Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Department of Public Service to reimburse the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for additional construction costs incurred during the completion of FRA-71-17.76, PID 77369.
The aforementioned effort was the first phase of the Downtown Ramp Up, a larger multi-phase interstate reconstruction project intended to alleviate congestion and safety issues on the Interstate 70 (I-70) and Interstate 71 (I-71) corridor in Downtown Columbus administered by ODOT. FRA-71-17.76, PID 77369, also known as Roadway Improvements - I-670/71 Interchange - Phase 1, encompassed various improvements I-670 and I-71, including realignment of I-670 eastbound from west of Cleveland Avenue to east of Saint Clair Avenue, and construction of three cap structures at the Spring Street and Long Street bridge crossings.
Ordinance 1838-2010 authorized the execution of a contribution agreement between ODOT and Department of Public Service relative to that project and the encumbrance and expenditure of $2,463,374.67 to support the estimated share of construction and inspection costs to be borne by the City. ODOT recently informed the Department of Public Service the actual costs attributable to the City exceeded that sum. This legislation seeks to authorize the Department of Public Service to pay the additional sum of $130,525.43 to ODOT for those cost overruns.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Auditor Certificate ACPO011262 previously was established pursuant to Ordinance 2981-2024 to support this and other expenditures related to the Downtown Ramp Up.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the Department of Public Service to satisfy its outstanding financial obligation to ODOT by September 30, 2025.
Title
To authorize the Department of Public Service to pay the sum of $130,525.43 to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) as reimbursement for additional construction costs incurred by ODOT during the completion of FRA-71-17.76; and to declare an emergency. ($130,525.43)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is administering the Downtown Ramp Up, a multi-phase interstate reconstruction project intended to alleviate congestion and safety issues on the Interstate 70 (I-70) and Interstate 71 (I-71) corridor in Downtown Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the first phase of the Downtown Ramp Up was FRA-71-17.76, PID 77369, also known as Roadway Improvements - I-670/71 Interchange - Phase 1, which encompassed various improvements I-670 and I-71, including realignment of I-670 eastbound from west of Cleveland Avenue to east of Saint Clair Avenue, and construction of three cap structures at the Spring Street and Long Street bridge crossings; and
WHEREAS, the City previously agreed to assume and bear one hundred percent (100%) of the entire cost of the improvement within Columbus city limits, less the amount of Federal-Aid funds set aside by the Director of Transportation for the financing of this improvement from funds allocated by the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1838-2010 authorized the execution of a contribution agreement between ODOT and the Department of Public Service and the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funding to support the local share of construction and inspection costs, then estimated to be $2,463,374.67; and
WHEREAS, the final construction and inspection costs attributable to the City exceeded the aforementioned sum by $130,525.43, for which ODOT currently is seeking reimbursement; and
WHEREAS, Auditor Certificate ACPO011262 previously was established pursuant to Ordinance 2981-2024 to support this and other expenditures related to the Downtown Ramp Up; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the passage of this legislation to allow the Department of Public Service to satisfy its outstanding obligation to ODOT by September 30, 2025, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for additional construction costs incurred during the completion of FRA-71-17.76, PID 77369.
SECTION 2. That the Department of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to pay the sum of $130,525.43 to ODOT to support the aforementioned project pursuant to Auditor’s Certificate ACPO011262.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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.