Sandusky approves $8.8M overhaul to Shoreline Drive

SANDUSKY — Sandusky officials accelerated forward with the plan to completely overhaul Shoreline Drive.During Monday's public meeting, and by a 5-0 vote count, city commissioners approved an $8.8 million project to reconstruct the waterfront roadway.This marks the final major vote in a two-year-long process, which invited public input and feedback, on Shoreline Drive's reconfiguration.The work should start this fall and end by spring 2020.Among the tasks planned:• Narrowing the roadway while maintaining on-street parking and two-way traffic• Enlarging the sidewalk on both sides• Establishing a protected bicycle lane, linking with the Sandusky Bay Pathway• Creating angled parking spots• Marking a specific shared space where businesses can place their dumpsters or garbage receptacles• Upgrading utilities and burying most of these lines underneath the roadway• Introducing traffic-calming measures near Shoreline Park; After discussing possibly closing a section near Shoreline Park, officials vowed to keep the entire roadway open.An artist rendering reimagines what Shoreline Drive in downtown Sandusky could look like. During Monday's public meeting, city commissioners approved an $8.8 million project to overhaul the roadway with upgrades to utilities, sidewalks and a multimodal pathway."Overall, the designs aim to improve Shoreline Drive's aesthetics and position it as the 'front door' from the waterfront into downtown Sandusky," said Alex Pesta, a president with City Architecture, the Cleveland-based firm developing the Shoreline Drive plan.Among the commissioners voting "yes" were Dick Brady, Greg Lockhart, Wes Poole, Naomi Twine and Dave Waddington. Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr. abstained, because his business, Murray & Murray, is located on East Shoreline Drive. Commissioner Nikki Lloyd didn't attend the meeting. She can't vote on the legislation because her business, Hotel Kilbourne, abuts West Shoreline Drive.Twine expressed her gratitude to contractors, staff members and residents for their contributions in piecing together a plan."I'm very appreciative of the entire process the city has taken to get to where we are at right now," Twine said. "I want to thank the public for their input. The community is very appreciative when you give us the resources to help make what we put together a success."Twine characterized this initiative as a transformative project."People are going to be able to take advantage of our waterfront like they never could before," Twine said. "We are going to improve the area for residents, visitors, walkers, bicyclists, those who use the park, businesses, restaurants and other types of establishments that will come because of the improvements we're making to Shoreline Drive."An artist rendering reimagines what Shoreline Drive in downtown Sandusky could look like. During Monday's public meeting, city commissioners approved an $8.8 million project to overhaul the roadway with upgrades to utilities, sidewalks and a multimodal pathway.Making sense of the dollars and centsThe total construction cost for Shoreline Drive totals $8.8 million, broken down with:• $4.19 million: money coming from a city utilities account amassed through water and sewer bills• $3.14 million: money coming from a special account solely produced by property taxes paid by Chesapeake Lofts owners• $768,000: money coming from Sandusky's $24 million everyday operating budget for the pathway portion• $461,000: money coming from a federal grantNote: Project costs, in addition to reconstruction the road, include upgrading street's eastern end and burying utilitiesSource: Sandusky engineering departmentReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.