Comments on: OSU Master Plan: Next 50 Years of Development

By: johnwirtz

johnwirtz — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:15:58 +0000

I’m surprised that there wasn’t more thought given to transportation to, from, and around campus. Does that mean they’re happy with the status quo? I’m not. I think OSU/COTA could significantly improve service to campus, especially for commuters and employees. If successful, they might even be able to reduce the demand for future additional parking enough to use that space for academic buildings, dorms, or parks.

By: Walker

Walker — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:37:07 +0000

tree_sketcher Says: However, assuming that traffic needs are going to stay relatively the same... I'd have to imagine that traffic needs are going to grow, not only in the immediate area around OSU, but regionally, adding more and more traffic to 315. I've often thought that the RR tracks that run parallel to 315 would make a great suburban commuter line from Downtown Delaware to Downtown Columbus with stops at Powell, 161, Bethel, Riverside, Lane Ave, Lennox, Gowdy/GrandviewYard, NorthBank and either Franklinton or the Convention Center. Of course, that would probably cost $200M to implement and taxpayers would prefer to spend $800M on adding extra lanes to 315 instead. ;P

By: tree_sketcher

tree_sketcher — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:07:45 +0000

I think the ideal solution is an urban boulevard or something similar & I totally agree that the RR Right of Way is better served for transit.

However, assuming that traffic needs are going to stay relatively the same, it might be impossible to reduce 315 down to a surface street. One solution might be a combined RR/Transit/Highway Right of Way. i have no idea how this would work and if thats what the master plan is suggesting; it was pretty light on details. I do think it was a good move to at least suggest that 315 could be moved off the riverfront and open up that whole area for ecological restoration, recreation and redevelopment.

By: colrex7

colrex7 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:49:56 +0000

I like the boulevard idea for 315… actually making it like a parkway-esque style, kind of like the George Washington Parkway in DC would be pretty sweet. I am NOT a fan of putting 315 where the tracks are. We might need those by 2050 for some better transit. Cars won’t be this popular forever, we got to keep that mind ;)

By: columbusmike

columbusmike — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:10:29 +0000

I’d like to see 315 brought down to ground level and turned into a boulevard right along the river. Combine it with Olentangy and put a few traffic lights in. Sure, it would be crowded, but it would be a more grand entry to downtown.

By: futureman

futureman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:31:56 +0000

the plan is also 100% lacking in use of monorails!

By: cc

cc — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:12:40 +0000

A prerequisite of a 50 year plan is a few bold strokes, moving 315 is kinda tame. I would have added some hover car parking. ;)

By: futureman

futureman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:29:16 +0000

Trustees OK big-picture plan for OSU 50-year wish list includes Rt.315 moved west Saturday, June 19, 2010 02:50 AM BY ENCARNACION PYLE THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... Moving the 7,000 parking spaces along the Olentangy River and creating a recreational swath along both shores. To improve traffic flow and open up more green space along the river, it is recommended that Rt. 315 be straightened and moved slightly west. Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Hedge said he's never heard of the proposal. READ MORE

By: futureman

futureman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:24:33 +0000

Not a fan of moving 315 to where the train tracks are. I’d much rather see heavy rail / commuter rail / light rail on those tracks then seeing ODOT drop hundreds of millions of dollars to improve something that doesn’t need to be improved. It looks like only from King to Kinnear any land would be taken “back” from 315. Most of the section is a bridge or just touches land briefly. Additionally looking at the renderings *no* buildings are expected to built on the newly reclaimed land. So it looks like they want it to be park lands only? If so there goes the idea that new riverfront would pay for moving 315.

By: tree_sketcher

tree_sketcher — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:03:51 +0000

I really give OSU and Sasaki a lot of credit for pushing a number of pretty bold ideas. They focused the most dense uses into the campus core and really tried to integrate the campus as a whole back into the larger urban community. It would be great if eventually OSU’s campus was less its own thing and felt more a part of the city. I dont know how reasonable it is to open the whole campus back up to vehicular traffic, but in general there are a number of key connections that will help strengthen connectivity between neighborhoods. My personal favorites are the kinnear road connection and the enhancement of the riverfront. The 315 thing makes all the sense in the world and i wouldnt be surprised if the value of the newly created riverfront property is close to the cost of moving the freeway.

By: BUSH

BUSH — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:54:41 +0000

START WITH:

OPEN 15TH IN TO CAMPUS,
PUT THE STREET BACK IN AROUND OVAL;
OPEN 16TH,17TH, ETC…;

ASK CITY TO OPEN THE STREETS ON THEIR SIDE OF HIGH,
ELIMINATE ONE WAY STREETS WHERE POSSIBLE,

WELCOME IN COMMUNITY AS WAS PRESIDENT GEE’S INTIATIVE;

DO THESE SHORT TERM PLANS—FORGET LONG TERM PLANS.

BUSH; MEMBER ~ PRESIDENT’S CLUB, FACULTY CLUB, ALUM.

By: Walker

Walker — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:36:23 +0000

lazyfish Says: Is there a link to the presentation and the images? I thought their site had the presentation, but I'm not seeing it now. I will email it to you, as it was sent to me as a PDF and it's a fairly large file size. If anyone else wants it, just send me an email (walkerevans@columbusunderground.com) and I'll pass it along.

By: heresthecasey

heresthecasey — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:08:45 +0000

what happened to drake union?

By: lazyfish

lazyfish — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:55:35 +0000

Glad to see the 5th ave dam will be removed.( Here’s hoping Public Utilities will finally get it together and get it done) Does anyone know if OSU and Metro Parks plan on maintaining the river edges in a natural state or will OSU continue to mow right up to the edge of the river? Is there a link to the presentation and the images? The link provided is all general mumbo jumbo

By: jstrub

jstrub — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:53:37 +0000

I just hope OSU, Columbus and Upper Arlington develop a plan to make Kinnear road more pedestrian friendly before they recconnect it with the main campus. It’s a shame that sidewalks have never been installed especially when you can clearly see paths/ruts in the ground from so much foot traffic.