Brunswick City Council urges Gov. Mike DeWine to sign transportation budget with interchange repeal included

BRUNSWICK — Brunswick City Council passed a resolution Wednesday urging Gov. Mike DeWine to sign the state's transportation budget, which features a repeal of the interchange mandate. Sub. House Bill 54 includes a repeal of Ohio Revised Code 5501.60, which requires interstate highway exchanges be constructed when certain criteria are met. The conditions could lead to an interchange at Boston Road between Brunswick and Strongsville. Brunswick Vice Mayor Nick Hanek said repealing the mandate is a battle the city has fought for two years. "(The interchange) would be the worst kind of big government taking over part of the city and really have a negative impact on our budget, taxes and quality of life," he said. Hanek said he believes an interchange at Boston Road would turn an existing residential neighborhood into a commercial corridor, get rid of many homes and increase traffic throughout the city. "It really ruins the quality of life for a lot of people," he said. "We're very conscious of standing up for our residents against things that are going to impact their quality of life in that way." Brunswick Service and Streets Director Paul Magovac said Boston Road is not designed to handle the amount of traffic that would come from an interchange. The Buckeye Pipeline, which is a high-pressure gas line, is near Boston Road and would also need to be relocated to accommodate an interchange. "First and foremost, it's all about the houses that would be taken from the residents," he said. "We don't want to see anyone ever lose their house." The transportation budget already passed through the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. DeWine has until Monday to sign the bill, and he can veto or line-item veto parts of it. "This is the last stop," Hanek said. "We're urging (Gov.) Mike DeWine to keep the repeal provision, to sign the transportation bill as written and to finally end this nightmare of a forced, imposed interchange on the city of Brunswick." Brunswick resident Sue Mazzola is part of the a grassroots "Homes Not Highways" group, which is against putting an interchange at Boston Road. She also urged DeWine to listen to the wishes of his constituents. "He needs to do what's right and sign the budget with the repeal in there," she said. "He needs to fix what was done wrong." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.