Explanation
1.BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for the Cleveland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project; to accept deposits from COTA for acquisition of right-of-way by the Columbus City Attorney’s Office, Real Estate Division; and to, as necessary, provide refunds to COTA after acquisition is complete and final accounting is done.
This legislation also authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Cleveland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
In general, the BRT line will connect commuters from Downtown Columbus with various land uses along the corridor through Franklin County’s City of Columbus, Clinton Township, and Village of Minerva Park to the City of Westerville in Delaware County. Starting on High Street downtown, the BRT will connect to Cleveland Avenue via Nationwide Blvd. The BRT shall run north on Cleveland Avenue to OhioHealth Medical Center on Polaris Parkway in Westerville.
Right-of-way acquisition is estimated to begin in summer of 2015.
The Director of the Department of Public Service shall enter into an original agreement with COTA, which will include right-of-way acquisition. If the original right-of-way funding from COTA is not enough, COTA and Columbus shall enter into a contract modification(s) and COTA shall deposit the additional funds.
If, at the completion of acquisition, a refund is due to COTA, the Department of Public Service shall process the refund.
2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The Department of Public Service is requesting this ordinance to be considered an emergency measure in order to allow for immediate execution of agreements and receipt of deposits in order to maintain COTA’s project schedule.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
It is estimated that $350,000.00 may be deposited for...
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