Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to modify an existing construction contract with Complete General Construction Company (“Complete General”) relative to the Grandview Yard - Third Avenue Railroad Bridge project (the “Project”).
The aforementioned project encompasses various public infrastructure improvements including: widening and reconstructing Third Avenue from a point 375 feet west of the CSX railroad bridge to a point 400 feet east of the bridge; constructing a new 3-lane roadway known as Rail Street to the south of Third Avenue; installing a shared use path and a sidewalk within the project limits, and replacing the CSX railroad overpass and the traffic signal at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Edgehill Road.
That effort is the result of a Public-Private Partnership (3P) between the Department of Public Service and NRI Equity Land Investments, LLC (“NRI”), pursuant to a Tax Increment Financing Agreement, effective July 12, 2012, for the construction and reimbursement of public infrastructure improvements that support private development activities in and around the Third Avenue and Olentangy River Road area of Columbus, also known as Grandview Yard.
Ordinance 2597-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract with Complete General Construction Company to construct the Project.
The Director of Public Service also executed a separate Construction Agreement, authorized pursuant to Ordinance 2089-2016, with CSX Transportation, Inc. (“CSX”) for: 1) the review and approval of engineering plans, design plans, construction specifications, and drawings, and other documents to identify and mitigate potential conflicts between rail operations and public infrastructure in proximity to railway corridors and 2) the provision of flagmen, watchmen, and other protective services and devices necessary to the safety and continuity of rail operations. CSX subsequently determined that the o...
Click here for full text