City of Columbus - File #: 1653-2024

• File #: 1653-2024
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Consent
• File created: 6/3/2024
• In control: Public Service & Transportation Committee
• On agenda: 7/1/2024
• Title: To authorize the Director of Public Service to accept grant funding provided through the Transportation Review Advisory Council funding application to the Ohio Department of Transportation; to authorize the execution of grant and other requisite agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation and other entities providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award on behalf of the City of Columbus Department of Public Service; to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds; and issue refunds if necessary after final accounting is performed. ($0.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/24/2024	1	Columbus City Council	Read for the First Time

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 due to TRAC by May 31, 2024.

The City of Columbus is eligible to submit a TRAC application, and the Department of Public Service is has submitted a TRAC application to support the SR 315-North Knot project. The initial construction of SR 315 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 Columbus Innovation District (aka Carmenton), 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 a project - the SR 315-North Knot project - t...