Explanation
Background: The Public Service Department, Transportation Division, entered into an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) on March 4, 2004 to undertake a downtown traffic study for the division. This study examines the downtown street network, analyzes existing and predicted traffic movements, and projects traffic impacts on alternative future road networks and configurations. The potential reconfiguration of the existing shared I-70/I-71 corridor through downtown is included in the study as is COTA's proposal for light rail transit. This study is currently underway.
Ordinance #2026-2003 passed by City Council on September 22, 2003 authorized the Public Service Director to execute the agreement necessary for this purpose.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to extend this agreement as appropriate through December 31, 2004. No additional funding is required at this time.
A time extension is required to accommodate a prolonged but necessary public and decision maker involvement process and to coordinate with the I - 70/71 Innerbelt Major Investment Study by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Also, due to the critical impact the study recommendations will have on the downtown, extra time is needed to fully understand the competing issues and to conduct the necessary complex technical analyses.
Emergency action is requested to provide for the agreement being extended as soon as possible to memorialize present working arrangements.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to modify and extend an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for continued undertaking of the downtown traffic study through December 31, 2004, and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Public Service Department, Transportation Division has entered into an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to conduct a downtown traffic study; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2026-2003 passed by City Council on September 22, 2003, authorized the Public Service Director to execute the agreement necessary for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to extend this agreement through December 31, 2004, with no increase in funding being required; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Transportation Division, Public Service Department, in that it is immediately necessary to extend said agreement to memorialize present working agreements, thereby 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 Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to modify and extend an existing agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for the continued study of potential downtown circulation changes through December 31, 2004.
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 form and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.