This week's #GOPCThread examines potential infrastructure projects #Ohio could invest in as part of the record, one-time funding the state will receive as part of the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill, or #IIJA
The historic infrastructure bill provides more than $500B in new spending on everything from broadband internet infrastructure to roads & bridges. The other $700B is a continuation of funding programs & priorities established in the 2015 FAST Act greaterohio.org/blog/2021/11/8…
#Ohio is slated to receive nearly $13 billion in funding under the #IIJA (8th among all states). While not all allocations are currently available, we do know some of the funding allotments #Ohio will receive
With this record funding in mind, we decided to take a look at potential projects that could benefit from this historic funding. Some of these projects may be funded w/ state funding, while others may come from the 39% of #IIJA that will be awarded competitively
One of the top projects on everyone's mind is the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati, which carries I-71 & I-75 across the #OhioRiver to No. Kentucky. The bridge was designed to carry 85,000 vehicles per day, but in 2006 it carried 150,000 vehicles per day.
There has been talk of replacing the bridge since at least 2008, and in late 2020 the bridge was closed for more than a month following a fiery accident involving two semi-trucks, one of which was carrying caustic chemicals wlwt.com/article/semitr…
Last week, the White House announced that the bridge was included on a list of bridges slated to receive funding, calling the bridge dangerously outdated chokepoint for trucks & emergency vehicles between Ohio & Kentucky wlwt.com/article/brent-…
Ohio's waterways will stand to benefit from the $17B in funding available to support coastal resiliency & flood control along w/ improvements to locks & dams on the Ohio River, dredging ports & upgraded capacity along the lake cleveland19.com/2021/11/10/por…
.@GCRTA's ongoing work to make needed improvements and replace aging rail infrastructure is another potential beneficiary of #IIJA funding riderta.com/majorprojects/…
More than just roads & bridges will be funded under #IIJA. One project that could benefit is the @SanduskyBayPath, a 12-mile boardwalk & bike path that will span the waterfront from downtown Sandusky to Sheldon Marsh, connecting w/ Cedar Point sanduskyregister.com/news/262431/pr…
Locally, cities & counties can look to recent projects from past infrastructure funding for transformational ideas on ways to invest funding. @CityofKentOhio utilized a TIGER grant in 2010 to improve its downtown streetscape & improve transit access usdotblog.typepad.com/secretarysblog…
Another example is Akron's Main Street Project, featuring a green corridor, street & sidewalk improvements, including mid-block ped. crossings, on-street parking, dedicated buses/delivery vehicle lanes, a cycle track, smart LED lighting & new signage spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/ne…
In Columbus, @MORPC, @COTABus along with the city & county are working together on @LinkusColumbus, a comprehensive mobility initiative, which includes high capacity rapid transit, bikeways, green space, roadway & pedestrian improvements & development along key regional corridors
You can learn more about the @LinkusColumbus on this #GOPCThread we published back in October. With $7.2B available nationally in grants for recreational trails & other transportation alternatives, the corridor project could benefit from these funds
Athens Stimson Avenue corridor is another project cities can model, as the city has worked to make the corridor more attractive to potential developers & pave the way for more redevelopment woub.org/2021/03/10/ath…
Cities may also want to consider street conversions, making 1-way streets 2-way. Conversions help reduce speeds & vehicle miles traveled (less circumnavigation of multiple streets to reach destinations) & provide improved conditions & access for cyclists limaohio.com/news/331471/wa…
There are myriad ways that this record funding can be invested once it starts flowing into the state, and GOPC will continue to track & provide updates as to the progress of #IIJA and support its investment in all modes of transportation
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This week, our #GOPCThread is taking a look at what lies ahead for the Ohio Legislature as the second year of the 134th Ohio General Assembly gets underway
While last year saw the legislature enact several state budgets (the first half of the year) & new state legislative + congressional district maps (the second half of the year), 2022 will mostly focus on finishing what was started in 2021 #GOPCThread
Big 2022 issues include ongoing debate around vaccine mandates, criminal justice reform, and streamlining state government.
It's also worth noting that w/ yesterday's decision, redistricting will still remain a priority, particularly over the next month. dispatch.com/story/news/pol…
After WWII, Warren got heavily involved in auto manufacturing. The Lordstown plant, which GM closed in 2018, is taking on a new life as an electric vehicle maker @LordstownMotors. wksu.org/economy/2020-0…
The final #GOPCThread of 2021 gets in the spirit of the season by highlighting all of the Ohio connections to some of the gifts and traditions of the Christmas season. This month, our #OHCommunitySpotlight features #ChristmasMadeInOhio
This year, when the family comes together to exchange and unwrap presents, you might be surprised to find out just how many of those gifts have #Ohio ties #GOPCThread#ChristmasMadeInOhio
The inclusion of the Brownfield Remediation Fund in the state’s biennium budget, passed earlier this year, will provide Ohio’s communities with $350 million in brownfield grant dollars. It has been nearly a decade since communities have had access to such a large grant program.
The new program will require Ohio communities to submit applications to @OhioDevelopment, who will be administering the Brownfield Remediation Fund.
To help communities prepare, GOPC launched the Revitalizing Ohio’s Brownfields Initiative, with an online platform @OHBrownfields ohiobrownfields.com
This week’s #GOPCThread is an appreciation thread honoring all the amazing people & orgs that make @GreaterOhio who we are. You can never say thank you too many times!
Funding minority business drives #Equitabledevelopment. Several Ohio #CDFIs run minority contractor loan programs to support MBE participation in construction and allied fields. Funds help start-up contractors withstand delays in payment & compete for more jobs. #GOPCThread
#ECDI runs MBE Capital for Construction (#CfC) & provides short-term, low-interest loans. CfC includes tech assistance & access to long-term capital upon program completion. In its 1st 3 years, CfC served 350+ small minority-owned const. firms #GOPCThread greaterohio.org/good-ideas/202…