Council debates federal funding choice after tunnel project advances in congresswoman's selection process

Tallmadge — A proposal to pursue federal community-project funding for a pedestrian tunnel connecting the parking area near West Avenue to the downtown circle advanced through an early selection step after the city submitted three shovel-ready proposals to Representative Emilia Sykes's office, Mayor Mary Kilway told council on July 24.

"We submitted three projects to Congresswoman Sykes for the community-project funding, and that's the one that was ultimately picked to go forward," Kilway said. She added the project "actually passed through the first phase" but cautioned there are additional approvals to clear.

Some council members and residents pressed administration officials during the meeting to explain why the tunnel was nominated ahead of other infrastructure priorities. "I classify that tunnel as a want, not a need," a council member said, arguing that water-line replacements and other essential repairs would reduce pressure on utility budgets and residents' bills.

Assistant Director of Public Service Hannah Hussing and the mayor said the tunnel was chosen in part because it was engineered and therefore met the "shovel-ready" requirement for that round of funding. Hussing said other high-priority projects — including Howe Road and a West Avenue paving project — were not shovel-ready within the federal fiscal timeframe or were delayed by required utility and county work.

Why it matters: The project touches on competing priorities for limited external funds. Council members who focus on infrastructure maintenance said they would prefer federal dollars be used to reduce required local capital spending on water-line replacement and road projects; others argued a tunnel could act as a centerpiece for downtown revitalization and help economic development efforts.

Council members requested a clearer accounting of prior engineering and the city money already spent on studies; one member asked administration to provide a precise figure for engineering costs previously paid from city funds. Hussing said the engineering had been funded in an earlier budget but did not provide a total at the meeting.

What comes next: The mayor said the project will continue through the congressional review process and that the city will pursue other grant opportunities for projects that were not selected. Council members said they want more documentation on project costs and the engineering studies that qualified the tunnel as shovel-ready before committing to any city match or further spending.