Ohio TRAC Follows Through on $5M Funding for Greene County US 35 “Superstreet”

With the state’s Transportation Review Advisory Council’s (TRAC) recent commitment, funding is “on track” for the $15.8M design-build US 35 “Superstreet” project. The remaining commitment is Greene County’s request of MVRPC for $3M in STP funding. The MVRPC Technical Advisory Committee and Board of Directors will have their opportunity to approve funding for this project on February 16 and March 2, 2017, respectively. The January 26, 2017, announcement by TRAC is a milestone for the Greene County US 35 project as well as for the Region. The project first appeared on the TRAC list as a Tier II project in June 2006. Thus, it has taken nearly 10 years for the project to secure construction funding. This also marks the first time the Region has received funding for a non-downtown I-75 mainline project since the I-75 S. Dixie Drive/Central Avenue interchange was awarded funding in 2010. Considerable local efforts were necessary to advance this important Regional project. Following the approval of MVRPC funding, the next steps will be completed by ODOT District 8 staff and consultants in designing and building the US 35 “Superstreet” project. 
 

Filling the Gap in the Wolf Creek Trail

The Wolf Creek Trail runs southeast from the Village of Verona, through the Cities of Brookville and Trotwood and ends in Downtown Dayton. The route, however, is not continuous as there is a gap in east Trotwood and west Dayton of approximately two and a quarter miles. Filling this gap, thereby connecting Trotwood, Brookville and Verona to the nation’s largest paved trail network and better serving west Dayton and western Montgomery County, remains a priority project in our Long Range Transportation Plan and the 2015 Bike Plan Update. Such a project would check a lot of boxes for us: system connectivity, non-motorized transportation and safety, and transportation equity.

Over the last four months, MVRPC has coordinated four meetings between the stakeholders in any project that would be developed to fill the Wolf Creek Trail gap. The cities of Dayton and Trotwood, and also Five Rivers MetroParks, have been active participants all along. Due to development opportunities and railroad logistical issues, the most direct route (along the rail corridor) has been eliminated as a possibility. At this time, all parties are studying two alternatives:

1. A traditional, multi-use trail following Wolf Creek itself from Wesleyan MetroPark in Dayton to Vickwood Lane in Trotwood; or
2. An on-road or side path route along Little Richmond Road and Olive Road.

The participants are working to reach consensus on a route. They have set a goal to apply for funding through MVRPC this year for an early phase of a project, once they have a project plan on which all agree. MVRPC will continue to support the efforts of these stakeholders as we can, including mapping, meeting facilitation, and technical assistance. Hopefully, the Region will have a project on the ground in the near future.

Coming Next Month to Board and TAC:  Water Quality Planning Action Item

MVRPC staff has received two requests from wastewater treatment operators to amend the boundaries of their facility planning areas (FPA) in our water quality management plan. The requests from the City of Dayton and Greene County Sanitary Engineering would, if approved by the Board of Directors, modify the boundaries of six different FPA.

• Dayton has proposed changes around Dayton International Airport that will affect the Dayton, Tri-Cities and Union FPA.
• Greene County Sanitary Engineering has proposed FPA modifications along the Indian Ripple Road corridor that will affect the Beavercreek, Eastern Regional and Sugarcreek FPA.

In both cases, the affected management agencies have concurred with the changes. Staff convened the Areawide Facility Planning Subcommittee in January to have that body review and comment on the proposed changes. Both proposed updates were accepted by the Subcommittee with positive comments. The participants in that meeting did suggest further changes related to the Dayton proposal, and those suggestions will be incorporated into the package that will be presented to TAC in February and to the Board of Directors in March. Additional information about these proposed amendments or any questions about MVRPC’s water quality planning program may be directed to MVRPC’s Manager of Environmental Planning, Matt Lindsay, at mlindsay@mvrpc.org .

Grants & Funding Resources

Each month, MVRPC highlights several grant funding opportunities available at: http://www.mvrpc.org/our-vision/planning-services/grant-and-funding-opportunites, where you will find a description, contact information and program links found in GrantFinder, a grant seeking tool leased by MVRPC and a key first step in attracting funding. If you need assistance with your grant pursuit or need further grant research, contact Lynn Zuch, Research Associate, at 937.223.6323 or lzuch@mvrpc.org. 

This month we are featuring the following grants:

• Ohio Development Services Agency’s Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup Grant - Application period opens: January 30, 2017, Application due: February 28, 2017.
• Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Department of Health’s Active Transportation Funding – Application due: March 3, 2017.

Upcoming MVRPC Meetings: 

02/16/17    9:30 a.m.   Technical Advisory Committee – 10 N. Ludlow St. – Suite 700, Dayton, Ohio

02/23/17    9:00 a.m.   Regional Transportation Coordination –Goodwill Easter Seals – 600 S. Main St., Dayton, Ohio         

03/02/17    8:30 a.m.    Executive Committee – 1515 S. Main St., Dayton, Ohio

03/02/17    9:00 a.m. Board of Directors – 1515 S. Main St., Dayton, Ohio

February 2017 Executive Director's Update PDF available for download