Seven projects in Central Ohio seeking more than $270 million in TRAC funding
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is seeking comments on projects for which funding is being requested from the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
TRAC is integral in evaluating and selecting many of ODOT’s largest transportation project investments, funded through the Major New Capacity Program. These are projects that have a total project cost of more than $12 million, add transportation capacity, and are critical to the mobility, economic development, and quality of life of Ohio residents. The 2024 application period closed at the end of May, with five projects from the MORPC Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) region and two projects from the CORPO Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) region, including Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, and Pickaway counties, submitting applications for funding. Final funding decisions by TRAC are expected later this year.
As part of the selection process, ODOT requests that MPOs, like MORPC, and RTPOs, like CORPO, facilitate local input by prioritizing the applications for projects within the agency’s transportation planning boundaries.
“Central Ohio is growing rapidly – on pace to reach 3.15 million people by 2050. Projects like these are essential for preparing and accommodating this growth within our mobility network. The prioritization process involves a thorough analysis of each project to ensure alignment with the region’s transportation and development goals as detailed in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).”
The public is invited to provide feedback on each application to better understand local perspectives.
“These applications represent more than $270 million in funding requests for our region. We are asking community members to share their input on these proposals. It is important that we understand our community’s needs to help MORPC prioritize and advocate for these projects effectively.”
Applications for projects located within MORPC’s metropolitan planning organization area include:
I-71 Hard Shoulder Running/Smart Lane
This project will create a Hard Shoulder Running (HSR) lane between Fifth Avenue and State Route 161 in Columbus. Numerous bridges will be rehabilitated, and the roadway will be resurfaced. ODOT District 6 is requesting $100 million for construction in fiscal year 2026.
I-71 & Taylor Road/SR 256 Interchanges
This project will improve the Interstate 70 interchanges at state Route 256 and Taylor Road in Fairfield and Licking Counties. Work will include realigning ramps at SR 256, auxiliary lanes between SR 256 and Taylor Road, a new bridge over I-70 for Taylor Road SW with ramps to I-70, turn lanes at the intersections of SR 204/Taylor Road and Taylor Road/Taylor Road SW. ODOT District 5 is applying for $7 million for right-of-way acquisition in fiscal year 2025.
US 33 Southeast Corridor (I-270 to Fairfield County)
Under this project, US Route 33 will be widened from four lanes to six lanes between I-270 and Diley Road in Fairfield County. Additional improvements include upgrading the I-270/US 33 interchange and replacing two existing, at-grade intersections at US 33/Bixby Road and US 33/Rager Road with a grade-separated interchange at Bixby Road. The Rager Road intersection will be converted into two cul-de-sacs on either side of US 33. ODOT District 6 is applying for $145 million for construction in fiscal year 2026.
Dublin Emerald Connector
This project will construct a new bridge over I-270, connecting Emerald Parkway to Village Parkway. The bridge will include pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The City of Dublin is requesting $5 million for construction in fiscal year 2026.
North Knot
This project will identify a series of infrastructure improvements to address mobility, system linkages, and access issues in the study area. The study area includes SR 315, Olentangy River Road, Lane Avenue, and Kinnear Road, along with associated bridges, signals, intersections, interchanges, and ramps. The City of Columbus is requesting $7.8 million for preliminary engineering in fiscal year 2026.
Applications for projects located within CORPO’s regional transportation planning organization area include:
State Route 13 Relocation
The proposed project would relocate SR 13 to the southwest along the Kokosing River and connect South Main Street to Sandusky Street. This new 3-lane road would replace Philips Drive and carry 2-way traffic. This project will increase the buffer between the road and the river. This project additionally proposes to reroute SR 229 and US 36 through downtown Mount Vernon to reduce the amount of traffic traveling through Public Square and improve pedestrian mobility. The City of Mount Version is requesting $5.6 million for construction in fiscal year 2025.
US 23 & SR 762 Interchange
This project will complete the development-driven improvements and master plan envisioned for the Rickenbacker East-West Connector by converting the existing intersection into a full interchange. ODOT District 6 is requesting $5 million for right-of-way acquisition in fiscal year 2025.
One-page fact sheets on the projects are available at morpc.org/funding.
The public is encouraged to provide comments or any additional information to help set MORPC’s priorities, including advantages and/or disadvantages of projects. All comments must be submitted by e-mail to trac@morpc.org or in writing to Shelby Oldroyd, Re: TRAC Public Input, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215. The deadline to submit feedback is 5 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024.
