Project Application. General Information ODOT PID. Primary County (3 char abrv) ODOT District

Transcription

1 Current Status (Tier 1, Tier 2 or New) Proposed Status (Tier 1 or Tier 2) Project Application General Information ODOT PID ODOT District Primary County (3 char abrv) Facility Name (i.e. route, rail, terminal, or port name) New Tier PIC Pickaway East-West Connector Project Sponsoring Agency Pickaway County Engineer Project Manager (Contact Person) Phone Number Anthony Neff, P.E., P.S Address aneff@pickawayengineer.org Local Jurisdictions (i.e. list all cities, counties and townships) Pickaway County, Harrison Township Description of Work See attached supplement Purpose and Need See attached supplement Project Description Community & Economic Growth and Development Factors Land Use Plan Exists Adopting Appropriate Land Use Measures Land Use Plan Coord. with T- Plan Zoning based on T-Plan Part of State/MPO Long Range Plan (Yes, No or N/A) (Yes, No or N/A) (Yes, No or N/A) (Yes, No or N/A) No, current land use is mostly agricultural and conforms to local zoning N/A Priority on County or MPO Long Range Plan See attached supplement Yes; see attached Harrison Twp. zoning map and supplement Yes

2 Percent of Land Being Redeveloped Improves Business Access Improves Invest & Employ * Sub-county 5 Yr Unemployment Rate * Sub-county 5 Yr Poverty Rate (%) (Yes or No) (Yes or No) (%) (%) 53%; see Yes; see Yes; see N/A (use county N/A (use county rate) supplement supplement supplement rate) * Optional. If omitted, the 5 year rates for the primary county will be obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ( and US Census Bureau (

3 Reduces Fuel Consumption Transportation Factors Reduces Ozone Precursors Connects Transportation Modes (Yes or No) (Yes or No) (Yes or No) To be supplied by the Office of To be supplied by the Office Yes Multi-Modal Planning of Multi-Modal Planning If project connects transportation modes, please explain how Connects vehicles, rail, airport, bicycle and pedestrian (see supplement for further explanation) ODOT NLFID Existing Road Facilities (If applicable) Begin End Location Termini Log Point Log Point Primary Road (or Cnty/Rte #) (x.xx) (x.xx) (i.e. from street 1 to street 2) (Yes or No) PIC-T020 (Duvall Road) PIC-T031 (Lockbourne-Eastern Road) Intersection of US 23 to intersection of Lockbourne- Eastern Road Intersection of Duvall Road to intersection of Rickenbacker Parkway (Insert additional rows as needed one row for each existing roadway to be improved) Yes Yes Name or Designation East-West Connector (exact name TBD) New Road Facilities (If applicable) Beg Lat Beg Lon End Lat End Lon (xx.xxxx) (xx.xxxx) (xx.xxxx) (xx.xxxx) Location Termini (i.e. from street 1 to street 2) Intersection of Rickenbacker Parkway and Lockbourne- Eastern Road to intersection of Duvall Road and US 23 Primary Road (Yes or No) Yes (Insert additional rows as needed one row for each new roadway to be constructed) Element Name N/A Transit Facilities (If applicable) Peak Hour Ridership VMT Reduction Benefit/ Cost Ratio (Riders) (%) (x.xxx)

4 Freight Facilities (If applicable) Element Name Direct relationship with Norfolk Southern s Intermodal (see supplement for explanation) Freight Volume / Facility Capacity Ratio Truck Reduction Benefit/ Cost Ratio (x.xxx) (%) (x.xxx) N/A N/A N/A (Insert additional rows as needed one row for each freight facility element)

5 Project Phase Project Development Completed By (Agency Name) Actual / Projected Completion Date (MM/DD/YYYY) Planning Study Pickaway County Engineer 08/03/2009 Interchange Modification Study Pickaway County Engineer 02/01/2011* Environmental (NEPA) Doc. Pickaway County Engineer 08/27/2010 Detailed Design Pickaway County Engineer 12/01/2011 Right of Way / Utilities Pickaway County Engineer 09/01/2012 *Interchange Justification Study Sources of Other (Non-TRAC) Funding (If applicable) Project Phase Source Amount (PS, NEPA, DD, RW, CO) (Agency name) (In Millions) PS MORPC $140,000 PS Pickaway County $35,000 * Pickaway County; MORPC; Norfolk Southern; other private $500,000 parties NEPA DD RW CO * Pickaway County; MORPC; Norfolk Southern; other private parties * Pickaway County; MORPC; Norfolk Southern; other private parties * Pickaway County; MORPC; Norfolk Southern; other private parties $3,700,000 $3,000,000 $1,500,000 Additional Explanation of Other Funding * Local public and private entities, most notably the Pickaway County Commissioners and Engineer, are committed to funding this project. The exact breakdown of funding per source is not yet determined. (Insert additional rows above Additional Explanation of Other Funding as needed one row for each combination of project phase and source) Note: Totals of Other funding entered above MUST MATCH totals in project funding table below by project phase. Project Sponsor Investment Factors Creation of TIF or Other Innovative Financing Tool Percentage of Sponsoring Agency Investment (Yes or No) (%) Yes; see attached At least 20% (which includes all non-trac funding sources)

6 Project Phase Planning Study (PS) Environmental Doc. (NEPA) Detailed Design (DD) Right of Way /Utilities (RW) Construction (CO) Fiscal Year Project Funding Other Funding Previous TRAC New TRAC Total (YYYY) (In Millions) (In Millions) (In Millions) (In Millions) 2009 $175,000 $175, $500,000 $0 $0 $500, $3,700,000 $0 $0 $3,700, $3,000,000 $0 $0 $3,000, $1,500,000 $0 $35,500,000 $37,000,000 Total $8,875,000 $0 $35,500,000 $44,375,000

7 Supplement to ODOT TRAC Application Major New Capacity Program Applicant: Pickaway County Engineer SECTION: PROJECT DESCRIPTION Description of Work The Pickaway East-West Connector ( Connector ) is a proposed four-lane roadway stretching roughly three to four miles from the southern end of Rickenbacker Airport in the vicinity of the Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker Intermodal Terminal ( Intermodal ) to US 23. At its eastern terminus, the Connector would tie into Rickenbacker Parkway at a new signalized intersection with what is now Lockbourne-Eastern Road. Rickenbacker Parkway is a two-lane southern extension of Alum Creek Drive that was completed in The roadway has been cleared through the environmental process for adding a second set of lanes, which will make it a four-lane divided highway by The Connector s western terminus will be at US 23 where a new interchange will be constructed. The new interchange will be located approximately six miles south of the US 23/I-270 interchange. The preliminary design of the Connector proposes both four and five lane typical sections with a shared use path on one side. The design speed is proposed at 50 MPH with a 45 MPH posted speed limit. All future rail crossings are proposed to be grade separated. Purpose and Need The Purpose and Need states that the solution for this project with both an immediate and long term focus must: improve capacity and levels of service on the local roadway network through the study area, provide for the safe and efficient flow of local and regional traffic on the roadway network including grade crossings in the study area, enhance safety and operational efficiencies of freight and goods movement on the rail

8 network, be consistent with existing transportation plans in the study area. Based upon the identified needs, the following factors were utilized to evaluate the concepts. Projected Traffic (Impact on the Network) All of the local roadways within the study area do not have the design or capacity to be able to serve predicted future traffic. Therefore, the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission ( MORPC ) travel demand model printouts for 2030 were utilized to rank the concepts based upon the number of vehicles on the new or improved roadway in each scenario. Train Blockage at Existing Duvall Road At-grade Crossing Several times daily northbound trains backup across the Duvall crossing as they attempt to enter the Norfolk Southern IMF. Therefore, each concept was rated on whether it either eliminates or keeps in place the at-grade crossing at Duvall Road. Consistency with Existing Transportation Plans Over the years, several transportation focused plans have been generated for the area surrounding Rickenbacker International Airport with a wide range of recommendations. Each concept was rated on how it adheres to the existing transportation plan recommendations. MORPC and the Columbus Partnership have ranked the Connector and improvements at the Alum Creek Drive/I-270 as top priorities for funding. With improvements made to the Rickenbacker advanced logistics region s front door (Alum Creek Drive/I-270) and its back door (the Connector), traffic congestion will be alleviated with a resulting road network able to handle Rickenbacker s growth for the next years. Already, congestion is making it increasingly difficult to sell the Rickenbacker region as Ohio s premier gateway and logistics hub. Over 200 businesses are located in the area with the large majority engaged in logistics activities. These activities comprise over 26 million square feet of space and well over 9,500 direct and 10,800 indirect employees. But, over the last twelve months, at least four distribution center projects totaling 3.2 million square feet have been lost with feedback that roadway congestion was a key determinant in the site selector s decision. Half of those projects moved out of state.

9 SECTION: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FACTORS Zoning Based on T-Plan Even though the project s boundaries - and its impact zone - include portions of Franklin County, the applicant is only able to provide zoning information on its own jurisdiction. Please find the attached Harrison Township (Pickaway County) zoning map, which is the sole local jurisdiction that the Connector project will be located within. Project Priority on MPO Long Range Plan Improvements in the project s study area are cited in MORPC s Rickenbacker Area Road Network Assessment plan conducted in The plan suggests that a new roadway in the vicinity of the project area would be the logical southern gateway into the Rickenbacker area. The following is a passage from page VI-2 of the plan where it provides recommendations for necessary improvements: A second interchange was placed in the vicinity of Duvall Road/SR 762 (sic). This road builds off an existing river crossing at SR 762 and has the ability to provide cross-county connectivity. Duvall Road is also the southern boundary for industrial development and could become a southern gateway to Rickenbacker to complement the SR 317 northern gateway. The intermodal yard is located in northern Pickaway County and this connection at Duvall Road could serve as a southern route for intermodal trips, in lieu of traveling through airport development to get to the destination. The project is also specifically addressed in a one-page handout on MORPC s website titled East/West Connector (Rickenbacker) (see attached). Percent of Land Being Redeveloped Since the Connector will be Rickenbacker s southern entry point into the Interstate roadway system, the entire Rickenbacker advanced logistics region is the geographical area served by the project. The estimated percentage of developed acreage within the project area is 53%. Please find the attached map that depicts the project area s boundaries. The percentage of developed acres was calculated with a GIS area estimator tool. In overall project area is estimated to be approximately 23,180 acres or just over 36 square miles. Approximately 30% of the land is located in Pickaway County and the balance in Franklin. The Pickaway County portion of the project area is approximately 30% developed, while the Franklin County portion is 62% developed.

10 Note that due to the nature of development expected for the project area (i.e. logistics operations) mostly large warehouses will be constructed, which require much bigger parcels of land than are typically available in previously developed areas. Additionally, the majority of companies that locate in the area will do so because of its close proximity to the Intermodal facility, which is surrounded by undeveloped properties. Improves Business Access The Connector will provide a critical access point in the southern portion of the Rickenbacker area, which is where the majority of new development in the region will take place. Due to the inability of the existing rural roads south of the airport to handle truck traffic, drivers leaving the Intermodal, as well as several other points in the Rickenbacker area, are forced to first travel north in order to ultimately go south. The improvements to Alum Creek Drive will be very important to relieving congestion from the airport north to I-270, but as growth continues a southern exit/entry point will become critical. The existence of the Intermodal on the southern end of the Rickenbacker region only intensifies the need. Employment in the Area Please find the attached list of companies located in the Rickenbacker area and accompanying map. All of the companies fall into one of three segments: warehousing/distribution, light manufacturing and government services related to the airport. Improves Investment & Employment Located in the southern portion of the Rickenbacker area, the Intermodal represents the single greatest opportunity for job growth and capital investment in Pickaway Count and central Ohio for the foreseeable future. The 175-acre Intermodal facility completed in March 2008 is able to handle 250,000 containers and trailers annually, with room for significant future expansion. Norfolk Southern Railroad estimates nearly 600,000 trucks will flow in and out of the Intermodal each year. However, the largest impediment to capitalizing on the Intermodal s potential for job growth and new investment is the ease with which traffic can travel in, out and around the facility. Many of the roads south of the airport are rural in nature and are insufficient for handling increased levels of traffic today and into the future as a result of the Intermodal and nearby economic development It has been estimated that the Intermodal facility will bring 15,000-20,000 jobs to the Rickenbacker area over the next years. Just after the Intermodal opened in March

11 2008, the first new project directly related to the Intermodal s presence was that of Hyperlogistics. The approximately $20 million third party logistics project brought 35 new jobs to the area with plans for more in the future. Already though, congestion is making it increasingly difficult to sell the Rickenbacker region as Ohio s premier gateway and logistics hub. Over 200 businesses are located in the area with the large majority engaged in logistics activities. These activities comprise over 26 million square feet of space and well over 9,500 direct and 10,800 indirect employees. But, over the last twelve months, at least four distribution center projects totaling 3.2 million square feet have been lost with feedback that roadway congestion was a key determinant in the site selector s decision. Half of those projects moved out of state. Several undeveloped properties within the Rickenbacker area are actively being purchased and developed by real estate companies and other investors. For example, a partnership between Duke Realty, Capitol Square, Ltd. (an investment group related to the Columbus Dispatch) and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority ( CRAA ) are currently developing the Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park, which is approximately 1,576 acres of land around the airport that will consist of a five-campus, master-planned complex containing up to 29 million square feet of distribution centers, transportation facilities, research centers, business offices and other services. Please find the attached letters of support for the Connector from stakeholders in the project s geographical service area, inlcuding Duke Realty and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. Employment in the Area Please refer to the same list and map used for the previous section. Land Values in the Area The table below highlights sample properties land values in the study area. Note that the sites in Franklin County that are developed or currently under development have values in the $65,000 70,000 per acre range. The selected properties in Pickaway County - all in close proximity to the Intermodal - have much lower current values, but hold great potential for increased value that will mirror those to the north. These values are all based on the county Auditor s assessment; actual market values are typically higher. To demonstrate the Intermodal s effect on nearby undeveloped properties in Pickaway County, Hyperlogistics reportedly paid a per acre price for its land on par with the Franklin County examples.

12 County Address Auditor's Land Value Size (acres) Value per Acre Franklin 303 John Glen Avenue $945, $65,996 Franklin 7064 Canal Road $1,561, $70,657 Pickaway Lockborne Eastern Road $413, $3,848 Pickaway 0 Ashville Pike $488, $7,000 Pickaway 2048 Duvall Road $1,101, $3,649 Comments Developed industrial park site near Airport Currently under development as part of the Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park Undeveloped site east of the Intermodal Terminal Undeveloped site directly east of the Intermodal Terminal; owned by the Airport Undeveloped site west of the Intermodal Terminal; near proposed new US 23 interchange Direct Local Public Investment Given the development already taking place in the Connector s service area, the City of Columbus and Earnhart Hill Regional Water & Sewer District have extended water service via three separate lines that will serve users in nearly every developable area south of the airport. Columbus provides sewer service to the area. Private utilities, including South Central Power and Columbia Gas, have also extended lines in the area to accommodate future development. SECTION: TRANSPORTATION FACTORS Connects Transportation Modes The Connector will provide a direct link between rail, vehicles, air, bicycles and pedestrians. The most apparent linkage is that of the rail activity generated by the new Intermodal and the resulting truck traffic on the Connector.

13 Additionally, materials and end-product cargo is shipped on a daily basis to and from the area via flights into Rickenbacker International Airport. The Connector project will provide ground linkage to ship this cargo to its final destination or to bring in materials to area manufactures and distributors that will ultimately be sent on through air or rail transport. Also, the Connector s design will include a separate lane dedicated for pedestrians and bicycles. Freight Facilities None of the project s costs relate to the development of new freight facilities. However, the primary impetus for the project is to alleviate congestion related to the new industrial development that will occur as a result of the Intermodal, which was constructed in March Given this relationship, the project will have a positive effect on the new freight facility and its resulting reduction of truck traffic. The Intermodal s function is to move more truck trailers by long-haul rail thus shortening truck road trips to only local destination points at the beginning or end of the shipping cycle. SECTION: PROJECT SPONSOR INVESTMENT FACTORS Creation of TIF or other tool A TIF currently exists that captures the Intermodal facility and the Hyperlogistics site. The plan is to expand the boundaries of the TIF zone to capture the entire area around the Connector that has strong development potential. The process has not yet begun, as the study area is still being evaluated. No documentation exists at this time related to this expansion. In 2006, a 50-year Joint Economic Development District ( JEDD ) was established in the area covering an area in northern Pickaway County that involves the City of Columbus, Harrison Township and the Village of Ashville. Half of the new income generated by the JEDD is to be invested back into infrastructure, which will directly benefit the development activities near the Connector.