Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The purpose of this legislation is to accept a grant award from the Federal Transit Authority in the amount of $233,101.00 in order to build sidewalks along South High Street between Highview Boulevard and Obetz Road.
In February of 2007, Mayor Michael B. Coleman created the Operation SAFEWALKS program. This program, when fully developed, will provide priorities and strategies for sidewalk construction in the city of Columbus, first targeting underserved neighborhoods within older sections of the community.
On October 22, 2007, Columbus City Council adopted the Scioto Southland Area Plan, which identified this stretch of roadway as a priority for pedestrian walkways.
In April of 2008, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission adopted the Franklin County Coordinated Plan. The purpose of this plan is to better coordinate existing transportation services, as well as document existing gaps. This plan gives agencies and local governments in Franklin County access to federal funds that can be used to address gaps in access to transportation, one of which is sidewalk links to transit.
On June 19, 2008, the City was notified that the New Freedom Grant application had been approved for funding. The project will remove existing barriers for residents at four senior housing facilities and numerous citizens, by providing pedestrian access to transit routes (six Central Ohio Transit Authority bus stops). There are a number of pedestrian generators within the project limits, including Great Southern Shopping Center, Columbus Health Department, and the South Community Opportunity Center. Up to 26 wheelchair ramps will be added and/or upgraded as part of this project.
The project length is approximately 2,600 feet. The design of the sidewalk project is being conducted by city staff, and is being coordinated with a resurfacing project already planned to be conducted in the same area in 2009. The sidewalk and wheelchair ramps will...
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