Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) annually accepts applications to fund projects as part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT’s) Major New Capacity Program. TRAC was established by Ohio Revised Code 5512 to oversee the selection process for the priority and approval for funding projects that are part of the Major New Capacity Program. To be eligible for TRAC funding, a project must have an overall cost greater than $12 million; increase capacity or reduce congestion; and be critical to the mobility, economic development, and quality of life for the citizens of Ohio. Projects may be submitted by public agencies such as: ODOT District Offices, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs), Municipalities, County Commissioners, County Engineers, Transit and Port Authorities, and Transportation Improvement Districts (TIDs). Applications for the current application cycle were due to be submitted to TRAC by July 17, 2026.
The City of Columbus is eligible to submit a TRAC application, and the Department of Public Service has prepared a TRAC application to support the Columbus Region Network of Knowledge, New Opportunities, and Technology (Columbus Region North KNOT). The initial construction of SR315 freeway and subsequent growth have created significant mobility, system linkage, and access issues that now hamper significant economic development and transportation infrastructure investments being made by the City of Columbus, Franklin County, The Ohio State University, JobsOhio, and others in and around the project area. These investments include:
• The Innovation District at Ohio State, which is one of three innovation districts in the state identified by JobsOhio;
• The LinkUS Northwest Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project; and
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center expansion.
The City of Columbus, Franklin County Engineer’s Office, and The Ohio State University are partnering on the Columbus Region North KNOT project - to identify a series of infrastructure improvements to ultimately address these issues, as well as support multi-modal transportation connections that will be provided by the LinkUS Northwest BRT Corridor. Columbus, The Ohio State University, and Franklin County Engineer have already invested $1.2 million to begin planning for the project, and TRAC has already awarded $1.5 million towards preliminary engineering for the FRA SR 315 at Lane Avenue phase of the project. This TRAC request specifically requests an award of $4.1 million towards detailed design for the FRA-SR315 at Lane Avenue phase of the Columbus Region North KNOT project.
2. EXPECTED PROJECT
The Department of Public Service submitted an application seeking TRAC funding for the FRA-SR315 at Lane Avenue’s detailed design phase. Significant work is expected on SR315’s Lane Avenue interchange and Lane Avenue itself, as well as the associated bridges, signals, intersections, interchange, and ramps. The detailed design phase will design the project’s improvements and create construction documents and right of way documents for the project. The total estimated cost for the detailed design phase is approximately $8.2 million, of which $4.1 million is being requested from TRAC. Columbus would be responsible for a total local match of approximately $4.1 million.
The above project listing is meant to be illustrative and is believed to be accurate and complete; however, last minute project additions and substitutions are at the discretion of the Director of Public Service.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial participation is required at this time. City funds will be approved in the form of design contracts, right of way acquisition, and/or construction contracts that will be submitted for Council's approval.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to execute grant agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation for projects related to Transportation Review Advisory Council funding; to accept and expend grant funds; and to issue refunds if necessary after final accounting is performed. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Transportation Review Advisory Council accepted applications for funding projects as part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Major New Capacity Program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to execute grant agreements, accept and expend grant funds, and issue refunds if necessary, after final accounting for approved projects; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to accept the grant funding and execute a grant agreement with Ohio Department of Transportation and other entities relative to the project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Service is hereby authorized to execute grant agreements, with the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the Transportation Review Advisory Council Program; and to accept and expend awarded grant funds.
SECTION 2. The Department of Public Service submitted an application for the project listed above. City Council understands and approves that this list may change at the discretion of the Director of Public Service if other projects are found to be good candidates to be awarded these grant funds or if a reason should be found not to submit one of the listed projects.
SECTION 3. The Department of Public Service is authorized to issue refunds of awarded or reimbursed grant funds, if necessary, after final accounting is performed or when notified by the Department of Public Service's Division of Design and Construction that a refund can be issued.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.