Major changes coming to causeway

SANDUSKY — Local officials believe many positive effects can result from significantly improving the Cedar Point Causeway. During a recent public meeting, city commissioners approved a long-awaited funding package to repair, replace and add onto this mile-long public road, also known as Cedar Point Drive, leading into the Six Flags-owned amusement park. This planned project represents the biggest transformation to Cedar Point's primary entry/exitway since debuting in 1957. Here are the most important points to know about this project with comments from city manager John Orzech: • The background: "Cedar Fair, now known as Six Flags Entertainment Corp., and the city of Sandusky supported a historic and mutually beneficial partnership in negotiating a framework for further economic development efforts." Note: This deal, authorized in 2021, involved Cedar Fair, now Six Flags, investing $100 million over a two-decade-long period to, in part, create and/or improve many forthcoming facilities and infrastructure initiatives throughout Sandusky. This would include building a new recreation center, establishing a water taxi system and, most notably, enhancing the causeway. • The partnership: "The city eagerly supported this historic and mutually beneficial partnership with Six Flags, one of the city's largest employers. Likewise, Six Flags recognizes the critical importance of city services and infrastructure to the world-famous Cedar Point amusement park." • The funding: "As part of a mutually agreed upon framework, the city had established an increase in admissions tax throughout the city and had established a parking tax throughout the city. The city of Sandusky agreed to have a portion of the increase in taxes dedicated back to Six Flags of $1.25 million annually for 22 years to support the renovation of the Cedar Point Causeway and multi-use pathway along the causeway to Cedar Point." Note No. 1: Increases in these two taxes largely impact tourists. The parking tax, enacted in 2022, largely applies to cars parking at Cedar Point. It's an 8% fee on drivers entering Cedar Point. This will pay for the causeway upgrades. On a related note, to support the other economic development initiatives, city officials raised the admissions tax from 4% to 8%. The admissions tax gets more than 99% of its funding from ticket sales generated by Cedar Point. Note No. 2: The causeway upgrades, paying $1.25 million over 22 years, should total about $27.5 million. Note No. 3: There's enough money banked over the past three-plus seasons, since being enacted in 2022, to begin pursuing preliminary construction tasks. • The project: Work involves rebuilding, renovating and resurfacing the road while also increasing its overall size. Officials envision the causeway expanding to five total vehicular lanes, up from four. Imagine this likely scenario: During the daytime, for better traffic flow, three lanes would enter Cedar Point with two exiting from there. At night, at least three lanes would let traffic leave the amusement park. Additionally, officials want to build a bike/non-vehicular traffic lane for pedestrians along the causeway. • The timeline: Officials remain optimistic about construction beginning in fall 2026. Finishing the entire project, however, could take several years. As work happens, cars can still traverse the causeway but should expect delays with lane closures and ongoing work. Among those supporting this deal since Day 1 would include city ex officio mayor Dick Brady. "Adding a vehicular lane will add customers that end up paying our admissions and parking tax. Adding a bike/walking lane benefits our residents," Brady said. "Our contribution over the next 22 years is a fraction of the total costs of this project. These are not general fund dollars. They are tourist generated dollars. In this partnership, everyone benefits."