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The Ohio Department of Transportation held a Stakeholder Meeting Announcement last night at the Lincoln Theatre to provide an update on the I-70/71 “Split Fix” Project. Most of the major components of the project remained unchanged from announcements that took place in January, but some new details were provided regarding the I-670-style design of the highway trenches, the new feeder streets, and the beautification and streetscaping efforts.
The Q&A/Feedback session that followed the presentation revealed that few people seemed happy with the project at all.
Some folks questioned the methods behind deciding which portions of the streets would get trees, while others expressed displeasure about the lack of highway caps that had been promised by ODOT earlier in the project’s lifespan. ODOT officials were quick to state that the new retaining walls would be constructed for highway cap development in the future if funds were to become available, and added that the greenspaces, trees, and other beautification efforts were not completely finalized at this point in time.
The first phase of the project is slated to begin sometime in 2010 with work starting along I-71 between I-670 and Spring Street. ODOT officials said that community involvement would be an ongoing process and that new design standards could be worked out with the City of Columbus.
Attendees of the meeting were sent home with comment/feedback forms seeking input on the design standards being introduced at the meeting. For anyone else interested in supplying additional feedback to ODOT, the comments forms are being sent to Ferzan Ahmed, Project Manager, ODOT District 6, 400 E. William Street, Delaware, OH, 43015 – Phone: 740-833-8367 – Fax: 740-887-4605 – email: Ferzan.Ahmed@dot.state.oh.us.
Walker, some discussion here on the Parsons bike lanes and links to some of the plans.
Jergarr27 Says: Wasn’t there an alternative plan that would’ve re-routed traffic around the central city area?
There was a plan to connect 70 to 104 and send all of that traffic down around past the south side. I think option required more extensive land acquisition and demolition though. And while it would undo the currently “split” overlap of 70/71, it would shift it to the portion of 71 that runs between 104 and Downtown. Which I don’t think would really be a whole lot better in terms of solving congestion issues.
I am suspicious about the time of the meeting. It seemed to be designed to minimize size of crowd. These “public input” meetings feel real phony. I would hope that the City is going to wield some influence on this project and not just pass it off as something out of their control.
From an outsider’s prospective, ODOT sure still seems to be a giant dinosaur of an organization. For all of the talk about new leadership under Strickland/Beasley/Molitaris, they still seem to be the Ohio Department of Highways.
Wow, so Carabar’s gonna get knocked down for a half assed highway ‘fix’ people don’t want. Go team.
Yeah, well, not enough people (like many CUers) are contacting ODOT to stop that from happening. I’d like that to change, but I doubt it’ll happen.
Apparently the Plain Dealer isn’t happy about their ODOT Innerbelt project in Cleveland either:
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/11/by_all_means_odot_should_allow.html
1. @ John. HA! Looks like ODOT is angering everyone
2. Let’s do this right, get a good new highway system…AND time a vote for a new, expansive light rail system to coincide nicely with the height of congestion b/c of construction on this. Scheming…
I emailed Mr. Ahmed and pointed out how obvious it is that this split “fix” is short-lived fiscal irresponsibility. Just doing more of the same by adding more lanes (who would’ve guessed?) and expecting a different result. The split was designed to handle 120,000 vehicles daily as the maximum capacity. That number was 160,000 in 2000 and went to 180,000 in 2003 and God knows how high that number is now. Can anyone here seriously say that spending this $1.7 billion is going to solve anything? They already have a hard enough time trying to figure out how to make it hold the current amount of traffic which probably 200,000 a day let alone increasing capacity to such an extent that it’ll be able to handle the ever increasing ~10,000 additional vehicles every 3-5 years. The highly questionable omission of the new projected capacity and how long this “fix” is supposed to last based on current increases is just glaring. And we also get to see what all of the construction will to do newer business districts in OTE and KL that have just started to gain traction.
Residents slam state’s design plan for I-70/71
Saturday, December 12, 2009
BY MARK FERENCHIK
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
That signature arch in the Main Street bridge that will link Downtown to Franklinton? Olde Towne East residents want one, too. Theirs would span I-71, linking Downtown to the Near East Side.
But residents fear it’s no longer in the works, nor one along Broad Street.
The state just entered the design phase for the first three parts of the $1.6 billion project to untangle the I-70/71 corridor through Downtown. The project, scheduled to begin late next year, calls for “caps” on Spring and Long streets over I-71 to create a more seamless connection between neighborhoods.
READ MORE
Olde Towne East Voices Concerns Over 70/71 Split Plans
By TANYA HUTCHINS | Digital Journalist
Published: January 11, 2010
The Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association wants ODOT to know residents still have concerns about plans to redesign the Interstate 70/Interstate 71 split.
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Will I-71 Cap Reconnect East Side With Downtown?
By DENISE YOST
Published: February 25, 2010
Mayor Michael Coleman announced his goal for a historic piece of Columbus Wednesday during his State of the City address.
As part of the Interstate 71 and Interstate 670 improvements, caps are planned for both Long and Spring streets.
READ MORE