Current News & Events

Map of businesses impacted by interchange by City of Dublin

MORPC has approved a resolution to provide additional funding for upgrades to the I-270/US 33 northwest interchange. Earlier this year, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Dublin, and MORPC initiated an effort to find new funding and revise design options to expedite one of the region’s top three highway priorities in a significant regional job growth corridor. Following discussion with Dublin and MORPC, ODOT requested additional funding from MORPC for the I-270/US 33 interchange. MORPC had previously committed $7 million to the project. The resolution increased MORPC’s commitment by $18 million for a total of $25 million to be allocated over a 20-year period from MORPC’s annual federal funds.

The I-270/US 33 Interchange project is ranked in the top 20 by ODOT for freeway crashes and exceeds its design capacity by more than 100 percent. It serves approximately 90,000 vehicles per day of which at least 20 percent are heavy trucks. The project will improve operations and increase the capacity of the interchange and the segment of US 33 between Avery Road and I-270. This will be accomplished by replacing the loop ramps in the northwest and southeast quadrants of the interchange with directional ramps. Additional lanes are also to be added to US 33 in both directions between Avery Road and I-270.

Along with improving safety, upgrading this interchange re-invests in the retention, expansion, attraction and creation of jobs and more efficiently serves the expanding movement of goods and trade for the economies of Ohio, Michigan and Canada. I-270/US33 is among the top ten business highway corridors in Central Ohio. This jobs corridor, which includes major employers such as Honda, connects the Columbus metropolitan area to the Detroit/Windsor border crossing, facilitating the $30 billion in bilateral trade between the U.S. and Canada.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $92 million. Along with MORPC’s commitment of up to $25 million, up to $17 million is expected from the city of Dublin with additional funds being sought from ODOT and the Federal Highway Administration.

MORPC has partnered with the City of Marysville to provide down payment assistance funds to homebuyers through a Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) grant from the Ohio Development Services Agency. Funds are available to homebuyers who are purchasing a home within the Marysville city limits. The home purchase price cannot exceed $144,000 and the household must meet income guidelines.

Up to $35,000 of the CHIP grant has been set aside for major home rehabilitation, such as roof replacement, siding, windows, heating systems, weatherization, and electrical, structural and lead-based paint hazards. This loan is made at zero percent interest and requires no monthly payments. Grant funds are also available for minor home repair services where no repayment is required.

Visit MORPC's CHIP webpage or call Anne Arnott at 1-800-886-6772 for more information on qualifications for the program or to apply.

Press Release

MORPC has released its Top 40 Regional High-Crash Intersections list for the years 2009-2011. The top 40 intersections are ranked based on a formula that considers number of crashes, traffic volume and severity. The top ten intersections include:

1. Cleveland Avenue @ Morse Road
2. W Broad Street/US 40 @ N Wilson Road
3. Innis Road @ Westerville Road/SR 3
4. Cleveland Avenue @ Oakland Park
5. E Dublin Granville Road/SR 161 @ Maple Canyon Drive
6. Morse Road @ Westerville Road/SR 3
7. S Hamilton Road/SR 317@ E Livingston Avenue
8. E Broad Street/SR 16 @ Waggoner Road
9. E Broad Street/SR 16 @ James Road
10. S Central Avenue/Harrisburg Pike @ W Mound Street

Press Release

In order to maintain strong collaboration on regional issues, MORPC’s members are always seeking to grow the organization. In May, Union County was approved as MORPC’s newest member.

“We are excited about being the newest member of MORPC," said Charles Hall, Union County Commissioner. "The Central Ohio region is one of the most vibrant regions in the Midwest. We look forward to establishing relationships with other Central Ohio local governments and to helping move our region forward.”

The MORPC Board meets 11 times each year to discuss important regional issues, guide the direction of MORPC’s work, network with local leaders to discuss common problems, create solutions to shared regional challenges and provide input on funding decisions. Additional benefits of serving on MORPC’s Commission include grants and funding opportunities, educational forums, training and seminars, technical assistance, data and policy development.

Union County membership will provide the opportunity for three members of the Union County Board of Commissioners to serve as voting members or the Commissioners may appoint up to three members to serve on their behalf at the MORPC Commission meetings.

“We are delighted to have Union County joining MORPC,” said William Murdock, MORPC Executive Director. “They are a critical community in our region and will enrich the dialogue on several key regional issues including growth, development and transportation."

Liberty Street will close to thru traffic between South Front and Short streets for the OARS Deep Sewer Tunnel project. Construction will begin this month and is expected to last around 160 days.

The MORPC offices and parking lot will remain open to the public via South Front Street to Liberty Street. Maps, directions and other information regarding the project will be posted as they become available at www.morpc.org, and on the MORPC Facebook Page, MORPC Twitter and MORPC Google+ Page.