Explanation
Background: Rickenbacker International Airport is accessible by two major roadways, State Route 317 and Alum Creek Drive. The Rickenbacker Airport site will house the Norfolk and Southern intermodal facility to be constructed in 2006. With the rise of intermodal transportation, it is desired to build a public roadway that links the major roadways with the airport and with the Norfolk and Southern intermodal facility. A portion of this roadway will be constructed on City of Columbus land. The funding for this portion has been committed in order to create economic development opportunities, future development of area sites and to increase real, personal and income taxes for the City of Columbus.
Fiscal Impact: $2,000,000 is available in the 2005 Capital Improvement Budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority for up to $2,000,000 to design and construct a public roadway to an intermodal facility; to authorize the expenditure of $2,000,000 from the Capital Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000)
Body
WHEREAS, Rickenbacker International Airport has grown into a significant transportation hub; and
WHEREAS, it is accessible by two major roadways and will provide a site for Norfolk and Southern Railway to construct an intermodal facility; and
WHEREAS, construction of a new public roadway would serve as a connection to this intermodal facility and support intermodal means of transporting goods; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has committed to funding the portion of the roadway on City land as a means of creating economic development activities that would benefit the entire City; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to design and construct a public roadway to the above referenced intermodal facility, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare, and; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority for up to $2,000,000 to design and construct a public roadway that will provide access to an intermodal facility.
Section 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of up to $2,000,000 from the Development Department, Division No. 44-01, Fund No. 742, Project No. 440115 Rickenbacker Area Improvements, OCA Code 643106, Object Level Three 6680 is hereby authorized.
Section 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this legislation is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.