Good news for Coal Creek Parkway!

This was a very exciting week for Coal Creek Parkway.

First - In a 7-0 vote on Tuesday evening, the city council awarded the contract to CA Carey for construction of Phase 3 of CCP. In all likelihood you will begin to see work on the May Creek Bridge before the end of the year. Many thanks to all of the people who worked to make this project a reality over the past 10 years or more.

Second -The Mayor and City Manger made a presentation to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) on Thursday in a request for additional funding for Coal Creek Parkway. During the TIB board meeting on Friday the board voted to award an additional $2 million to the project. Making the total in secured funds for the project $35 million (of which the city's contribution is $3 million). There is still additional funding needed but with this vote of support from TIB (the largest financial contributor) we stand a very good chance of securing additional funds from our other partners.

Lastly - I also wanted to respond to comments that were left regarding my last post. Hopefully more of you who read will feel welcome to contribute thoughts.

An anonymous commenter made the following remark:

The fourth option is that we do nothing until and unless the state and county step up to pay an appropriate share of the total cost. Non-Newcastle vehicles account for 90% of the traffic. The amounts under discussion are well within the budgets of larger entities. We few Newcastle residents should not be picking up so much of the tab for what is actually a regional thoroughfare.

I appreciate the thinking that we find a fourth alternative, but this comment just doesn't make sense. First the state and county have indeed been stepping up on this project. For phases 2 and 3 the city currently has only committed $3 million which amounts to less than 10% of the total project cost of $44 million (accounting for contingency). If the city were to contribute a 15% share the total would be $6 million (that's twice what we have already have invested). If necessary, I don't think a contribution of 15% in a project of this nature is out of line. Especially if you consider the soft costs we all experience in livability when traffic is backed up (irregardless of where those cars are going). Additionally, there is no "just wait" in the political game. The state, county, feds, and TIB have all said they want the project completed. We will always be chasing inflation if we play the waiting game, and its a game we will never win.

Send me your thoughts.