Imagine A Youngstown

Imagine a Youngstown engaging in a serious, meaningful, and remarkable economic turnaround and resurgence. Imagine a Youngstown establishing itself as an innovator and an ingenious streamliner of an industry to a problem of its own and thus positioning itself in a key position to be of service to areas with problems similar to its one in the areas of roads, infrastructure, and population decline.

Of course, you’ve heard this type of talk before. These statements have been put forth many times before about the economic turnaround, but usually they’ve amounted to little more than poetic romanticisms that have faded shortly after they were heard or read. Keep with this though.

Imagine a Youngstown that looked at its problems: shabby road infrastructure causing all sorts of damage to the cars that drive on them and financial turmoil to the already economically stressed people who drive in them; the inefficient freeways that don’t provide adequate exposure to the places around the city, nor do they expose Youngstown to the arms and hands (and wallets) of the areas around it either; the lack of ability to take long distance trips in modern timeframes, I.e. — via an operational airport; a traffic control system that could alleviate air pollution from cars and increase efficiency in motor-vehicle traffic flow; and a REAL public transportation system that could connect the area’s cities and suburbs, and perhaps even to the two major metropolises that flank Youngstown to the northwest and northeast.

If this is difficult to imagine, here’s some help with that in the article that follows.

The Roads

Imagine a Youngstown that took a look at the conditions of the roads, and set out to not only fix them once every few years as they become totally unacceptable and to just until they deteriorate again, but rather in a way that gives them long term durability. Let’s go even further. What if these durable roads were achieved in a way that:

1. Created jobs that attracted high-level talent in the area of material research, geology, and manufacturing logistics.

2. Created jobs in the hundreds, perhaps thousands, in manufacturing of the material that would be used for the durable roads and in the assembly of the roads where large parts would need to be preassembled.

3. Created an epicenter for a new industry of creating the material and assembling the durable road material and road components, respectively, and exporting the material and components to the many areas that suffer the same issue of crumbling and problematic road infrastructure.

Now for everyone’s favorite question: where would the money come from? Well, the money could come from a combination of local, state, and national government funding alongside private investment and contributions. Of course it’s not as simple as that but there could be a lobby set up to solicit and secure this funding from both governmental as well as private contributors.

What other benefits does this bring about?

With point 1, we could see the migration/importing of talent in the science/engineering, geology, and other fields related to this aim at perhaps 50-100 people with the earnings of $125,000-$150,000 yearly. What does this equate to? $6.25 million - $12.5 million of taxable income, and of course income to spend on housing, food, entertainment and other living expenditures in the Mahoning Valley. This could precipitate the microexpansion of the housing market, whether real estate or rental as these high earning individuals would need a place to dwell. As Youngstown doesn’t have the necessary talent pool to adequately fill the positions of material and geological research and scientific development with the findings of the research, this talent and expertise would need to be imported. One of Youngstown’s current advantages is its affordability in the cost of living department. There isn’t the constricted supply of housing due to high demand nor is there the exorbitant pricing that is associated with such a situation. In fact, the supply/demand scenario is the opposite; Youngstown is in demand of people to move IN to the area, but is short on attraction that brings the high-earning or high-skilled people to even glance at an area to consider as a home location.

In point 2, the creation of jobs required in manufacturing and assembly of the road materials, which is based upon the research and formulaic findings of the minds in point 1, bring about an opportunity for gainful and meaningful employment that can be drawn from the native population. It requires little-to-no schooling or education, and is able to tap into a population that already is still immersed in a culture of manufacturing. Furthermore, the need for this workforce would also attract migration to the area from those who are looking for work in the manufacturing sector as laborers. We can estimate that the workforce required for this around-the-clock production would be around 1,000 to 2,500 people. The transportation needs/logistics of the road material and assembly would bring about the need for there to be plants/manufacturing facilties in various locations strategically around the area, and perhaps into Pennsylvania. This is so because the materials and assembled parts will not be lightweight, and will require a lot of heavy vehicle transfer. Thus it makes sense that there be as little transportation overhead as possible, and to achieve this there could be plants/facilities in multiple areas allowing for better/easier commutes.

Jobs created for the Youngstown area to fill the manufacturing roles can be estimated to be in the range of $55,000-$75,000 yearly, which tallies up to $55 million - $187.5 million of taxable income and income generates to spend in the area on housing, entertainment and again -- other living expenses.

This money is also available for private investment in other businesses and ventures that would provide benefit for the area economically and even socially. When people are making money and on a good level, in a low-cost-of-living city such as Youngstown and the surrounding areas, they will look for ways to spend their extra cash on hand. The opportunities in the area to meet the demand brought on by newly migrated people will inspire them to open or invest in businesses of their own. This effect was observed during the boom of Silicon Valley, although most of the new businesses formed were offshoots of the Fairchild Semiconductor company and more or less served the same purpose to the world at large, rather then niche businesses to meet the demands of people who moved to the area as a result of the semiconductor industry. Nonetheless, Youngstown would see exactly this result, i.e. -- new businesses being formed to meet the new people's needs and wants for necessary goods and services, as well as entertainment and novelty item purchase. As well, the innovation that would result in unforeseen products and services is something also to consider as being a residual outcome for investment from the "new money" in the area.

As we can see, the establishment of an industry to research and manufacture materials for the installation of durable and better performing roads could result in the creation of an estimated 2,600-3,000 high and well paying jobs, provide a demand and boost in the housing market, as well as the possibility of 1,500 - 2,000 families being formed or migrating to the area for a net population gain. There would be a substantial residual growth in area business since the disposable income (and necessarily-spent income, i.e. - on furniture, clothing, groceries, toiletries and other household and living items), that will be spent in restaurants, theaters, retail stores, etc. Additionally, it cultivates the potential for new private investment in the area since there would be an exponential expansion of income floating throughout the city as a result of these newly manifested jobs.

The Freeway System

As it is currently, Youngstown has only 2 interstate highway entrance/exit points. These are 680 (an offshoot of 76) from the southeast, and 711 off of Interstate 80 to the north/northwest. Any traveler coming from the east must enter Youngstown via the 711 connector and pass through the northwest portion of town and manifest heir entrance on the western edge of the northside. This creates a task to get to the east side of town or say the eastern edge of the north side of the city. If someone is traveling from the east of Youngstown on I-80, and has a destination of somewhere on the east side, then they are forced to take the freeway all the way to Belmont Ave and get off on a southbound route to travel all the way down to either the local roads from Gypsy Lane headed east, or further down to 422. Furthermore the freeway will end for them at Albert Street and they'll have even more distance added to their journey if their final stope is somewhere further in such as McGuffey and Landsdowne or McGuffey and Liberty Rd area.

As well, to get to the eastern edge of the north side such as the Wick Avenue area, any traveler (whether coming from the east or the west) must enter the city from the same entrance points -- relatively far from where they're headed. The sad part of this is that anyone coming from the east on I-80 and who is headed for the east side or the eastern parts of the north side will totally pass the areas they're trying to reach. In a sense, they're going in a circle, albeit a half circle.

The east side is totally inaccessible by freeway, and as such isn't able to be left via freeway neither. So if a person who is on the east side of town, and wishes to travel to the east to let's say Sharon, PA or other parts of the Shenango Valley, they'd be forced to either take local roads through Hubbard and Liberty Township, or travel through the north side of and on 422, and wither take 422 as a local road/semi highway (MLK Jr Blvd) or Belmont Ave to connect to 711 northbound and ultimately to 80.

The Airport

While Youngstown has a key position from being in the middle of the distance between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, it doesn't do much to capitalize upon this geographic advantage. The airport could be one way to achieve this. Before speaking to the advantage of that, let's first examine what benefits the area would have were it to develop the airport. The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport could be opened for commercial flights to nearby major cities such as Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Washington D.C., Nashville, Charlotte, and Louisville. This would be ideal because it then eliminates the need for residents of the Mahoning Valley to rely on flights out of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Canton/Akron airports for travel to major cities outside of the area. As well, this opens up the area to flights in to Youngstown -- making it more accessible to business speculators, former residents to visit more easily (and even perhaps consider investing in the area since it would be easier for them to come into town for business or just to survey opportunities.)

Many companies actually require there to be an airport in the metropolitan area that can at least offer commercial flights to regional major cities. One can only guess how many companies would otherwise relocate to the area for the low-cost real estate but opt not to due to the lack of airport that their employees and associates would need. The development of the airport actually is tied in with the development of a rail system, as well as the redevelopment of the freeway system. With an operation airport, that would provide some of the demand for the rail system (to connect all of Youngstown, Warren, and the cities of the Shenango Valley to access the airport for arrivals and departures.)

Smart Traffic Control System

While traffic jams are not quite a problem in any of the Mahoning Valley's cities and towns, setting up a smart-traffic control system has a few benefits to consider. Firstly, let's define what we mean by "smart traffic control system". The idea in mind is a computer-vision system driven by Artificial Intelligence that works on most, if not all, of the city's traffic lights and allows for more efficient and convenient traffic flow. This is a system that monitors the flow and build up of traffic and takes over when the timer-based and road-weight systems are not logical.

There is no need for a vehicle to wait at a light when there is no oncoming cross-traffic. Imagine it being 12:30 AM and a driver reaches the corner of South Avenue and Indianola Avenue, and is demanded to be stopped by the light. Chances are that there will not be any vehicles coming down Indianola that would necessitate a wait for the motorist traveling on South Avenue. Rather than the motorist wait for 2-3 minutes for the light to change, burning gasoline (all the while emitting carbon dioxide into the air from the car's exhaust) which costs money to the motorist (albeit a very small amount, but a cost no less), and not to mention making themselves vulnerable to the crime that is know to occur in that area by being stopped at the light (and this is the case at similar intersections in Youngstown, the southside of Youngstown in particular), the traffic system could "see" that there are no on-coming vehicles and change to green to allow the motorist to pass. This also speeds up travel time and makes travel more efficient. The less time a person has to spend in traffic or on the road along their journey, the better for the motorist, the traveling parties (lets assume it's a taxi, Uber or someone giving a friend a ride), the fuel-efficiency of the vehicle, and ultimately the environment.

This system could also work where there is traffic congestion. If there is a situation where there are significantly more cars waiting to pass along a certain street or road than there are on the cross-road, then the traffic system can detect this and pause traffic for the road which has the less amount of vehicles, and give way to the road where there are far more vehicles needing to pass. This lessens the chance of a traffic build up at the intersection, and quite possibly the intersections behind, as the congestion of vehicles is given way. This also eliminates the situation where there is a line of stopped vehicles waiting for the light to change and emitting exhaust fumes into the air while not moving. Again, this also saves money on gasoline for the motorists as they are maximizing the operation of their running vehicle and not just burning fuel waiting for a light to change. This is a small, but added benefit to the economic situation of an area whose residents need to realize savings in all as many ways as they are able to.

The development of the Traffic Control System is an endeavor that would attract higher-end computer programming talent -- particularly in the AI space. It goes without saying that this would add to the tax base, disposable income being spent throughout the Mahoning Valley, and added need for housing -- whether rental or ownership. Where would we get this talent from? We would need to attract it. While it's doubtful that the city will take up this initiative, a move by someone or a group with wherewithal could start by buying houses or procuring houses/rental property to recruit individuals skilled in the advanced programming and project management. Of course a staff of personnel for this task wouldn't be as vast as the one needed for the road material development project, but we can estimate that at least 20-30 people would be required to carry out this development in a expeditious timeline. This would require the formation of a new company or companies to develop this system, and of course contracted by the city or working in conjunction with the city -- perhaps even the county or collection of governments.

What Would It Cost? How Would It Be Paid For?

As with the road project, this endeavor could be funded by a grant or grants obtained by the city specifically for this project (or under a blanket initiative which includes the roads), as well as endowments by well-off Youngstowners and Youngstown natives. As well, the city can fund this project itself (in part, and in addition to the grants of course) through public funds. It would be diligent for the city administration to do a dollar-cost-benefit analysis of this project to justify the funding and to secure the grants and or approval.

What this would do on as a residual benefit is further open the door for Youngstown to become involved in activity that is future smart and high-tech oriented. It will open the door to a world which would begin to attract tech talent to the area, spark the interest of young (and perhaps even older) people as the automated, computer-vision driven traffic lights would capture the curiosities. Youngsters would wonder how the lights "know" or can "see" that the traffic. This begins to spark the inclination of people wanting to venture off into a world and career of technology, and Artificial Intelligence at that. The culture of high tech begins with the sparking of interest of minds.

The Public Transportation System

The Mahoning and Shenango Valley could benefit from a light-rail transportation system that connects the two valleys' main cities and suburbs. This is low-cost public transportation and would be much more efficient than buses (in carbon emissions, travel time, space occupation, safety, and scheduling) and would provide the residents a better way to travel throughout the area. It will also open the doors to better employment opportunities for both job-seekers and employers, since reliable transportation is an issue for many of the Valleys' (both Mahoning and Shenango) residents. Establishing a rail system for the area is also a way to develop jobs that would be available to local residents because of the need to install a system, as well as it being able to attract people to migrate to the area for these jobs.