May 9—Denied a huge federal grant, Lackawanna County officials are trying to figure out how to fund $35.54 million in planned road and bridge upgrades.
The county recently learned the Federal Highway Administration denied its application for $14.8 million, Chief Financial Officer David Bulzoni said. The county hoped that would help cover some projects totaling about $16.4 million, and would have had to match the federal grant with about $1.64 million in local money.
"To not get it, we're extremely disappointed," Chief of Staff Brian Jeffers said. "But you know, the application process is going to open up again towards the end of the year. And obviously, the commissioners are going to lobby our federal officials here to put it at the top of their priority list for us. ... Obviously, the $14 million is vital for us to go forward."
Bulzoni said he wants to find out why the county was denied before deciding on the next step, including borrowing. The county will apply again in the next round. It is also awaiting word on an application for a $4.26 million federal Department of Transportation grant that would go toward planning, he said.
"I'm hopeful that the reason we were denied may have had something to do with timing or just based on geographic selection," Bulzoni said. "We obviously have the need."
County officials did not expect to need the whole federal grant right away. All the projects require planning and design, so construction likely wouldn't start on most until 2025, Bulzoni previously said. He talked about short-term borrowing of about $16.7 million to begin planning and design while determining long-term financing, but said the amount might be smaller now.
Lackawanna County maintains 154 bridges and about 30 miles of roads mostly using state liquid fuels tax money, but only receives $800,000 a year. The county is also collecting a $5 fee tacked onto state vehicle registrations.
The county's tentative plan calls for replacing 11 county-owned bridges at least 20 feet long, all among the worst, paving three roads and an alley, replacing three retaining walls and upgrading a dam. The county would also contribute to replacing three bridges as part of a Jermyn flood control project.
The county bridges scheduled for replacement include four on Plank Road and one on Keystone Road in Clifford Twp.; an Ash Gap Road bridge in Spring Brook Twp.; an Old Mill Road bridge in Jefferson Twp.; a Rowlands Road bridge in Benton Twp.; a Lehigh Road bridge in Covington Twp.; Old Main Street Bridge in Taylor; and a bridge on G.C. Smith Road in Elmhurst Twp.