Project hits funding snag
Uniontown had little choice but to announce recently that the much-awaited Morgantown Street project would again be postponed. The project has languished, waiting since 1999 for the political will and the money to push it forward. The city is far short of the money needed and the mayor and council have said they will not take out a loan to fund it.
Uniontown Redevelopment Authority executive director William Long said revamping Morgantown Street (with new lights, sidewalks, underground utilities and sewer lines) will cost between $800,000 and $1 million. It has been under consideration ever since the city completed a few blocks along Main Street and was expected to be part of a continuation of improving the Central Business District.
Morgantown Street was initially in competition with other blocks of Main Street, but even after it was selected, was pushed to the backburner when the powers-that-be changed the focus to South Street. An off-the-main-drag project that was initially expected to cost $120,000 ballooned to $450,000 when work became more involved. This isn’t to say South Street was unnecessary. In fact, the area is now easier for traffic to navigate and people to park.
But businesses along Morgantown must be frustrated in wondering when it will be their turn. The good news is that the design work is done. And the city could most likely have chosen to spend the $330,000 by doing some of the work until the money runs out and continue the project later. That idea was rightly rejected in that it would be too disruptive for too long of a time.
Instead, Long said that it could be done as early as 2004 as he will concentrate on finding other funding sources. He mentioned state and federal grant programs and the county’s bond fund. The city might also want to engage in talks with property and business owners along Morgantown Street to gauge their interest in contributing to the project.
The delay is disappointing but the project should be worth the wait if Long is able to pull together financing without the city incurring additional debt.