Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Department of Public Service to accept a Safe Routes to School grant award from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the amount of approximately $234,812.00 in order to design and build sidewalk and curb ramps along Rich Street between Central Avenue and Yale Avenue. The final amount of funding awarded is to be determined upon a final scope approved by ODOT expected by early 2010.
The City of Columbus submitted an application for federal Safe Routes to School grant funding in the amount of $234,812.00 to ODOT requesting the use of funds to construct a sidewalk and curb ramps on the south side of Rich Street from Central Avenue to Yale Avenue and matching curb ramps across Rich Street where necessary. City Council passed Ordinance 0094-2009 authorizing the Department of Public Service to apply for the grant. The City was eligible to apply for Safe Routes to School funds after approval of the Franklinton Area School Travel Plan by ODOT in December of 2008. The School Travel Plan was developed as a component of the recently completed Franklinton Community Mobility Plan authorized in Ordinance 1344-2006. The missing sidewalk on Rich Street is identified as a priority in the Franklinton Community Mobility Plan and in the ODOT approved Franklinton Area School Travel Plan. The project will remove existing barriers for pedestrians on Rich Street, particularly school children. The proposed sidewalk location is on a Walk Smart Route, which is an established walking route for Dana Elementary School, and is in close proximity to Starling Middle School.
On March 30, 2009, the City was notified that the Safe Routes to School application had been approved by ODOT for funding contingent on the completion and approval of the final project scope by ODOT. The grant will fund the design, environmental compliance, construction and construction inspection components of the project.
The ...
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