JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY
According to a June 2, 2026 LNP/LancasterOnline article by Todd Lassa, Lancaster City’s finance committee voted 3-0 on June 1 to advance a bill seeking $15 million in additional interim short-term financing for the Susquehanna Large Diameter Transmission Main Project, sending it to the full City Council for a vote on June 9. The request comes as the major water infrastructure project has increased to $67.1 million — well beyond initial projections.
An updated timeline estimates the project will be completed by September 30, 2027. Currently, no specifics have been announced on when the Columbia portion of the project will begin.
The Susquehanna Large Diameter Transmission Main Project is designed to replace an aging 1950s-era water pipeline that carries water from the Susquehanna River to Lancaster City’s treatment plant, serving roughly 120,000 customers across Lancaster County. The centerpiece is a 42-inch diameter water main intended to provide redundancy for the existing line, which is over 70 years old, supplies about 70% of Lancaster City’s customers, and has required increasingly costly repairs, including an emergency fix in 2012.
In Columbia, the proposed underground route would begin at a pumping station along the Susquehanna River in Columbia, cross underneath the railroad tracks, travel across Front Street, up Mill Street, over South 4th Street, and up Manor Street to the water treatment plant at South 15th Street. From there, the line continues east along Route 462 into Mountville.
The backstory
Construction was originally scheduled to begin in February 2026 and conclude in March 2027, a span of roughly 13 months. Manor Street alone would face up to six months of disruption, with the line sitting in an 8-foot deep, 8-foot wide trench progressing at 50 to 100 feet per day.
As part of the PENNVEST application process, Lancaster City required letters of support from all affected municipalities — Columbia Borough, West Hempfield Township, Mountville Borough, and East Hempfield Township. Columbia initially refused.
At a July 15, 2025 regular meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to send a letter of non-support, with Borough Manager Steven Kaufhold arguing the borough would “take the brunt of this with literally no gain,” citing unanswered questions about fire truck access, prolonged street closures, and the impact on residents. Kaufhold noted that while the letter could create complications, the Public Utilities Commission might have the final word regardless. “It’s a PUC. We may not have a lot of chances of stopping this,” he said.
Councilman Kelly Murphy questioned whether alternatives had been seriously considered. “They didn’t really present what their other options were. It might be more cost for them, but going through some farmland is going to do a lot less disturbance than cutting through a whole town,” he said.
Despite that initial resistance, council ultimately voted unanimously at its September 9, 2025 meeting to provide the letter of support — a reversal driven in part by a desire to secure a seat at the negotiating table. Councilman Peter Stahl, who made the motion, explained the shift: “When we initially denied it, we got a seat at the table again, and Lancaster City’s listening. I feel that we have a place now to discuss and get in writing the things that we need to be done and need to be considered.”
Borough Engineer Derek Rinaldo was careful to frame the letter narrowly. “This is basically supporting the city of Lancaster in getting financing at a good rate for this project,” he said. “We have no desire to stick it to the city of Lancaster. We want to make sure that their taxpayers and ratepayers get the best deal.”
Rinaldo indicated that Columbia’s control over street cut permits gives the borough meaningful leverage going forward. Key issues still to be negotiated include street restoration requirements, road closure durations and detour plans, emergency vehicle access, and impacts on local business deliveries.
Christine Volkay-Hilditch, Lancaster City’s Deputy Director of Public Works, said Manor Street will be repaved along its full length after excavation — though not curb to curb — and that the recently repaved 200 block of Mill Street will be completely restored. She also agreed to hold an additional public meeting with residents.
[Sources: LNP/LancasterOnline, Columbia Spy]
Columbia Spy 