Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $5.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity (MPDG). The MPDG opportunity contains three grant programs: the National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants program (Mega), the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects grants program (INFRA), and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant program (Rural). USDOT is combining the FY 2023 and FY 2024 allocations for Mega, INFRA, and Rural into a single opportunity. USDOT anticipates awarding the following approximate amounts for each program: Mega - $1.8 billion, INFRA - $3.1 billion, and Rural - $650 million. This is the second time USDOT has used the MPDG to award funding for Mega, INFRA, and Rural. The NOFO was released on June 26, 2023 and will remain open only through August 21, 2023.
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to submit an application under the MPDG, and receive funding through either the Mega or INFRA grant programs. The Department of Public Service is working on a MPDG opportunity application with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in support of the ongoing I-70/I-71 Columbus Crossroads project and related local projects. This application would focus on Phases 2D and 3, and it would include improvements not only to the mainline freeway, but also to related portions of Lester Drive; Elijah Pierce Avenue; Parson Avenue; and Main Street. It would also replace the Oak Street Bridge, Town Street Bridge, Main Street Bridge, and Parsons Avenue Bridge. The City has previously partnered with MORPC and ODOT on a successful INFRA application for Phase 4 of the Columbus Crossroads project in 2021. ODOT is the lead agency responsible for the construction of this work, which will cost approximately $187 million.
This legislation will authorize the Director of...
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