Explanation
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has identified physical and operational deficiencies on portions of IR-270, SR 315, U.S. Route 23 and IR-71 and will undertake a planning study to develop a transportation operations and construction strategy to address these deficiencies. This is consent legislation to permit the State of Ohio to undertake said study and is necessary since portions of this project are within the City of Columbus. Specific project limits are IR-270 (Sawmill Road to Cleveland Avenue); SR 315 (SR 161 to Hard Road); U.S. Route 23 (Wilson Bridge Road to Flint Road) and IR-71 (SR 161 to Polaris Parkway) (FRA-IR270-19.84; PID #76144). Consultant selection is by ODOT.
The total cost for this project will be funded by ODOT (except for extraordinary features requested by the City, if any). No financial obligation to the City of Columbus is necessary at this time or is anticipated. This legislation also authorizes the Public Service Director to enter into the necessary agreement(s) to complete this project.
Emergency action is requested to expedite this highway project and promote highway safety at these locations as quickly as possible.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to enter into an agreement with the Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation to grant consent and propose cooperation with the State of Ohio for a roadway improvement project to develop a transportation operations and construction strategy to address deficiencies on portions of IR-270, SR315, U.S. Route 23 and IR-71 for the Transportation Division and to declare an emergency. ($-0-)
Body
The following is an ordinance enacted by the City of Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, hereinafter referred to as the Local Public Agency (LPA), in the matter of the stated described project.
SECTION 1 - Project Description
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio has identified the need for the described project:
The purpose of this project is for a planning study to develop a transportation operations and construction strategy that addresses the physical and operational deficiencies of the project area. Project limits extend from IR-270 from Sawmill Road to Cleveland Avenue; SR 315 from SR 161 to Hard Road; US23 from Wilson Bridge Road to Flint Road and IR-71 from SR161 to Polaris Parkway, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usually daily operation of the Transportation Division, Public Service Department, in that it is immediately necessary to proceed with this roadway improvement as soon as possible in order to promote and enhance motorist safety, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 2 - Consent Statement
Being in the public interest, the LPA gives consent to the Director of Transportation to complete the above-described project.
SECTION 3 - Cooperation Statement
The LPA shall cooperate with the Director of Transportation in the above-described project as follows:
The City hereby agrees to cooperate with the Director of Transportation of the State of Ohio in the planning, design and construction of the identified highway improvement project and grants consent to the Ohio Department of Transportation for its development and construction of the project in accordance with plans, specifications and estimates as approved by the Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The Ohio Department of Transportation shall assume and bear one hundred percent (100%) of the necessary costs of the highway improvement project.
In the event that the City requests certain features or appurtenances be included within the highway improvement project's design and construction, and which features and appurtenances are determined by the State and the Federal Highway Administration to be not necessary for the State's highway improvement project, the City shall, prior to the project being advertised for construction contract bidding purposes, provide appropriate documentation that its Council has appropriated, and its Auditor has certified as being available for such specific purposes, funds sufficient in amount to cover one hundred percent of the costs of incorporating such additional features or appurtenances within the State's project, including preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way, construction and construction engineering expenses as may be directly related thereto.
SECTION 4 - Utilities and Right-of-Way Statement
The LPA agrees that all right-of-way required for the described project will be acquired and/or made available in accordance with current State and Federal regulations. The LPA also understands that right-of-way costs include eligible utility costs.
The LPA agrees that all utility accommodation, relocation and reimbursement will comply with the current provisions of 23 CFR 645 and the ODOT Utilities Manual.
SECTION 5 - Maintenance
Upon completion of the project, and unless otherwise agreed, the LPA shall: (1) provide adequate maintenance for the project in accordance with all applicable state and federal law, including, but not limited to, Title 23, U.S.C., Section 116; (2) provide ample financial resources, as necessary, for the maintenance of the project; (3) maintain the right-of-way, keeping it free of obstructions, and (4) hold said right-of-way inviolate for public highway purposes.
SECTION 6 - Authority to Sign
The Public Service Director is hereby empowered on behalf of the City of Columbus to enter into a contract(s) with the Director of Transportation necessary to complete the above-described project.
SECTION 7 - That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance 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.