HUDSON, OH (July 25, 2019) – At Tuesday's Workshop, City Council began discussions on the 5-Year Plan and budget, including investing in Hudson’s future by authorizing $5 million to accelerate Hudson’s road program, allowing more roads to be resurfaced more quickly. Funded through bonds that would be paid back over 10-15 years, the money would be used to resurface the City’s main roads over a two-year period. This would allow the annual road budget of approximately $2.1 million to $3.1 million to be used to accelerate resurfacing residential streets, raising the City’s overall road conditions in a shorter period.
City Council has long held that the road program is a high priority for Hudson and, in recent years, has repeatedly approved additional funding as City revenues have grown. Low interest rates, increases in income tax revenue from the City’s expanded economic development efforts, and an additional $500,000 annually from Ohio’s new gas tax offer the ability to maximize real outcomes through the issuance of $5 million in bonds.
Hudson also will be changing its methodology and approach to road maintenance. By incorporating full-depth asphalt repairs into the overall resurfacing program, the City anticipates the overall costs to be reduced. Full-depth asphalt lasts longer and would be used for roads scheduled to be resurfaced in five years or more. Durapatch, which is a more temporary process, will be used on roadways scheduled for resurfacing in five years or less. The City will be employing new procedures to reduce the loose gravel left over from the Durapatch process.
The City continues to evaluate new pavement installation and maintenance technologies and strategies to reduce paving costs and extend pavement life.
Based on Council’s discussion, the request for $5 million for roads will appear in the 2020 – 2024 5-Year Plan that will be before City Council in November for final approval.