York County residents will soon head to the polls to vote on whether to authorize the continuation of the Pennies for Progress program, a one-cent sales tax initiative that has been instrumental in funding road improvements across the county since 1997. The upcoming vote on November 5, 2024, will determine the fate of Pennies for Progress number 5, with over $410 million in capital projects at stake.
What is Pennies for Progress?
Since its inception, the Pennies for Progress program has played a pivotal role in transforming York County’s infrastructure. Funded through a one-cent sales tax, the program has raised millions of dollars for road improvements, resurfacing, and intersection upgrades. The sales tax is paid not just by local residents but also by visitors who utilize York County’s goods and services, with 40% of the sales tax revenue coming from non-residents.
Pennies for Progress has funded over 100 road projects to date, including significant undertakings like the widening of Highway 160 from I-77 to the state line, the Fort Mill Southern Bypass, and numerous intersection upgrades. The program has been approved by voters every seven years, with successful referendums in 1997, 2003, 2011, and 2017.
Pennies 5: The Proposed Projects
The proposed Pennies for Progress number 5 (Pennies 5) program includes a diverse range of projects designed to enhance road safety, connectivity, and quality of life for all York County residents. The total estimated cost of all capital projects is $410.65 million, with $225 million dedicated to carryover projects from previous programs that were delayed due to factors like rising costs and workforce shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key projects on the Pennies 5 list include:
- US 21 Widening: $44.89 million to expand US 21 to five lanes from Highway 160 to Sutton Road.
- Fort Mill Parkway: $9 million for design and right-of-way acquisition to widen Fort Mill Parkway from the railroad bridge to Holbrook Road.
- Neely Road Corridor: $12.86 million for corridor improvements in the Rock Hill area.
- Intersection Improvements: Over $38 million dedicated to upgrading critical intersections across the county, including those in Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lake Wylie, and Clover.
Additionally, $80 million has been allocated for resurfacing 76.60 miles of roads in areas including Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Clover, Lake Wylie, and Western York County. Roads such as Stonecrest Boulevard in Tega Cay and Banks Road in Fort Mill are slated for improvements.
Why Vote Yes?
Advocates of Pennies 5 emphasize that a “yes” vote will not result in a new tax but will continue the existing one-cent sales tax. The program is seen as essential for keeping up with the demands of York County’s rapid growth and ensuring safe and efficient roads.
Phil Leer, a former Pennies for Progress program leader, and David Bu, a volunteer with Citizens for Better Roads, have been actively promoting the benefits of the program to the community. They stress that failure to pass Pennies 5 would place the burden of road funding solely on property owners, as alternative funding sources would need to be found.
The program also ensures that 40% of the sales tax revenue comes from non-residents, meaning visitors to the county contribute significantly to maintaining and improving the infrastructure they use.
How Roads Are Chosen
One of the unique features of Pennies for Progress is that road projects are selected by a six-member citizen group, rather than county staff or elected officials. This group considers public input at a series of meetings and prioritizes projects based on need. Once voters approve the list, the funds are locked in, and projects that were not approved cannot be added.
York County residents are encouraged to get involved in the decision-making process by attending public meetings and reviewing the projects proposed for their communities.
Conclusion
The November 5 vote on Pennies for Progress number 5 presents York County voters with an opportunity to continue the successful road improvement program that has shaped the region’s infrastructure for over two decades. With projects focused on safety, connectivity, and addressing the needs of a growing population, Pennies 5 promises to further enhance the quality of life for residents. A “yes” vote will ensure that critical road projects are funded without raising taxes, while also continuing to benefit from the contributions of non-residents who use York County’s roads.
For more information and a full list of the proposed projects, voters can visit the Pennies for Progress website or attend one of the upcoming public meetings.
Pennies 5 Final Project List
- $225,000,000 for Carryover Projects
- US 21 five lane widening from Springfield Parkway to Carowinds and Hwy. 51 five lane widening from US 21 to NC state line
- Sutton Road/Spratt Street/Fort Mill Parkway five lane widening from I-77 to railroad overpass
- 557 three lane widening from Kingsburry Road to Hwy. 55
- 49/Hwy. 274/Hwy. 557 intersection improvements
- US 21/Springdale Road intersection improvements
- Sutton Road/Harris Road intersection improvements
- Flint Hill Street Community Drainage improvements
- US 21 five lane widening from Springfield Parkway to 160
- $80,000,000 for 60 miles of road resurfacing with asphalt (The following Pennies 5 resurfacing groupings will be prioritized by the Pennies 5 Program Manager based on available funds):
Fort Mill/Tega Cay Area Road
Academy Street from Main Street to Banks Street
Banks Road from Fairway Drive to Wolfpack Trail
Carolina Place Drive from Hwy. 160 to End
Dam Road from Gardendale Road to Coralbell Way
Deerfield Drive from Gold Hill Road to End
Pikeview Road from Flint Hill Road to Regent Parkway
Stonecrest Blvd. from Hubert Graham Way to Dam Road
Tom Hall Street from Main Street to Banks Street
Rock Hill Area Road
Charlotte Avenue from Cherry Road to E. White Street
Crawford Road/Pond Road from Heckle Blvd. to Hampton Street
Cureton Ferry Road from Lesslie Hwy. to Hwy. 5
Ebenezer Road from Oakland Avenue to Herlong Avenue
George Dunn Road Reservation Road to Old Friendship Road
Harmony Road from Hall Spencer Road to Collins Road
Hollis Lakes Road from Rawlinson Road to Ebenezer Road
John Ross Parkway from Mount Gallant Road to Dave Lyle Blvd.
Lesslie Hwy. from US 21 to US 21
Museum Road from Mount Gallant Road to Hwy. 161
Oakdale Road from Mount Holly Road to Saluda Road
Pennington Road from Hwy. 161 to Airport Road
Rawlinson Road from Hwy. 5 to Cascade Avenue
Twin Lakes Road from Celanese Road to Ebenezer Road
Twin Lakes Road from Mount Gallant Road to Melrose Drive
Clover/Lake Wylie Area Roads
Allison Creek Road from Hwy. 274 to End
Brandon Road from Ridge Road to Oakridge Road
Flatrock Street from US 321 to Mint Street
Henry Knob Road from Hwy. 55 to NC state line
Jackson Terrace/Valley Avenue from Bethel Street to McConnell Street
Jenkins Road from Ramah Church Road to Hwy. 55
Jim McCarter Road from Lincoln Road to US 321
Knox Road from Henry Knob Road to Lloyd White Road
McConnell Street from South Main Street to White Street
Old North Main Street from North Main Street to Columbia Street
Thomas Road from Faulkner Street to Hwy. 55
Tom Joye Road from St. Paul Church Road to Jim McCarter Road
York/Western York County Area Roads
Chambers Road from Campbell Road to Harper Road
Charlotte Street from Blackburn Street to N Congress Street
Church Street from E Liberty Street to E Jefferson Street
Daves Road from McConnells Hwy. to US 321
Georgia Avenue from Hunter Street to E Liberty Street
Jefferson Street from Bratton Avenue to End
Lincoln Road from Wood road to Hwy. 55 McGill Road from Woodlawn Street to Hwy. 5
N Congress Road from Roundabout to Alexander Love Bypass
Railroad Avenue from Galilean Road to E Jefferson Street
Roosevelt Street from E Jefferson Street to E Madison Street
Ross Cannon Street from E Madison Street to N Congress Street
Shannon Street from York Street to Old Pinckney Road
- $44,890,000 for five lane widening of US 21 from 160 to Sutton Road
- $9,000,000 for five lane widening of Fort Mill Parkway from railroad bridge to Holbrook Road (design and right of way only).
- $12,860,000 for Neely Road Corridor Improvements
- $3,120,000 for intersection improvements to Dam Road/Gardendale Road intersection
- $1,710,000 for intersection improvements to Bethel Street/Jackson Terrace intersection
- $1,750,000 for intersection improvements to US 321/Old North Main Street intersection
- $3,390,000 for intersection improvements to Church Street/E. Liberty Street/Hunter Street intersection
- $1,040,000 for intersection improvements to Liberty Street/S. Pacific Street intersection
- $2,680,000 for intersection improvements to 49/Blucher Circle intersection
- $4,550,000 for intersection improvements to 49/Bonum Road/Montgomery Road intersection
- $6,540,000 for White Street Corridor Improvements
- $860,000 for intersection improvements to 55/Maynard Grayson Road intersection
- $1,800,000 for intersection improvements to US 321/Flatrock Road/Huffman Road intersection
- $930,000 for intersection improvements to Church Street/Jefferson Street intersection
- $1,150,000 for intersection improvements to US 321/Devinney Road intersection
- $780,000 for intersection improvements to Tom Joye Street/St. Paul Church Road intersection
- $6,310,000 for intersection improvements to Ebinport Road/Marrett intersection
- $2,290,000 for intersection improvements to Blacks Street/Albright Road intersection
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF ALL CAPITAL PROJECTS: $410,650,000
