N E W S W I R E

Transportation Review Advisory Council  Internet News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2000

Highway, Rail Projects Approved

Columbus – Following a comment period that drew more than 800 contacts from Ohioans, the Transportation Review Advisory Council today gave final approval to 16 construction projects worth more than $209 million.

Most of the highway projects – approved in draft form last December – will be funded in 2005 and be part of ODOT’s overall $300 million annual major new construction program.

The TRAC received nearly 800 post cards, letters and e-mails opposed to an Eastern Corridor project east of Cincinnati that would add a bridge to the Little Miami River.

Meanwhile, a four-man TRAC subcommittee gave final approval to $50.4 million in railroad grade separation projects. The projects – in Lucas, Hamilton, Butler and Huron counties – are to relieve congestion caused by urban rail traffic. Like the TRAC projects, they were subject to public comment, having been approved last February. Most of the 84 comments received concerned proposed projects in Fostoria.

ODOT Director Gordon Proctor, chairman of the TRAC and the rail grade subcommittee, said both project lists demonstrated a commitment to expanding Ohio’s infrastructure using a process that is fair and considerate of the public’s concerns. "All these projects were chosen by panels that are thoughtful and guided by numbers – congestion statistics and financial figures. All projects were chosen after extensive public hearings and months of public input. We think the TRAC did a commendable job."

Among the highway projects approved for construction funding were: 

• $112 million in 2005 and 2006 for two interchange upgrades in northeast Columbus, at SR 161 and Sunbury Road and SR 161 and I- 270
• $22.5 million for a connector between SR 23 and SR 207 in Ross County
• $16.5 million to improve SR 237 ramps serving Cleveland Hopkins Airport
• $12.1 million to widen a part of I-70 in the Dayton area, from I-75 to Clark County
• $13.1 million to widen I-80 and replace bridges over Meander Reservoir in the Youngstown area
• $11.2 million to upgrade an interchange at Mayfield Road and I-271 in Cuyahoga County
• $10.6 million to widen SR18 in Medina County, east of I-71
• $5.8 million to widen SR 84 in Lake County, from I-90 to US 6
• $5.9 million to widen I-71 in Medina County, from Wayne County to I-76

Complete List of TRAC Projects, PDF Version (73K download)

Html Web listing of:

Tier I - Projects for Construction SFYs 2001-2005 and Previous Commitments
Tier II - Projects to Be Continued for Some Stage of Development

 

TRAC contributions for rail grade separation projects approved for construction are:

• $3.4 million for an overpass at Seaman Road and relocation of Lallendorf in Oregon
• $4 million for an underpass at SR 747 in Springdale
• $3.2 million for an overpass at CR 115 in Fairfield
• $3.6 million for two overpasses at Heisley Road in Mentor
• $5.2 million for an overpass in Bellevue at SR 269 (this was moved since December from Tier II to Tier I, for construction.)