(Columbus - August 3, 2011) The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is seeking comments on prioritizing 10 projects seeking selection or funding from the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). The TRAC has accepted Major/New Project applications for their 2011 project selection round. Major/New Projects are transportation projects that have a total project cost greater than $12 million and "which add transportation capacity, and are critical to the mobility, economic development, and quality of life of the citizens of Ohio."

The 10 TRAC projects to be prioritized from the MORPC area include:

• City of Delaware: Veteran's Parkway
  The study, design and construction of a 3.9 mile limited access arterial bypass around the southeast quadrant of the City of Delaware.
  Total Cost: $3.9 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 5: Carroll Interchange
  Replace an at-grade intersection at US Route 33 and Winchester Road/High Street with an interchange 2500 feet northwest of the existing intersection.
  Total Cost: $64.786 million/TRAC Request: $3 million
• ODOT District 5: I-70 Widening
  Widen from 4 lanes to 6 lanes.
  Total Cost: $138.298 million/TRAC Request: $10 million
• ODOT District 6: East/West Connector
  Widen, reconstruct and some realignment of Duvall Road.
  Total Cost: $24.675 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 6: I-70/71/SR 315 Interchange Improvements
  Modify the IR70/SR 315 interchange and reconfigure travel lanes and merges.
  Total Cost: $913.5 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 6: I-70 Widening (Far East Freeway)
  Reconfigure interchanges at US33, Hamilton Road, I-270, Brice Road and SR 256.
  Total Cost: $319.598 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 6: I-71 Widening (South)
  Widen from two to three lanes in each direction.
  Total Cost: $85 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 6: I-71/US 36/SR 37 Interchange Improvements
  Preliminary Engineering
  Total Cost: $114.09 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 6: I-270/US 33 Interchange Improvements (Dublin)
  Northbound I-270 to westbound US 33 interchange improved by building a fly over ramp.
  Total Cost: $51.5 million/TRAC Request: 0
• ODOT District 6: South Outerbelt (I-270)
  Widen from 2 lanes to 4 lanes in each direction.
  Total Cost: $275.661 million/TRAC Request: 0

MORPC anticipates recommending regional priorities for adoption during the September business meetings with final approval at MORPC's Policy Committee on September 15 at 1:30 p.m. These priorities will be transmitted to TRAC shortly thereafter and a presentation of them will be made to TRAC in the fall.

For more information visit http://morpc.org/trac. Comments can be sent to the attention of Daniel Haake by letter, fax (614-233-4249), or e-mail (dhaake@morpc.org) to arrive no later than August 22.