The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

March 7, 2008

Streetscape part 2 gets state approval

By Monica Pryts

GREENVILLE — Phase two of streetscape, Greenville’s downtown revitalization project, will soon be a reality.

John Rusnak of HRG Engineering Inc., Hermitage, the borough’s engineer, told borough council Thursday that PennDOT had approved plans for the $1.5 million project and sent it out to bid.

“That milestone has been reached,” he said.

Bids are due by April 3, and council should be ready to award a construction contract shortly after that, with a potential for groundbreaking in May or June, Rusnak said.

Council had hoped to award a contract by the end of 2007, but new PennDOT requirements that weren’t needed for phase one delayed plans.

PennDOT needed six property owners on Main Street to sign right of way agreements giving the transportation department permission to add items like planters and new traffic signal poles during streetscape construction.

Those agreements were required from five property owners during phase one, but the process has since changed into a more lengthy and complicated one that involves more paperwork.

E.G. & G. Architects of Akron, which designed the plans, had to submit several versions of the agreements before PennDOT approved one that met its specifications.

Mayor Richard H. Miller said he’s concerned that because of the delay, the estimated cost could rise because of increasing construction costs.

The price tag could go up, but council won’t know that for sure until the bids are opened, Rusnak said, adding that he hopes the numbers come in close to the original estimate.

Construction on phase one of streetscape was delayed because original bids came in too high or didn’t meet PennDOT requirements. Work began in April 2006 and was finished at the end of that year.

Phase two includes new lighting, benches, sidewalks, brick crosswalks and landscaping on Main Street from the former Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad tracks to the Main Street bridge.

It will be paid for with a $1.17 million state grant and $452,000 from the borough. Phase one included the same improvements on Main from Mercer Street to the tracks and cost $1,304,807.

It was paid for with $1,150,000 in state grants and $154,807 from the borough’s capital fund and downtown account.

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