What a bunch of dumbasses. Living next to the freeway even though they hate the sound.

 

Ha!  I agree.  I really liked this final quote in the article.

 

"I thought, 'Wow! They're finally going to do something,'  " she said. But with no wall in sight, she gave up and moved on Saturday to rural Pomeroy in Meigs County.

 

"When I move, for the first time in 20 years I'll unclench my fists and my jaw," she said last week as she packed. "I'll be in the country. It'll be quiet."

 

Wouldn't it be funny if a shooting range got built next door to her in Meigs County!  Boom!  Pow!

 

ODOT outlines more than $23 million in Ross County infrastructure projects

The Gazette, April 21, 2009

 

Investments by the Ohio Department of Transportation into Ross County infrastructure over the next two years top $23 million, with the biggest project being the $10 million Ohio 104 widening project.

No money, so work on I-71 stops

$86 million would finish up 10-year construction zone

Tuesday,  April 21, 2009 - 3:07 AM

By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch

 

After 10 years of construction, a project to widen I-71 to at least three lanes between Columbus and Cleveland is almost done -- and indefinitely on hold for lack of funding.

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/21/copy/interstate71_on_hold.ART_ART_04-21-09_A1_6PDK7R5.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

So frustrating! The current two-lane segment is a major bottleneck.

Zanesville is trying to get stimulus money to re-paint the I-70 bridge over the Muskingum River and I think they may be paving it again soon also.

Check out Sen. Patton's contribution to this fine article (highlighted in bold) and if you've followed the 3-C rail thread and postings on Patton there, then join me in a rousing WTF?

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/no_plans_to_eliminate_i71_bott.html

 

No plans to eliminate I-71 bottleneck in Morrow County, ODOT says

Posted by Karen Farkas/Plain Dealer Reporter May 09, 2009 06:00AM

Categories: Real Time News, Traffic

 

Barbara Snyder has been driving from Cleveland to Columbus since before Interstate 71 was built.

The 1955 Ohio State University graduate still heads south so often for OSU football games and events that she and her husband, Dick, often stay at a condominium they own near campus.

Council accepts stimulus money

Improvements will begin by next year

Tuesday,  June 9, 2009 - 3:00 AM

By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

 

Millions of dollars in Columbus road improvements paid for with federal stimulus money will begin by next year.  The City Council accepted $33.5 million in federal stimulus money last night to improve Parsons and Livingston avenues near Nationwide Children's Hospital, plus improve roads in Downtown's RiverSouth area and resurface eight city streets.

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/09/copy/council09.ART_ART_06-09-09_B3_U7E4G60.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

S.R. 315 Project Starts Monday

 

10TV VIDEO: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?referralObject=5931037

 

Rt. 315: Getting there from here

The project promises to be a long, confusing puzzle as drivers navigate the 3-mile construction zone

 

YOU...HAVE...BEEN...WARNED!!!  :evil:

From here: http://www.walkerevanseffect.com/blog/a-dispatch-letter-to-the-editor-about-rt-315-construction/

 

<b>A Dispatch Letter to the Editor about Rt. 315 Construction</b>

Jun 14th, 2009 by Walker

 

Titled: 315 Construction Article Is Missing Something

 

Hello,

 

I couldn’t help but notice that your Sunday article about the Route 315 construction (”Rt 315: Getting There From Here“) was missing one vital piece of information: the price tag. ODOT is spending $24 million (that’s $8 million per mile) on minor repairs and short-term maintenance. Whenever any article is written on proposed passenger rail projects, the cost is always prominently displayed. It’s easy for people to take for granted that roads are expensive and that we all collectively pay for those, whether we use them or not.

 

In 2006, Nashville was able to build a 32-mile passenger rail line for $41 million (that’s less than $1.3 million per mile). It’s time for the citizens of Columbus to consider our transportation options on a level playing field, and evaluate the real taxpayer costs associated with highways and roads.

 

thanks,

Walker Evans

 

+1 Walker.  Great letter.

I got the call that it was going to be used (not sure if that meant in print or just online) but it might appear tomorrow. :D

It made it into today's letters to the editor.  :clap:

 

Put passenger-rail costs in perspective

Funds in place for second round of Morse Road upgrades

The thoroughfare's stretch from Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue should have trees, bike paths and sidewalks by 2010.

By Rachael Buccicone, Columbus Local News

Published: Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:04 AM EDT

 

The second half of planned work to make Morse Road friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians now has the funding to move forward.  Columbus City Council, at its June 1 meeting, approved the spending of $652,000 to acquire parcels necessary to complete the second phase of the Morse Road improvement Project.

 

http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2009/06/14/german_village_gazette/news/gvcolmorse_20090605_0418pm_1.txt

"The improvements meet the goals of Columbus' Complete Streets program, established in December 2008, Craig said. "

 

According to the first phase of Morse Rd which was completed, having a bike lane right next to 50MPH traffic and forcing pedestrians to walk an 1,800 ft stretch without anywhere cross until the next intersection, you call that a complete street? Sometimes, this city is a joke. Hence this entry:

 

Why Morse Road?

 

An article in the Dispatch discusses more improvements the city wants to make for Morse Rd., to the tune of a total of $18 million.

 

You couldn't ask for a road that deserves this less; Morse is extremely pedestrian-unfriendly (try crossing numerous lanes with 50 MPH traffic), extremely cyclist-unfriendly (try riding alongside 50 MPH traffic). Bike lane, shmike lane. It's also ugly to boot (sprawl never did win a beauty contest). I mean just look at the layout. Sure, there's a bike lane on Morse, but how do you even get there? Once there, where would you go? To a drive-thru? An auto-shop? A furniture store? And the bike racks?

 

 

The mind-boggling question is: why? Why attempt to impose a complete streets policy on a road that stands totally at odds with said policy? Especially when there is a laundry list of more qualified candidates (see last post) in neighborhoods where a complete streets policy would work and require a much less drastic overhaul. Since these roads are more conducive to a complete streets policy there will also be greater benefits for less $$$. And they're more conducive because they were built on an urban grid back in the day before development, including the roads, were designed for a car-only environment.

 

In  short, Morse Rd. will never be Gay St. (This comparison begs the question as to how the city was so right about Gay St. yet so wrong about Morse Rd. ) without an insane amount of money to move all the buildings closer together up against the sidewalk, invest in a serious road diet, and implement plenty of traffic calming. Without all of that, the millions invested have been wasted and could have been spent where it could have easily worked. What about Main St. to strengthen current businesses and create an attractive environment for more? What about 3rd and 4th Streets from Downtown to Hudson? What about High and Indianola in Clintonville, Parsons in Olde Towne East, Front in the Brewery District, or Long St in King-Lincoln? Instead you have this:

 

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=12,269.40621164111707,,0,14.308251905615462&amp;cbll=40.060992,-82.983017&amp;panoid=&amp;v=1&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&w=425&h=240]

 

If you look really closely you can see the bike lane marker. It's usually not a good idea to use white paint on a bright gray surface. Have fun if you need to take a left turn and watch out for cars turning into that curb cut up ahead, and the one in front of that one, and the next one, and the next one, all before the next intersection. It's no wonder there are plenty of cars on this road and no bikes or pedestrians.

 

What will the city do next? Speed humps on 161? I'm being facetious: it'll probably be a bike lane. Painted on a bridge built one block away from another bridge.

 

As for the Livingston & Parsons project it looks like more of the same: another so-called complete street with speeding traffic, cyclists expected to bike right next to it, and pedestrians having to walk ridiculous distances just to cross. As is the case with Morse Rd, you can go ahead and half-ass a complete street, but you'll also miss out on all the economic benefits. Another entry:

Livingston & Parsons Intersection Revamp

 

This is a <a href="http://pubserv.ci.columbus.oh.us/transportation/Document_Library/PROJECTS/Parsons_and_Livingston.pdf">$25 million dollar project</a> that just so happens to be right next to Childrens Hospital, indirectly listed as one of the "area stakeholders" in the city plan. Supposed benefits:

 

"improve roadways along Parsons and Livingston Avenue, creating a Parsons/Livingston Avenue Gateway, which will support economic development and neighborhood revitalization as well as create a friendly environment for area stakeholders."

 

The current plan poised to go forward will neither attract economic development nor assist neighborhood revitalization. Turning the intersection and stretches of Parsons and Livingston into real complete streets, however, would do much more to attract economic development. Instead, the city is choosing a route for which there is ample evidence demonstrating the opposite will occur. While wider sidewalks, better lighting, pavement replacement, and medians, depending on the design, are a few positives the city wants to widen the street to include a left-turn lane, include bike lanes, and is silent on adding more places for people to walk across the street.

 

Here is the picture from the file above of the intersection.

 

<img class="alignnone" src="http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283/Columbusite/Misc/LP.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="339" />

 

Just a brief glance and it is clear that widening this is the last thing that should be done, unless the economic development they want is in the form of more parking lots. Right now, this intersection is Anyburb, USA with no distinguishing features and is readily disposable for new shiny anyburbs.

 

There's no need to include a left-turn lane. If people want to insist on living far from where they need or want to go or just choose to drive everywhere regardless, let them reap the rewards of their choice. People subject themselves to insane amounts of traffic nationwide. These streets as they are now would be a god-send in a city like LA. This city has no money and now when they do get millions they just throw it away to shave a few seconds off of motorists' commutes.

 

It's obvious that no one involved with this plan does any urban cycling. As one of the prominent urban cyclists who ride up and down High on a daily basis I know what I'm talking about when I say the last thing this city needs to subject cyclists to is a bike lane. <a href="http://bicyclesafe.com/">Bicyclesafe.com</a> shows how biking where a bike lane would be is much less safe for cyclists. Giving novice cyclists a false sense of security and opening them up to more dangers is reckless on the city's part. Aside from the dangers listed above, you'll have cars parking on the bike lane, people driving on the bike lane, and when snow plows come around these bike lanes are going to be buried and unusable. Simply turn the entire right hand lanes in to bus/bike lanes with sharrows and signs. Right now, this is what the city of Columbus wants to do to us:

 

 

I propose that the city require all traffic engineers to ride entire lengths of bike lanes they have already installed before adding more. I guarantee after riding down the Morse Rd bike lane not a single one would propose any more bike lanes.

 

As for pedestrian access, nothing in this plan addresses the fact that there aren't enough places to cross the street and cars all too often speed over the limit. From Grant to Parsons one has to walk about 1,800 ft to the next intersection to cross. The equivalent would be having nowhere to cross the street between the Cap and Hubbard in the Short North, which actually has two traffic lights in between that provide real pedestrian-friendliness and ensures traffic isn't speeding which is good for pedestrians, cyclists, and even drivers. Wide sidewalks and more lighting will not fix such fundamental flaws or provide an attractive environment for good urban development. See High St. in the Short North for what kind of street treatment is necessary for development.

 

For neighborhood revitalization; taking steps to prevent the hospital from tearing down entire streets of solid housing will support that. Quite a few are pictured in the <a href="http://columbus-ite.com/columbus-neighborhood-guide/near-south/livingston-park/" target="_blank">Livingston Park</a> neighborhood page. At this pace there will be little neighborhood left. Childrens Hospital has a bounty of surface lots where they can expand vs. tearing down entire streets of homes to the east, which is their current plan. Of course they could build more garages, but it must not be as fun as being the neighborhood bully.

 

Childrens Hospital  could invest in the neighborhood by giving incentives to employees to live in the neighborhood. That's how you revitalize a neighborhood, not by razing it to the ground.

 

In the end, the measures taken will only provide superficial changes. Cars will be accommodated, but pedestrians and cyclists will still get the shaft while the area stagnates from further lack of economic investment. This criticism is being passed on to the city to point out major, basic flaws which should never have made it to the final stage of this plan.

"The improvements meet the goals of Columbus' Complete Streets program, established in December 2008, Craig said. "

 

According to the first phase of Morse Rd which was completed, having a bike lane right next to 50MPH traffic and forcing pedestrians to walk an 1,800 ft stretch without anywhere cross until the next intersection, you call that a complete street?

Then you're not gonna like this...

 

Morse Road overhaul project on target

Wednesday,  June 17, 2009 - 2:28 PM

By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

Phase II of the city's overhaul of Morse Road, which broke ground last summer and is scheduled to wrap up in summer 2010, is on time and on budget for completion, the city said.  "We're still on target. It's moving right along," said Rick Tilton, Columbus public works assistant director.

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/northland/stories/2009/06/17/0618nomorserd_ln.html?sid=104

What's so funny (well, not really, the city is throwing away millions it won't see investment on) is that the city thinks it can do a "complete street" instead of a complete street and get the same results. Which makes me wonder about the results of the 1st phase. Oh yeah, all those new businesses on Morse have been spreading like wildfire, just like all of the new development there.

Short North valets might be sent off-street

Monday,  June 22, 2009 - 3:11 AM

By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

 

If Columbus officials get their way, valet companies will be forced to park cars on off-street lots by 2011.  That should ease congestion along Short North streets and prevent confrontations between valets and visitors vying for on-street parking spots, the city officials say.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/22/VALET.ART_ART_06-22-09_B1_55E8I8J.html?sid=101

High Street roundabout sought

Some on North Broadway favor circle over adding left-turn lane

Monday,  June 22, 2009 - 3:11 AM

By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch

 

A Clintonville task force is proposing what members say would be the first urban traffic roundabout in Franklin County, at High Street and E. North Broadway.

 

In suburbs such as Dublin and Hilliard, roundabouts have reduced injury accidents and process traffic more efficiently than traffic lights, officials say. Columbus city officials say only that they are studying the Clintonville proposal.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/22/high_roundabout.ART_ART_06-22-09_B1_55E8I8P.html?sid=101

In my opinion, the City of Columbus traffic engineers are batting 1 for 2.  The Short North valet parking idea is well needed.  Valet parking in a congested urban area is great.  But not if the valets don't get the cars off the street into remote lots or garages.

 

But that High Street roundabout idea is just crazy.  I've driven some of the new traffic roundabouts in Hilliard and Dublin.  And they're okay.  But those roundabouts are in non-urban areas.  In an urban context, like N. High and Broadway, a roundabout would be a disaster for pedestrians, bikers and the surrounding buildings.  Look at the proposed roundabout map - it looks like a freeway interchange. 

^ In fairness, the N Broadway/High Street round-a-bout is a concept of the Clintonville Commission, and not City Traffic Engineers.

 

In a bit of irony, while round-a-bouts are good for traffic and safety (in some instances), they are not always pedestrian-friendly. I would think the Clintonville Commission would consider the significance of ped traffic in the area.

Fair point.  Still think a roundabout would be bad for the area.  Wish the Clintonville Commission did too.

Plan for Newark-area interchange gets new life

Stalled Rt. 16 project has shot at federal stimulus money

Sunday,  June 28, 2009 - 3:40 AM

By Josh Jarman, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

NEWARK, Ohio -- Licking County officials hope that changes to the way the state selects highway projects will put an interchange proposal for Cherry Valley Road and Rt. 16 back on track.

 

Sandra Maple, technical study director for the Licking County Area Transportation Study, said the intersection will have the only stop light along a route from the east side of Newark to Columbus when improvements to Rt. 161, which connects to Rt. 16 west of Granville, are completed next year.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/28/161interchange.ART_ART_06-28-09_B7_Q5EAJGS.html?sid=101

Route 315 Roundabout plan criticized

Tuesday,  July 14, 2009 - 8:49 PM

By Candace Preston-Coy, ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

Delaware County commissioners on July 13 heard from residents opposed to the proposed roundabout on state Route 315 at the new Orange Road bridge over the Olentangy River.

 

The bridge will open for traffic in mid-August, county Engineer Chris Bauserman said.  The total cost of the project is projected at $4.1-million, including $2.71-million for bridge construction, $500,000 for the roundabout, and the rest for engineering and right-of-way acquisition.  The money is coming out of the county's road and bridge fund, which is funded through county sales tax.

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/olentangy/stories/2009/07/08/roundabout.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=104

Makeover planned at I-71, S.R. 665

Tuesday,  July 28, 2009 7:10 PM

By EVAN BROOKS

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

The interchange at Interstate 71 and state Route 665 is scheduled for a $34-million makeover by 2011.

 

City and state officials are moving fast to pass necessary legislation, acquire land and redirect roadways to get the "aggressive" highway project finished in time, said Grove City service director Sharon Reichard.

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/grovecity/stories/2009/07/22/I71_makeover.html?sid=104

Hmm so they are still steering development to Grove city and not Columbus itself???

Grove City has the land available to foster large-scale industrial development that they are wishing that Columbus cannot offer. SR 665 is also a very good connector to Rickenbacker, and is continuously clogged with large trucks that are causing numerous safety issues along the entire route between Interstate 71 and Rickenbacker. Add to that, a two-lane, deficient bridge, one-lane ramps that back up to the interstate, and conflicting access points, and it's obvious why it is needed.

You telling me this interchange is more needed than any other interchange in the city of Columbus? Would have been better used to make that streetcar connecting OSU and Downtown closer to happening. But oh well ODOT knows what it is doing i guess.

You allocate the funds to where it is needed and can be applied. The streetcar in C-bus is far from happening, and isn't even "shovel-ready" by far. The Grove City interchange has been in planning for six years, and is in the line for funding based on current traffic conditions and forecacsts that include upgrading SR 665 to Rickenbacker -- a major intermodal hub. Even through it may not be in C-bus, it still attracts large-scale industrial jobs that cannot be provided at either OSU or downtown -- so you are comparing apples to oranges in this case.

It's funny how a city of 33,000 can get their funding together, yet the cities of Columbus and Cincinnati can't get their funding together to put themselves in a better position for the future.

Rickenbacker is a Joint Economic Development District that was formed as a partnership between Columbus, Franklin County, and several smaller municipalities and entities.

 

Upgrading infrastructure to service what has quickly grown into a VERY important regional logistic hub is going to increase job development and shared tax revenue for the City of Columbus.

 

This is going to benefit the City of Columbus just as much as (if not more than) Grove City.

Right on Walker.  And the impetus for this project actually grows not so much because of the Rickenbacker Airport, but more because of the opening of the Norfolk Southern Railroad's Rickenbacker Intermodal Hub>  All those freight containers have to move by short-haul truck to get to their final destination and the existing roadways can't handle the volume.

Maybe i overreacted. I just think Columbus needs to do more for our inner cities and urban area's.

Sure, I'm all for improving the urban core too... but this isn't really an either/or situation here.

Rt. 315 flows well with fewer drivers

Roadwork keeps detours busy; OSU to be test in fall

Tuesday,  August 4, 2009 - 3:05 AM

By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch

 

A major reconstruction project was enough to persuade Kevin Jamiel to stay off Rt. 315.  Instead of taking I-70 to Rt. 315 north, the Hilliard resident takes Trabue Road east to Riverside Drive and then cuts east on Lane Avenue to his job as the general manager of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers on Olentangy River Road north of Ackerman Road.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/04/315update.ART_ART_08-04-09_A1_I9ELVBB.html?sid=101

RTS. 36/37 NEAR SUNBURY

Drivers honk for study of I-71 exit

Delaware County funds half of $120,000 look at interchange

Friday,  August 7, 2009 - 3:09 AM

By Jane Hawes

FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

SUNBURY, Ohio -- Motorists who get on and off I-71 each day at Rts. 36/37 don't need a $120,000 study to tell them the interchange is a mess.  But they're hopeful that a study, to be funded by private and public sources, will eliminate the long waits and dangerous backups at Exit 131.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/07/interchange.ART_ART_08-07-09_B1_EAEMVJN.html?sid=101

No money, so work on I-71 stops

$86 million would finish up 10-year construction zone

Tuesday,  April 21, 2009 - 3:07 AM

By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/21/copy/interstate71_on_hold.ART_ART_04-21-09_A1_6PDK7R5.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/no_plans_to_eliminate_i71_bott.html

 

No plans to eliminate I-71 bottleneck in Morrow County, ODOT says

Posted by Karen Farkas/Plain Dealer Reporter May 09, 2009 06:00AM

 

An update to the above two posts about the two lane section of I-71 between Delaware and Mansfield that was embeded within today's ODOT article...

 

"State keeps I-70/71 plan on track"

Friday,  August 28, 2009 - 3:10 AM

By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch

 

In other transportation news, a 25-mile stretch of I-71 between Delaware and Mansfield is back on ODOT's radar for widening.  The portion is the only remaining piece between Columbus and Cleveland that won't be at least three lanes in each direction by this fall.  ODOT will submit a $7 million funding application to the advisory council in an effort to get work on the project started, Burton said.

 

"There will have to be other money identified," Burton said, noting that the widening project could cost $171 million. The work would be broken into three phases. Some of the money that could go toward the project could require further approval from the advisory council, she said. In May, Morrow County officials met with ODOT representatives to press them to continue the widening.

 

What is the status of this span? Does it still exist?

This sounds very promising for Downtown Columbus...

 

 

From City axes rush-hour restrictions Downtown

 

These streets will now allow parking from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.:

- Front Street, west side of street between W. Broad and W. Long Streets: (28 meters)

- E. Broad Street, north side of street between High Street and N. 4th Street: (16 meters)

- E. Spring Street, south side of street between N. High and Wall streets: (7 meters)

- E. Town Street, south side of street between S. 3rd and S. 4th streets: (3 meters)

 

The morning restriction is being removed in these areas:

- S. 3rd Street, east side of street between E. Rich and E. Mound streets: (18 meters)

- S. 3rd Street, west side of street between E. State and E. Main streets: (17 meters)

- S. 3rd Street, east side of street between E. Broad and E. Town streets: (14 meters)

- E. Main Street, north side of street between S. 3rd and Lazelle streets: (6 meters)

 

The afternoon restriction is being removed in these areas:

- S. 4th Street, east side of street between E. Rich and Engler streets (except between Noble and East Main Streets): (29 meters)

- S. 4th Street, east side of street between E. State and Rich streets: (10 meters)

Link below to a map of streets in Downtown Columbus where rush-hour on-street parking bans were lifted.

 

DOWNTOWN PARKING MAP

 

 

And an updated article from the Tuesday Dispatch...

 

Rush-hour parking is expanded: 162 Downtown spaces will become available at peak commuting times

There really are a lot of small, inexpensive things such as these parking changes that can help Downtown flourish once implimented.

Grove City has the land available to foster large-scale industrial development that they are wishing that Columbus cannot offer. SR 665 is also a very good connector to Rickenbacker, and is continuously clogged with large trucks that are causing numerous safety issues along the entire route between Interstate 71 and Rickenbacker. Add to that, a two-lane, deficient bridge, one-lane ramps that back up to the interstate, and conflicting access points, and it's obvious why it is needed.

I understand the need for this work, but why all the attention to 665 when there is a class-A clustersqueeze right up the road at Stringtown?  If any interchange is ripe for a SPUI, I'd think it would be that one.

I know these have been operational for some time now, but I have to wonder...was any thought given to their actual usefulness?  Most of them are blank unless someone is missing an adult, and the ones that give traffic times are usually pointing out the obvious.  For example:

 

On westbound I-270 before SR 3 there is a completely useless sign, unless there is a wreck downtown.  Why not have it say;

 

TRAVEL TIME TO I-70

VIA S I-71 xx MI yy MIN

VIA S SR-315 zz MI aa MIN

 

This gives the traveler info that can be used in the morning commute, for example.  In the evening it could give travel times as well, perhaps tailored differently due to commuter habits.

 

For the sign on 33/161 at the Union/Franklin line, instead of being blank all the time, why not try;

 

I-270 CONDITIONS

TO I-71 xx MI yy MIN

TO I-70 zz MI aa MIN

 

This would give travelers an option to avoid an entire part of the county.  Which makes me wonder why there isn't a sign on E. Broad St. approaching I-270, when there's another useless one on US-23 NB from the south side.  The one on Broad could simply say;

 

TRAVEL TIME TO I-71

VIA I-70 xx MI yy MIN

VIA I-670 zz MI aa MIN

 

and it would inform people as to which way is the most efficient to reach the same place and possibly reduce congestion on parts of 270.

 

I guess the West side is out of the loop completely, as the signs out there are just people finders as well.  Why not have;

 

TRAVEL TIME TO I-71

VIA I-70 xx MI yy MIN

VIA I-670 zz MI aa MIN

 

Again, giving the traveler a choice.

 

On EB 270 before Sawmill, why not have;

 

TRAVEL TIME TO I-70

VIA S SR-315 xx MI yy MIN

VIA S I-71 zz MI aa MIN

 

I guess my theme here is that the system in place, while quite cool, is being wasted.  Some of the signs are useless entirely - the one on WB I-70 around Hamilton gives travel times, but if it tells you

 

LIVINGSTN 3 MI 22 MIN

I-71...6 MI 53 MIN

 

as happened in a snow last year, what are the options for a traveler?  Yes, I know that that case is "one of those days", but as a traveler, reading that sign would be an insult.

 

Is there any plan to expand this sign system in the Columbus area, as far as travel time info, and number of signs? 

Dayton does just that with theirs, even during non-peak travel times. Cincinnati often gives estimated travel times if traffic is congested, especially during rush. But most of the time, I either see them blank, pitted with slogans to not drive drunk, and AMBER alerts.

I haven't seen travel times on the Changeable messages signs in the Cincinnati  for over a year. I don't know why that stopped that. I know when they first installed them about a decade ago people were slowing down to read them. Over the years people stopped reading them and started ignoring them, so now they are blank most of the time unless there is an accident or some huge delay..

Cities unite to promote I-270/U.S. 33 proposal

Friday,  November 13, 2009 - 11:52 AM

By Gary Budzak, ThisWeek Contributor

 

Politicians and business leaders from Dublin and Marysville are hoping the first phase of a 30-year project to improve the 43-year-old interchange at Interstate 270 and U.S. 33 will get the green light next year.  The upgrade of the traditional cloverleaf interchange will cost an estimated $145-million, with the project broken up into three phases to aid in receiving funds.  The $40-million to $45-million first phase consists of constructing a northbound to westbound directional ramp, which should be completed by 2014-2015, according to the city of Dublin's project application to the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC), which sets priorities for Ohio's road construction projects.

 

Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/dublin/stories/2009/11/11/270_33_update.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=104

I-71, ROUTE 665 FUNDING

City hopes state council OKs plan

Wednesday,  November 18, 2009 - 2:09 PM

By Evan Brooks, ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

Grove City officials made their bid Nov. 12 to a state transportation council to increase the funding priority of the estimated $34-million Interstate 71-state Route 665 interchange makeover.  City officials "showed up in force" last week to present the interchange project to the Transportation Review Advisory Council, said city administrator Phil Honsey.  Their goal was to have the council increase the funding priority of the project from tier two to tier one, giving the go-ahead for millions of federal and state dollars already allocated for the project, Honsey added.

 

It would widen the current interchange at I-71 and Route 665 from two lanes to five.  It would become what ODOT officials call a single-point urban interchange.  The project is scheduled for completion by 2011.

 

Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/grovecity/stories/2009/11/18/1119grpln_ln.html?sid=104

Interstate 70 / I-75 interchange finally finished

By Margo Rutledge Kissell, Dayton Daily News, November 23, 2009

 

VANDALIA — Gov. Ted Strickland joined officials from across the Miami Valley and the Ohio Department of Transportation Monday, Nov. 23, to celebrate the completion of the seven-year, $145 million modernization of the Interstate 70/I-75 Interchange.

 

The old 1950s style cloverleaf was replaced with state-of-the-art directional ramps.

^I sware this thing took FOREVER to finish.

That's good to know as I'm heading down to Dayton tomorrow to spend Tofurkey Day with the folks.  There were still a ton of barrels all over the place last time I was down that way.

Roads money to rain in 2010

Stimulus funds for area highway projects could triple next year

Monday,  November 30, 2009 3:09 AM

By Bill Bush

 

The dust is settling on what was a particularly aggravating road-construction season for some motorists.

 

"Thanksgiving is kind of the traditional end," said Jon Blackwood, program coordinator for Paving the Way, a federally funded operation to keep motorists advised of central Ohio road projects. "The pavement plants shut down. It certainly is a transition point in the year."

 

But federal stimulus money is expected to rain down on projects next year, causing the number of orange-barrel sightings to increase significantly in spring.

 

Read more at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/11/30/road_update.ART_ART_11-30-09_B1_9EFRDGH.html?sid=101