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Jobs and
Transportation Plan Continues to Fuel Infrastructure Investment
More than $2 billion will fund transportation projects throughout Ohio
COLUMBUS (Thursday, December 18, 2014) – Gov. John R. Kasich’s “Jobs
and Transportation Plan” enters its second year with a projected $2
billion investment in the state’s infrastructure, economy and jobs over
the next several years.
The state’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) today gave
preliminary approval to continuing the governor’s plan that – once
complete – is expected to create as many as 60,000 new jobs and make a
total investment of $3 billion, most of it coming from money leveraged
by the Ohio Turnpike.
“Under the leadership of Governor John R. Kasich, we have been able to
turn a $1.6 billion budget problem into a $3 billion infrastructure
investment in just a couple of years,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray.
“While other states debate tax increases to dig their way out, Ohio has
proven that with innovation, we can continue to make progress and build
these massive transportation projects that communities tell us they
want and need.”
Some of the more notable changes or additions to this year’s plan
include:
· Constructing a new
interchange at State Route 16 and Cherry Valley Road in Licking County;
· Advancing the next
phase of the Interstate 270/State Route 315/U.S. Route 23
reconstruction project in Franklin County by eight years;
· Expediting
construction of two future phases of the Cleveland Innerbelt project in
Cuyahoga County;
· Adding a third lane
on Interstate 70 from U.S. Route 68 and State Route 72 in Clark County;
· Reconstructing
Interstate 70 at U.S. Route 40 and State Route 331 in Belmont County;
· Upgrading the
interchange at Interstate 71 and Western Row Road in Warren County; and,
· Building a new
railroad crossing on Grand Avenue and adding half-mile extension with
new intersections at U.S. Route 127 and University Boulevard in Butler
County.
The governor’s plan was kicked-off last year and quickly invested more
than a billion dollars in state infrastructure spending. Projects
launched this past construction season, which are currently underway
include the:
· Portsmouth Bypass in
southeast Ohio;
· MLK Boulevard
interchange in southwest Ohio;
· Widening of I-75 in
northwest Ohio;
· Expansion of I-80 in
eastern Ohio; and,
· Next phase of the
I-70/I-71 project in central Ohio.
A complete list of all projects TRAC approved for construction
throughout the state in the coming years is located here.
The TRAC now enters a written public comment period which ends Tuesday,
January 20, 2015. Written public comments may be submitted here or sent
electronically to trac@dot.state.oh.us, or by mail to the Ohio
Department of Transportation, C/O Jim Gates, 1980 West Broad Street,
Columbus, Ohio 43223.
The nine-member TRAC was established by the Ohio Revised Code in 1997
and provides guidance for developing a project selection process for
ODOT’s largest investments of more than $12 million.
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