Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a cooperative design agreement with the City of Canal Winchester for the planning and design of improvements to Gender Road between US33 and Lehman Drive.
This project will focus on roadway and traffic improvements to Gender Road from US-33 to Lehman Drive. The project will be designed to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion along the project corridor.
Improvements to Gender Road to be designed will include widening and partial-depth pavement repair/resurfacing from US-33 to Winchester Highlands Drive. The pavement widening will be designed to be generally one lane in width to provide for a center left turn lane. The widening will be designed to occur on both sides of Gender Road to make maximum use of existing right-of-way. Improvements to Winchester Pike to be designed will include widening and partial-depth pavement repair/resurfacing from Gender Road to approximately 750 feet west of Gender Road to extend the existing eastbound left turn lane in order to provide additional storage volume. Pavement widening will be designed to occur on the north side of Winchester Pike to take advantage of additional right-of-way width on this side of the road. Also, due to the widening of Gender Road pavement, modifications to the US-33 westbound entrance ramp will be required.
The City of Columbus and City of Canal Winchester have determined that it is in the best interest of both parties to enter into agreement to facilitate the planning and design of this project. This agreement will stipulate the responsibilities for each party in the planning and design of the project. Canal Winchester will be the lead agency for management and administration of the design contract.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
The City of Canal Winchester has received an OPWC grant for this project in the amount of $2,095,847.00 and the City of Columbus and City of Canal Winchester have also received an Ohio Department of Transportation Safety Funds Grant in the amount of $2,100,000.00. Canal Winchester will utilize the OPWC grant for the project design.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The Department of Public Service is requesting this ordinance to be considered an emergency measure in order to allow for immediate execution of this agreement which is necessary to facilitate the design of these improvements.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a cooperative design agreement with The City of Canal Winchester for the design of public infrastructure improvements in connection with the Gender Road project; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the portion of Gender Road between US 33 and Lehman Drive is an arterial Roadway that serves the citizens of the City of Canal Winchester and City of Columbus, and is an important thoroughfare in the highway system for through traffic of both municipalities; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service has identified the need to enter into a cooperative design agreement with The City of Canal Winchester for the improvement of this roadway; and
WHEREAS, this agreement will stipulate the responsibilities for the City of Columbus and City of Canal Winchester for the project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a cooperative design agreement with The City of Canal Winchester for the design of public infrastructure improvements in connection with the Gender Road Project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Division of Design and Construction, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize said agreement to maintain the project schedule and meet community commitments; thereby immediately preserving the public health, peace property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into a cooperative design agreement with the City of Canal Winchester for the Gender Road Improvement project.
SECTION 2. 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.