N E W S W I R E

Transportation Review Advisory Council  Internet News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2001

TRAC Releases 2006 Projects List

Columbus – The state panel overseeing funding of major new transportation projects today approved more than $20 million for further development of eight projects around the state.

The nine-member panel, however, did not allocate money for new project construction in the year 2006, saying that the unpredictability of federal funds made distant financial commitments unwise.

Said TRAC Chairman and ODOT Director Gordon Proctor: "We cannot now foresee any money for new construction in 2006 unless Congress acts to renew federal funding authorization. It would be irresponsible to make a large number of funding commitments right now."

Last December, the panel approved 16 projects worth more than $209 million for construction.

Proctor said it was imperative Congress act to include additional federal money in the federal bill which will replace the current law, due to expire in October 2003. Meanwhile, the department will get projects ready for construction so they will be ready when the money is.

Ohio gets nearly $1 billion a year in federal funds derived from the 18.5 cent a gallon federal gasoline tax. That revenue and the money from Ohio’s 22 cent a gallon gasoline tax has been level in recent years, Proctor said, while traffic has increased.

Currently, the TRAC – created by the Ohio Legislature in 1997 to oversee fair distribution of transportation funds – has 65 projects under construction or to be constructed; they are worth $2.8 billion.

A detailed listing of the projects can be viewed on ODOT’s website at www.dot.state.oh.us/TRAC.
Tier I - Draft List of Projects for Construction SFYs 2002-2006
Tier II - Draft List of Projects to Be Continued for Some Stage of Development

The draft project list will be subject to written public comments until April 5. Write: TRAC Coordinator Michael Cull, c/o ODOT, 1980 W. Broad St., Cols., Ohio 43223.

The eight projects to get TRAC money for development in the years 2002 to 2006 are:

• Antwerp Bypass in Paulding County – $2 million
• Widening of I-77 from Copley Rd. to SR 21 in Summit County – $1 million
• Upgrade Stelzer Road near Port Columbus Airport – $1.5 million
• Passenger rail in Columbus area – $2.5 million
• New four lane highway between Columbus and Newark – $8.6 million
• Improve interchange at I-70 and SR 202 in Huber Heights area – $500,000
• Widen US22/3 in Hamilton County from two to five lanes – $2 million
• Widen I-77 from SR82 to Pleasant Valley Rd. in Cuyahoga County