Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $3.35 billion in discretionary grant funding through its Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) program. USDOT has combined its Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program and its Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program into the RCN Program. A portion of the NAE funding, approximately $450 million, will be awarded as Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants that are intended to address issues with a regional focus, and clearly demonstrate regional coordination and leveraging of local, State, and Federal resources and policies. USDOT anticipates awarding $188 million to Community Planning Grants, $2.718 billion to Capital Construction Grants, and $450 million to Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants. This is the second round of funding for USDOT’s RCP program, and it is the first - and potentially only - funding round for the NAE program. The NOFO was released in July, and amended on August 21, 2023; and it will remain open only through September 28, 2023.
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to submit an application under the RCN, and receive funding through either the RCP or NAE programs. The Department of Public Service is working on a RCN opportunity application with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in support of the W. Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor project. In addition to constructing the BRT on W. Broad Street, it would also ensure there are complete streets and active transportation facilities along the entire W. Broad Street BRT corridor. COTA is the lead agency responsible for the construction of this work, which is estimated to cost approximately $339.5 million.
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Service to formally submit an application under the RCN opportunity as either the lead applicant or joint applicant. It also authorizes th...
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