Partnership Framework

Safe Steitz Initiative: Partnership & Cost Sharing Framework

A proposed framework for shared responsibility between Concord Township, Liberty Township, and Delaware County.

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419

Households served

1,180

Residents impacted

318

Children under 18

Public stakeholders

"The Safe Steitz Pathway Connection is not solely a Concord Township project, a Liberty Township project, or a Delaware County project. It is a shared public safety, connectivity, and access initiative."

Purpose

Why a collaborative model.

This is a regional connectivity and public safety initiative.

It improves access to a county-owned public asset.

It enhances pedestrian and bicycle safety.

It benefits residents and businesses across multiple jurisdictions.

A collaborative funding and ownership model is the most equitable path forward.

Who benefits

Three stakeholders, one corridor.

Concord Township

Largest group of identified beneficiaries

Households: 335
Residents: 943
Children: 254

Safer access to the library, children's programming, community events, public services, restaurants, retail destinations, and future corridor amenities.

Liberty Township

Host township for the corridor and destinations

Households: 84
Residents: 237
Children: 64

Hosts the Liberty Township Branch Library, Johnson's Ice Cream, Parlor Doughnuts, FOMO Pizza, Liberty Beer & Wine, Hoseki Sushi, and other current and future commercial destinations. Benefits from improved local mobility, business accessibility, and pedestrian safety.

Delaware County

Operator of the public asset served by the connection

Library system: DCDL
Service area: Multi-twp
Asset: County

The Liberty Township Branch is part of the Delaware County District Library system. The project improves access to a county public asset and supports attendance, children's programming, educational access, community engagement, and equity of access to public services.

1,180residents

Beneficiary distribution

Where the 1,180 impacted residents live.

~80% of the residents who would benefit from a safe Steitz Road connection live in Concord Township, while ~20% live in Liberty Township — the host of the corridor, library, and commercial destinations.

Concord Township943 · 80%
Liberty Township237 · 20%

Existing access challenge

A safety gap shared by all three.

The library and impacted neighborhoods are on the same side of Steitz Road

Residents currently have limited safe options

The Liberty Grand alternative requires crossing Steitz Road twice

The roadway is posted at 45 MPH

The alternative adds 0.3 miles and ~20% to some trips

Shoulder travel is unsafe and lacks dedicated pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure

Shared benefits justify shared responsibility

Each entity gains something distinct.

Concord Township

Residents & families

Safe access for the majority of residents and families served

Liberty Township

Corridor & destinations

Improved safety, connectivity, and access to township destinations and businesses

Delaware County

County library asset

Improved access to a county-owned library serving residents from multiple jurisdictions

Cost sharing models

Three options for an equitable split.

Option A

Equal Partnership

3partners

Concord Township33%
Liberty Township33%
Delaware County33%

Advantages

Simple
Easy to communicate
Recognizes shared ownership
Avoids disproportionate burden

Option B

Beneficiary-Based Allocation

3partners

Concord Township50%
Liberty Township25%
Delaware County25%

Advantages

Reflects that ~80% of identified households are in Concord Township
Aligns investment with user concentration

Challenge: May place too much burden on where residents live rather than where the infrastructure and destination exist.

Option C Recommended start

Shared Benefit Hybrid

3partners

Concord Township40%
Liberty Township40%
Delaware County20%

Advantages

Recognizes Concord Township as the primary source of users
Recognizes Liberty Township as the host of the corridor, library, and commercial destinations
Acknowledges Delaware County's ownership/operation of the library
Creates a balanced framework that encourages partnership rather than assigning responsibility to a single entity

Additional partnership opportunities

Contributions don't have to be only financial.

Concord Township

Funding contribution
Grant administration
Community outreach and engagement

Liberty Township

Funding contribution
Easement coordination
Right-of-way management

Delaware County / DCDL

Funding contribution
Grant support
Engineering support
Project advocacy
Public engagement and awareness

Recommended discussion framework

"The objective should not be determining which entity is solely responsible for the project. Instead, the discussion should focus on how three public entities can collaboratively improve access to a county asset that serves residents from both townships while supporting local businesses and improving safety along an increasingly active corridor."

"The question is no longer whether residents would use such a connection, but how the responsible stakeholders can work together to deliver it."

Back to Proposal View Service Area Analysis

Sources & methodology

Underlying data behind the framework.

Delaware County Auditor GIS

Residential parcel data within the study area

U.S. Census Bureau

Demographic data for population and age estimates

Geoapify Routing API

Bicycle distance and travel-time calculations

Delaware County District Library

Liberty Branch operational context

Percentages in cost-sharing options are proposed starting points for discussion, not binding allocations. Final cost-sharing terms would be determined by participating entities.