s action allows staff to begin important work on road projects immediately. The loan will be repaid to the general fund within three years using funds collected through the one-cent sales tax.
The fifth round of the Pennies For Progress one-cent sales tax is expected to generate $410 million over the next seven years for countywide road improvements.
Here’s the list of intersection improvements and a widening project given design contract approval at Monday’s meeting:
• $283,430 Tom Joye Rd/St. Paul Church Road
• $246,682 US 321/Devinney Road
• $321,365 Bethel St./Jackson Terrace
• $875,966 Ebinport Rd/Marett Blvd
• $344,645 Church St/E. Jefferson St.
• $375,765 Church St/E. Liberty St./Hunter St
• $4,853,228 US 21 Widening
• $409,438 Hwy 49/Blucher Circle
Two other projects were previously approved for design work in March:
• $366,835 US 321/Old North Main St.
• $107,477 Hwy 55/Maynard Grayson
These project costs are for engineering design. They do not include construction costs.
As part of the $20 million loan approved by Council, staff has been working with SCDOT to bid out approximately $15 million in road resurfacing projects also expected to begin this year. Seven more design agreements will go before council for approval over the next few months.
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