Explanation
The Public Service Department, Transportation Division, initially entered into an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) on March 4, 2004, to undertake a downtown traffic study. This study examines the downtown street network, analyzes existing and predicted traffic movements, and projects traffic impacts on alternative future road networks and configurations associated with the I-70/I71 reconstruction project. It is critically important that the City work with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to secure a coordinated downtown street and freeway network, develop an implementation plan of recommended improvements, enhance downtown livability, and provide for non-motorized modes of travel. As well, 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.
The time frame contained within this recent legislation is not reasonable enough to accomodate a more prolonged, but necessary, public and decision maker involvement process. Also, due to the critical impact the study recommendation will have on the downtown, extra time is needed to fully understand the competing issues and to conduct the necessary complex techinical analysis while a final freeway alternative is selected and plans are prepared by ODOT.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to extend this agreement as appropriate through December 31, 2007. No additional funding is required at this time.
Emergency action is requested to provide for the agreement being extended as soon as possible to memorialize present working arrangements and to set project completion targets.
Title
To amend Ordinance 0408-2005 which authorized a contract modification with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Comission for continued undertaking of the downtown traffic study by extending the completion date of the contract fr...
Click here for full text