ODOT Announces $14.5 Million In Funding For Community Enhancements

For informational/historical purposes only.

Ohio Department of Transportation

Internet News Release

August 9, 2006

ODOT ANNOUNCES $14.5 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS

(COLUMBUS)Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Gordon Proctor today announced that 35 communities across Ohio will receive a total of $14.5 million in federal transportation enhancement funds from ODOT.

Each year, ODOT awards federal enhancement funding to community projects that preserve historic transportation sites, scenically enhance local roadways and add bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout Ohio. This year, a total of 35 projects are being funded including four historic restorations and 14 scenic locations. The other 17 projects will build or improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Each enhancement project allows communities to not only build infrastructure, but also to develop projects that directly enhance the quality of life of their residents and make their communities more desirable places to live or work, said Proctor.

Projects are being funded in nearly every region of the state and include: Construction of the Blanchard River Greenway bike path and underpass to complete the bike path system from downtown Findlay to Riverside Park in northwest Ohio; Construction of an extension to the Holmes County Trail from Killbuck to Millersburg in northeast Ohio; Construction of a new facility central to the 11-mile Conotton trail to house restrooms and concessions for trail users in Harrison County in eastern Ohio; Rehabilitate a covered bridge on Mt. Olive Road in Vinton County in southern Ohio; And streetscape improvements in western Ohio in the city of Greenvilles Public Square which include new sidewalks, decorative lighting and landscaping.

To be eligible for funding, projects must have a local government sponsor, provide a 20 percent cash match to the federal funds and not be located within one of the states 14 ineligible Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regions. Funding for these communities comes through ODOT directly to the MPO to allocate to the communities.

ODOT has been funding transportation enhancement projects since 1992. In the past 14 years, the department has funded 620 projects for a total of $292 million.

Funded projects will be scheduled for construction through 2010.