THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2000
Fostoria might bypass a bypass
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
FOSTORIA -- State and local officials met with the public Wednesday evening to discuss transportation issues in Fostoria, including possibilities of a new bypass or a loop road that uses existing roads.
"Nothing is under consideration at this time," Mike Ligibeal, of the Ohio Department of Transportation, said. However, Ligibeal said, the state is going to be conducting more studies and will schedule more meetings in six to nine months.
The bypass project that was developed in 1996 would cost about $30 million. A loop road, using existing county and township roads, would be considerably cheaper.
Ligibeal said Taft's railroad initiative could be used to help fund the loop road. Second Ward Councilwoman LaVerne Anderson said the city is advocating the loop road.
Mayor John Davoli said the loop road plan came out of a land-use plan developed about two years ago by officials from Fostoria and the surrounding counties and townships. He said the city would like the loop road to completely circle the city eventually, but would initially accept a road that goes from North SR 199 in Wood County clockwise to West SR 12 in Hancock County. Davoli called it a "J road," or a "backwards C."
The plan that has been developed would make the loop a "super two" highway, with three lanes, one of them a passing/turning lane, At-Large Councilman Arlen Lowery said. It would reduce truck traffic through the city substantially, he said.
Because of Gov. Robert Taft's $200 million initiative for railroads, this may be a good time to work toward the loop road, Davoli said. It could be used alleviate Fostoria's iron triangles, which are areas that rescue workers sometimes cannot reach because of trains.
At least two underpasses would be required, on Jones Road and Zeller Road, under the loop road plan.
Lowery said if the county and township roads are used, they likely would be cared for by the state, because they would take the place of the various state and U.S. highways that now go through the city.
Interestingly, Ligibeal said, there is more traffic going through Fostoria on SR 12, but there are more trucks on US 23. US 23 has the underpasses, four right-angle turns and 14 traffic lights, making that highway even more congested.
"It certainly is a quagmire to go through town," Lowery said. "We hope that ODOT finally comes to a realization that this is do-able."
Seneca County Commissioner Jeff Wagner said the loop road is much more popular with county residents than the bypass plan, which would take more space and would require more county residents to lose homes and farmland.
"Everyone likes the use of existing roads," he said.
Ligibeal said any road improvements probably will impact some citizens.
"We want to make changes that are as non-controversial as possible," he said. "We're not here to make anybody's life miserable."
Forms were available for citizens to fill out, detailing what they feel about Fostoria's transportation situation. The comments can be mailed to the District Deputy Director, Ohio Department of Transportation, 317 E. Poe Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402.