With Phase I of the Smart2 Project in downtown Youngstown expected to be complete this Summer, Phase II is now getting the green light.

The Youngstown Board of Control is expected to award a $15.8 million contract to Marucci and Gaffney Excavating Co. on Thursday to begin improvements to several downtown Youngstown streets.

Phase I includes that major overhaul of Fifth Ave. and Youngstown's Deputy Director of Public Works, Charles Shasho, says it should be complete July 5th.

"It's just exciting to see it's finally come to fruition," Shasho said.

Phase II will take place over three years, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

2021 will focus on improvements to a number of streets including Phelps Street between Federal Street and the Amphitheater.

Another portion of Fifth Avenue, north of the Madison Avenue Expressway, up to Park Avenue and down to Mercy Health will get an upgrade.

Design work will begin on Commerce and Front Streets with streetscape and roadway improvements from Fifth Avenue down to Federal Street beginning in 2022.

In 2023, Federal Street and Rayen Avenue will start to see improvements.

"I think now is a great time to start doing this," Shasho said. "We're incorporating some green infrastructure in this, multi-use paths, bicycle friendly areas in the roadway."

The final phase is expected to begin in 2023 and includes an autonomous shuttle that will link downtown, YSU and Mercy Health.

"As you can see on Fifth Avenue it's definitely transformative, it's going to give it a whole new look, it's going to encourage pedestrian safety, it's going to encourage development, it's another piece of the puzzle to revitalization of downtown," Shasho said.

The City is using an $11 million BUILD grant to help pay for the $26 million project. There are also public-private partnerships and other federal and state dollars going towards the final bill.