York County roads get major repair boost

York County leaders aren’t sure when they’ll decide how to spend a game-changing amount of money for state road maintenance. But they’re ready to play ball.

“This is the most money York County and really South Carolina counties have received like this,” said Ryan Blancke, county transportation manager. “This is kind of a new ballgame for us.”

On June 30, state Sen. Harvey Peeler announced York County would receive an extra $7.2 million for state road maintenance through a supplemental appropriations bill. The bill provides $216 million statewide. Money can be used to fill potholes, resurface or otherwise improve state-owned roads.

“With this additional money I hope we will soon be seeing potholes filled and secondary roads resurfaced,” Peeler said. “This was my number one priority in the budget, and I look forward to seeing (the state transportation department) at work soon.”

Funds come from 2.66 cents charged on the state gasoline tax. Money goes to counties based on square mileage, population and rural roads. Several roads proposals were discussed this legislative year, including one to convey state roads to counties, before the appropriations bill.

“I remain hopeful the Legislature will come up with a statewide roads plan, but at least for York County, this is a good start,” Peeler said.

The county usually gets about $4.3 million in C-Funds money from the state gas tax. Payments come in monthly each year, beginning July 1. York County gets $2.3 million, plus a $1.9 million bonus as a donor county due to traffic generated from North Carolina. The $7.2 million appropriation is in addition to that annual $4.3 million.

“This is really three times the money we’re normally dealing with,” Blancke said.

The appropriation must be used for state-owned roads, compared to some flexibility given with C-Funds. Blancke doesn’t know whether to expect monthly payments, a lump sum or some other payment schedule.

“Until we know that we can’t really determine how we’re going to spend our funding,” he said.

C-Funds are split evenly among the seven Council districts in York County. The same may be true of the $7.2 million. The county transportation committee – the same membership as York County Council – will form a list with input from municipalities, constituents and county staff. The transportation committee next meets at 6 p.m. July 20.

Bruce Henderson, who represents Lake Wylie, said the transportation committee will work through the appropriation similarly to how it disperses C-Funds.

“You have to look at several things,” he said. “What’s traveled the most? What’s used the most? What are the bigger safety issues?”

In recent years, more C-Fund money went to the Clover end of his district compared to Lake Wylie, largely because several major state roadways in Lake Wylie are scheduled for improvements through Pennies for Progress.

“I can’t touch some of those roads because they’re on the Pennies list,” Henderson said.

In 2015, there are 101 paving, resurfacing and sidewalk repair projects planned for construction in York County. More than half are from the 2014-15 C-Fund program and almost 40 more come from the 2013-14 program. Nine remaining projects come from Pennies for Progress.

The county keeps a resurfacing priority list made up of more than 1,500 roads eligible for the new funding. Summerside Drive and Acacia Road rank Nos. 9 and 10 on that list. The next highest ranked District 2 projects are Colonial Road (No. 70), Jordan Drive (71), Creekstone (72) and Golden Pond (73).

District 5, which covers the southern parts of Fort Mill and Rock Hill, has the top six roads in need of repair. More than half of the top 100 roads, with 58, come from District 1 including Tega Cay and northern Fort Mill.

With C-Funds, Henderson estimates Council members rework about 30 percent of the recommended projects before reaching a final list. A smaller road with not quite the pressing need of a larger one could, for instance, be included due to the much lower cost.

“You’ve got to get the biggest bang for your buck, and keep as many people safe as possible,” Henderson said.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 12:18 PM with the headline "York County roads get major repair boost."