Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to provide additional funding to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in support of the FRA-270-32.92 project (PID 113663), commonly referred to as the Resurfacing - Easton Way (ODOT Project Coordination) project.
The project includes resurfacing a segment of Easton Way beginning at Stelzer Road and continuing toward I-270, as well as extending turn-lane queue storage and installing new traffic signals at the intersections of Easton Way with the I-270 ramps and Stelzer Road. These improvements will be accomplished through modifications to the existing raised median.
Ordinance 2157-2025 previously authorized the Director of Public Service to grant consent and propose cooperation with ODOT for this project.
Ordinance 0329-2026, which passed on February 23, 2026, authorized (1) the execution of a contribution agreement or other necessary instruments, including any amendments or modifications, between the Department of Public Service, acting through its Director, and ODOT; and (2) the encumbrance and expenditure of up to $107,680.00 to support completion of the project. That legislation also stated that: “The final cost to the City may vary depending on the results of the competitive bidding process administered by ODOT.”
When ODOT let the project on March 26, 2026, the apparent low bid substantially exceeded the original cost estimate, prompting ODOT to seek more funding from the Department of Public Service to support completion of the project. The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the encumbrance and expenditure of the funds necessary to enable the Department of Public Service to satisfy its additional financial obligations related to that effort.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in an amount not to exceed $82,860.00 is available and appropriated within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, in the Department of Public Service, to support the City’s local share of the estimated construction costs. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is required to provide sufficient budget authority for this expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to enable the Department of Public Service to make payment to ODOT on or before May 8, 2026, in order to maintain the project schedule established by ODOT and to promote highway safety.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the Director of Public Service to contribute additional funding to the Ohio Department of Transportation in support of improvements to Easton Way; to authorize the expenditure of up to $82,860.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($82,860.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is administering the FRA-270-32.92 project, PID 113663, also known as Resurfacing - Easton Way (ODOT Project Coordination), which encompasses various improvements to Easton Way in the vicinity of Steltzer Road and I-270; and
WHEREAS, the project is located within the corporate boundaries of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2157-2025 authorized the Director of the Department of Public Service to grant consent and to agree to cooperate with ODOT relative to the project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0329-2026 authorized the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into a contribution agreement with and to make payment in the amount of $107,680.00, representing the estimated local share of construction costs, to ODOT relative to the FRA-270-32.92 project, PID 113663; and
WHEREAS, ODOT let the project on March 26, 2026, at which time the apparent low bid substantially exceeded the original cost estimate, prompting ODOT to seek more funding from the Department of Public Service to support completion of the project; and
WHEREAS, this legislation seeks to the encumbrance and expenditure of $82,860.00 in additional funds for that purpose pursuant to the existing contribution agreement between Public Service and ODOT, which stipulates the City “agrees to assume and bear one Hundred percent (100%) of the entire cost of the improvement within LPA limits, less the amount of Federal-Aid funds set aside by the STATE for the financing of this improvement from funds allocated by the Federal Highway Administration, U. S. Department of Transportation”; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient budget authority for the project expenditure; 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 enable the Department of Public Service to make payment to ODOT on or before May 8, 2026, in order to maintain the schedule established by ODOT and to promote highway safety, 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 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
P530282-100051 / Resurfacing - Resurfacing Projects (Voted Carryover) / $4,928,848.00 / ($82,860.00) / $4,845,988.00
P530282-100173 / Resurfacing - Easton Way (ODOT Project Coordination) (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $82,860.00 / $82,860.00
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to contribute additional funding to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to support the construction of FRA-270-32.92 project, PID 113663, also known as Resurfacing - Easton Way (ODOT Project Coordination) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the existing contribution agreement between Public Service and ODOT for this project.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $82,860.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Division of Infrastructure Management), Project P530282-100173 (Resurfacing - Easton Way (ODOT Project Coordination)), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said 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.