TRAC New Projects Move Governor's Transportation Plan

N E W S W I R E

Transportation Review Advisory Council Internet News Release
December 9, 2003

New Projects Move Governor's Transportation Plan

COLUMBUS (December 9, 2003) – The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) today approved $3.7 billion for major new highway projects, beginning the implementation of Governor Taft's Jobs and Progress Plan. The draft project list will be subject to a 90-day public comment period before the TRAC approves a final list in May.

"We must rebuild our stressed and outdated highway network to ensure that Ohio remains the transportation hub of the nation," Taft said. "This aggressive, but realistic plan will improve our transportation system, create thousands of jobs across Ohio, and enhance our quality of life."

Gov. Taft's Jobs and Progress Plan, which was unveiled in early August, is Ohio's largest transportation initiative since the original creation of the interstate highway system. The plan devotes $5 billion over the next 10 years toward Ohio's highway network, generating more than 4,000 highway construction jobs, easing freeway congestion, improving road safety and connecting rural regions.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) typically works on a six-year construction and planning cycle, adding a year of new projects annually. This round of TRAC project funding commitments covers the 2005-2010 time frame.

"Thanks to Governor Taft’s leadership, and the Ohio Legislature’s hard work in generating new transportation funding, we have an extensive and ambitious list of projects this year," said ODOT Director Gordon Proctor. "These projects represent a commitment to improve safety and increase economic development opportunities throughout the state."

The TRAC was created by the Ohio Legislature in 1997 to oversee fair distribution of transportation funds. The TRAC currently has 96 projects under construction, or to be constructed, totaling $7.6 billion.

Regional project highlights

NORTHWEST OHIO
U.S. Route 24 – Defiance, Henry, Lucas and Paulding counties: funding commitment of $401 million for the multi-phase project to rebuild the 61-mile corridor between the Indiana state line and Toledo beginning in 2006. Total project cost $405 million.

U.S. Route 30 – Hancock and Wyandot counties: funding commitment of $99 million for the tri-phase project to relocate U.S. 30 in Hancock and Wyandot counties beginning in 2005. Total project cost $113 million.

Interstate 75/Interstate 475 Interchange – Lucas County: funding commitment of $116.5 million for upgrades at the I-75/I-475 interchange beginning construction in 2008. Total project cost $125.5 million.

SOUTHWEST OHIO
State Route 32 – Clermont County: funding commitment of $3 million in 2004 to continue preliminary engineering on the Eastern Corridor Study. Total project cost $450 million.

Interstate 75/State Route 63 – Butler and Warren counties: funding commitment of $44 million to upgrade I-75/SR 63 interchange beginning in 2008. Total project cost $53 million.

Interstate 75 – Hamilton County: funding commitment of $84.5 million to add lanes and upgrade interchanges from Davis Ave. to Glendale Milford beginning construction in 2010. Total project cost $86 million.

Interstate 75 – Hamilton County: funding commitment of $101 million to upgrade interchanges at MLK/ Hopple, I-74, Mitchell Avenue beginning construction in 2011. Total project cost $101 million.

Interstate 75/Brent Spence Bridge – Hamilton County: funding commitment of $12 million in 2006 for development of I-75 approaches to Brent Spence Bridge. Total project cost $250 million.

Interstate 75 – Montgomery County: funding commitment of $214 million for multi-phase project to widen interstate and upgrade SR 4/Main St./Grand Ave. interchange beginning in 2007. Total project cost $214 million.

Interstate 75/Austin Road Interchange – Montgomery County: funding commitment of $14 million to construct a new interchange at Austin Pike and I-75 beginning in 2007. Total project cost $30 million.

Interstate 275/State Route 32 Interchange – Clermont County: funding commitment of $73.5 million to upgrade I-275/SR 32 interchange beginning in 2010. Total project cost $74 million.

NORTHEAST OHIO
Cleveland Innerbelt Curve and Viaduct – Cuyahoga County: funding commitment of $515 million for the multi-phase project to reconstruct and upgrade Cleveland’s Deadman’s Curve and viaduct beginning in 2010. Total project cost $615 million.

Cleveland West Shoreway – Cuyahoga County: funding commitment of $49.8 million for the reconstruction of Cleveland’s West Shoreway beginning in 2008. Total project cost $50 million.

State Route 2 – Lake County: funding commitment of $96 million for lane additions and interchange upgrades from SR 640 to SR 283 beginning in 2008. Total project cost $96 million.

State Route 8 – Summit County: funding commitment of $115 million for the two-phase project to convert SR 8 into a limited access road between I-271 and SR 303 beginning in 2007. Total project cost $142 million.

U.S. Route 30 – Carroll and Columbiana counties: funding commitment of $2 million in 2005 for preliminary engineering to relocate U.S. 30 between SR 44 and SR 9. Total project cost $100 million.

U.S. Route 30 – Stark County: funding commitment of $8 million in 2004 for further development to relocate U.S. 30 from Trump Ave. to SR 44. Total project cost $32 million.

Interstate 76 Corridor – Summit County: funding commitment of $24 million beginning in 2005 for further development of the I-76 corridor from State Route 21 to the Central Interchange in Summit County. Total project cost $549 million.

Interstate 80 – Mahoning County: funding commitment of $11 million beginning in 2008 for further development to reconstruct the I-80 corridor in Mahoning County. Total project cost $252 million.

SOUTHEAST OHIO
State Route 7 – Washington County: funding commitment of $19 million for upgrades to SR 7 on the eastside of Marietta beginning in 2008. Total project cost $24 million.

State Route 33 (Nelsonville Bypass) – Hocking and Athens counties: funding commitment of $128 million to construct a new four-lane highway to bypass Nelsonville beginning in 2008. Total project cost $128 million.

State Route 823 (Portsmouth Bypass) – Scioto County: funding commitment of $8 million in 2005 for further development of the SR 823, Portsmouth Bypass, in Scioto County. Total project cost $224 million.

CENTRAL OHIO
Light Rail – Franklin and Delaware counties: funding commitment of $3 million in 2005 for further development of Light Rail Line from Delaware to Downtown Columbus. Total project cost $501 million.

Interstate 70/Interstate 71 Downtown Split – Franklin County: funding commitment of $406 million for reconstruction of I-70/I-71 split in downtown Columbus beginning in 2007. Total project cost $410 million.

Interstate 70 – Fairfield and Licking counties: funding commitment of $1.5 million in 2005 for development to add lanes to I-70 between existing three-lane sections at SR 256 and SR 79. Total project cost $133 million.

State Route 161/State Route 37 Corridor – Franklin and Fairfield counties: funding commitment of $122 million for upgrades to SR 161/SR 37/SR 16 corridor from New Albany to Granville beginning in 2006. Total project cost $129 million.

Interstate 270 and U.S. Route 23/State Route 315 Interchanges – Franklin County: funding commitment of $216 million for upgrades of I-270 and U.S. 23/SR 315 interchanges on the north side of Columbus beginning in 2008. Total project cost $220 million.

Interstate 670/Stelzer Road Interchange – Franklin County: funding commitment of $19.5 million for upgrades to I-670/ International Blvd./ Stelzer Rd. intersection beginning in 2007. Total project cost $39 million.

A complete list of the projects receiving funding can be viewed at: 2005-2010 Major New Construction Program Draft List
(129 Kb in pdf format Requires Acrobat Reader)

Link to: TRAC Web site |

For further TRAC information, contact: TRAC Coordinator at (614) 728-8915