Interstate 70/71 Construction Downtown - News & Discussion

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Interstate 70/71 Construction Downtown - News & Discussion

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
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Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Public Hearing on Proposed Phase 1 I-70/71 Split Improvement Plan

WHO:
Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, Public Service & Transportation Committee
Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther, Finance and Economic Development Committee
Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, Development Committee
Various Councilmembers
Representatives of the Ohio Department of Transportation

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
5:30 PM

WHERE:
City Council Chambers
City Hall
90 West Broad Street

WHAT:

The Columbus City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the Ohio Department of TransportationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s proposed phase 1 of the I-70/71 split improvement project. The meeting will include a presentation by representatives of ODOT and public testimony will be accepted. Those wishing to testify should fill out a speaker slip on the day of the hearing between the hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm in the lobby entrance of City Hall located on the Front Street side of the building. Speaker slips will also be accepted in Council Chambers until 6pm. Free parking is available in the Gay Street parking lot on the north side of City Hall after 5:00 pm. The meeting will be broadcast live on C-TV, ColumbusÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ government television station on all local cable outlets.

Posted 2 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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Bump. This is happening WEDNESDAY.

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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I heard ODOT intends to take away part of the downtown bike path to accommodate the split. Is this hearing for that proposal?

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Ah, should be interesting. Just some quick facts to remember:

*ODOT cites the number of overcapacity vehicles as the main problem, yet is spending $1.7 billion to do everything but reduce that number.

*Rerouting trucks off the split alone would reduce the current amount of overcapacity vehicles down by 1/3 (20,000) each day.

*ODOT has not yet stated how long the split fix will handle current and future traffic volumes. That $1.7 billion could just be to accommodate current capacity or could handle increases for 50 years, we don't know.

*ODOT doesn't know what urban avenues are.

*Businesses near the split, particularly in OTE and KL, are going to put in a bad spot for at least 2 years.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Bump! Wednesday.

This is a crucially important meeting in the split fix process, and I'd highly encourage folks to attend, speak, write, etc.

Posted 2 years ago #
gk
columbus, ohio
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Thanks for the public notice. It should be an interesting meeting now that people seem to be engaged in the project and decision-making process.

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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The downtown bicycle path will be discussed as ODOT hopes to claim some of it. Bike path users might want to come down.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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A letter of concern:

Jeffrey Darbee and Nancy Recchie
393 Library Park South
Columbus, Ohio 43215

July 6, 2010

Columbus City Council
90 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Dear Members of Council:

We have been following the design development of I-70/71 through downtown Columbus for at least the past six years. We have attended countless public hearings and have spent many volunteer hours trying to track developments and how they will impact ColumbusÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s fine historic central city neighborhoods. This project, which began as a $500 million project is now estimated to cost over $1.5 billion. Yet, its design still does not address many of the concerns that neighborhood groups have expressed for years.

It has come to our attention that City Council will be considering legislation before the August break that will begin the process of approval of this project. We are asking that this legislation be delayed until the City has listened to and acted upon the many concerns of the neighborhoods directly impacted by this project.

Once the first phase of the project is approved, it will establish a design that will impact later phases. This is the largest capital construction project in Columbus history. The city, and specifically the downtown and center city historic neighborhoods, will live with the impact for at least another generation. The current freeway was designed without any concern for the impact it would have on the center city. Its construction directly contributed to disinvestment in the downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods.

While we can understand that ODOT is concerned about moving traffic through the city, we are concerned with the impact the project will have on the livability of our downtown and neighborhoods. We believe that you, as our elected officials, represent us and should aid us in our dispute with ODOT. Please tell ODOT that you want to hear from the impacted neighborhoods and will not pass legislation until the City is comfortable with the mitigation of the adverse impacts of this project on our center city. If you donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t stand up for our neighborhoods and the cityÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s interests Ã¢â‚¬â€œ then who will? ShouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t we expect the best for OhioÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s capital city?

Sincerely,
Nancy Recchie
Jeffrey Darbee

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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lizless wrote >>
The downtown bicycle path will be discussed as ODOT hopes to claim some of it. Bike path users might want to come down.

Which bike path are they talking about? The section around Fort Hayes and Leonard Ave?

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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futureman wrote >>

lizless wrote >>
The downtown bicycle path will be discussed as ODOT hopes to claim some of it. Bike path users might want to come down.

Which bike path are they talking about? The section around Fort Hayes and Leonard Ave?

Yes, a portion of the 670 bike path.

From what I've gathered, it's land that the city owns, and ODOT wants it turned over to them ASAP. Sounds like it's a pretty strong bargaining chip. And of course... Public Service Director Mark Kelsey is ready to "service the public" to the best of his ability by pushing City Council to hand it over to ODOT as quickly as possible, no questions asked.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Another letter of concern:

July 6, 2010

Mayor Mike Coleman
Councilman Hearcel Craig
Councilman Andrew Ginther
City Hall
90 W. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Re: the 70/71 ODOT Program

Dear Sirs;

As a member of the 70/71 Neighborhood Advisory Group representing the historic Town/Franklin neighborhood as well as a board member of the Discovery District SID, I wanted to communicate my extreme concern and frustration around the ODOT 70/71 project and the perceived reaction so far by the City of Columbus.

I have spent many hours attending ODOT public workshops where the group has been told things that just are not accurate. It has been my observation that members of the City Government have attended those meetings, but have always been background listeners and have provided little input or leadership.

And now I find out that City Council has legislation they hope to pass this month with little or no input from the Neighborhood Advisory Group or any other interested parties. This $1.7 billion construction project is the biggest thing to happen to Columbus and will have repercussions on the success of downtown and surrounding areas for the next 25 plus years.

As a resident living in the the historic Kelton school house on Franklin Avenue and additionally an owner of another apartment building on same street, I do not understand why the city would not be speaking out to protect what few downtown historic properties that are left. Ours is a beautiful tree-lined brick street that currently has doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t allow enough room for two cars to pass each other at the same time and now it is going to be turned into an offshoot of the Lester freeway exit ramp. The impact of these decisions on one of the last bricked downtown streets is enormous. Where are the Ã¢â‚¬Å“completeÃ¢â‚¬Â streets that ODOT has promised for the past several months?

When all is done, this project has the opportunity to put Columbus on the map as the forward thinking community we all hope and believe we are and must be. There are examples of how other cities have faced these challenges and come out on top Ã¢â‚¬â€œ why is the City of Columbus accepting anything less?

There is just too much at stake for City Council to push through a quick vote on this just because you are being pressured and want to get past it before your summer recess. Please take the time to do this right and work with the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods to put together something that works and that we can be proud of.

Sincerely,

Robert Klie III
584 Franklin Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Cc: 70/71 Neighborhood Advisory Group
Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director, Discovery SID
Evelyn Levino, Chairman, Discovery SID Board
Nancy Campbell, Ohio Historical Society

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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I don't understand why the Director of Public Service would sign off on removing a portion of the City's bicycle path. It doesn't make any sense. Does our Director still work for ODOT or the City of Columbus? Whose best interests are in mind? Sure sounds like ODOT's.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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lizless wrote >>
I don't understand why the Director of Public Service would sign off on removing a portion of the City's bicycle path. It doesn't make any sense. Does our Director still work for ODOT or the City of Columbus? Whose best interests are in mind? Sure sounds like ODOT's.

Is this the same one behind the parking meter fiasco?

I would hate to see the bike path lost, as it provides an E/W connection off the Alum Creek. But I don't know how critical it is when you can come down a hair further and hit either Oak/Bryden or Greenway/Mt Vernon. I would be interested to hear what ODOTs plan is for accommodating bikes into the surrounding area's redesign as a result of the "fix".

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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Yep, same dude. Public Service Director Mark Kelsey. He used to work for ODOT before the mayor appointed him director. Sometimes I think he forgets that he represents the City of Columbus now.

Posted 2 years ago #
sirlancelot

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As someone who lives only two blocks from the project, I see this as just another example of how Columbus operates. A long series of projects and developments such as City Center, the Brewery District, and the downtown Arena seem to be guided by persons or groups who put their own interests ahead of the community. One can be sure that however the I-70/71 Split project is finalised, certain people will profit.

Posted 2 years ago #
jimmaneri
SoHud
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Crap. I rode that path the last two days. I ride it a lot, it's faster, easier, and safer than the streets that go out that way. When I fly, it's the way I get from Victorian Village to the airport. Mark Kelsey hasn't really proven himself to be a bastion of good management, good ideas, or out for the best interest of the citizens of Columbus during his tenure on the job so far, so I can't imagine he'll do the right thing and leave the path without a lot of noise being made by those who use it. I'll go tomorrow and make some noise.

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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Letters/emails to the offices of Councilmen Andy Ginther and Hearcel Craig are also helpful (they are heading up this hearing):

Hearcel Craig
Columbus City Council
90 West Broad Street,
2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone : (614) 645-7379
Fax : (614) 645-7399
Email : cmcraig@columbus.gov

Andrew Ginther
Columbus City Council
90 West Broad Street,
2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone : (614) 645-2931
Fax : (614) 645-7399
Email Legislative Aide: Kenneth Paul, KCPaul@columbus.gov

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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lizless wrote >>
Yep, same dude. Public Service Director Mark Kelsey. He used to work for ODOT before the mayor appointed him director. Sometimes I think he forgets that he represents the City of Columbus now.

I forget to blame the mayor too; he did appoint him after all. The biggest issue for me is how this is going to set back the Near East side, particularly King-Lincoln and Olde Towne East, when they are just starting to come into their own after ODOT already ruined these neighborhoods. According to OTENA the losses they are going to incur on Parsons is 20% of the buildings left that ODOT didn't tear down when they were demolishing the area decades ago (including the birthplace of James Thurber). Add on to that the dismay that OTE and German Village residents has voiced due to their losing access to the highway in the form of the highway ramps for residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Those newer businesses along the split are going to have to deal with two years of highway construction which is going to remove direct access to these areas. The owner of Voda on Parsons was only one out of the handful of businesses there that is considering getting out before the split construction commences. Who really thinks he's the only one?

Not only that, but aside from the current highway gap between Downtown and these neighborhoods you're now going to have a 3rd and 4th St equivalent on either side. If you want to walk from Downtown to Parsons or Long you'll have to cross the new 3rd St, then the highway, then a new 4th St before getting across.

Aside from that it's just another maddening example of the city government not caring about its residents and business. They're just letting ODOT do whatever they want no matter how devastating the results will be. We could try taking measures to reduce traffic on the split and see how that works before going forward with a drastic exorbitantly expensive project, but that would be logical. Surprise! It's Columbus.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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I just had a meeting this morning with someone from the Lincoln Theatre Association to discuss a variety of neighborhood issues. When we talked about development, I said that it would be nice to get a new restaurant in the restaurant space in the Gateway Building at the corner of Hamilton & Long, but there's no way that any business owner is going to sign a lease there with 2+ years of construction about to kick off and limit access to the area.

It will be at least until 2012 or 2013 before that restaurant space gets filled. That's jobs that are on hold, neighborhood vibrancy on hold, and all sort of other implications that this project is impeding.

Hopefully the impact won't be too severe on existing businesses, but I really wouldn't want to be in their shoes right now.

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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An email from Councilmember Hearcel Craig's Office:

Dear Civic Leader,

You are on a list of neighborhood and business leaders representing their organizations relative to the Ohio Department of TransportationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s (ODOT) planned reconstruction of Interstates 70/71, commonly called Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Split.Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ If you know of others who should receive this email please reply with their contact info.

Columbus city council member Hearcel Craig, chair of city councilÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s public service & transportation committee, asked me to update you on recent legislative developments concerning ODOTÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s split project. He learned last week that ODOT is seeking a July vote of city council on two pieces of split-related legislation. The first is a property transfer involving the relocation of a portion of the I-670 Jack Gibbs bike path. It was tabled indefinitely by city council on June 21. The second ordinance is Ã¢â‚¬Å“consentÃ¢â‚¬Â legislation, in which the city would Ã¢â‚¬Å“consentÃ¢â‚¬Â to allow ODOT to proceed with phase one of the split project.

Next steps: city council members are scheduling with ODOT officials and would like to hear from you. A public hearing co-chaired by Chairman Craig, Council member Andrew Ginther, chair of finance and economic development committee, and Council member Priscilla Tyson, chair of the development committee is scheduled for Wednesday, July14 at 5:30 PM. City council welcomes your input at the hearing; the detailed notice is patched in below.

Working together with the mayorÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s administration, ODOT and our neighborhood stakeholders is key to city council, and members of council hope you or a representative can attend the hearing. Please contact me via email or at 645-8529 with any questions or if I can be of service.

Sincerely,

Lelia Cady, Legislative Advisor
Columbus City Council

Posted 2 years ago #