Draft Policies for Allocating MORPC-Attributable Transportation Funding Available for Review and Comment

February 10, 2022

Public comment period ends March 18, 2022.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is seeking comments on its policies that determine how MORPC-attributable federal transportation funding is committed to projects.

Approximately $65 million is awarded to projects every two years in MORPC’s transportation planning area that consists of: Delaware and Franklin counties; Bloom and Violet townships in Fairfield County; Pataskala, New Albany and Etna Township in Licking County; and Jerome Township in Union County.

Prior to requesting funding applications, MORPC reviews, revises as necessary, and readopts the Policies for Managing MORPC-Attributable Funds. The document describes the process for local governments to apply for MORPC-attributable transportation funds and for MORPC to select projects that will receive a commitment of funds.

During the past several months, MORPC convened the Attributable Funds Committee to review and update the policies. The policy document includes a schedule, eligibility requirements, application requirements, evaluation criteria, procedures for ranking and selecting projects for funding, requirements for sponsors receiving a funding commitment, and other policies for managing the funding program.

“There have been a few adjustments in the polices from the previous cycle. One change from the current policy is that target funding ranges for bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects have been increased. The committee wanted to increase the proportion of MORPC-attributable funding that was committed to projects enhancing infrastructure to support active transportation.”

Nick Gill, Transportation Study Director at MORPC

The Draft Policies for Managing MORPC-Attributable Funds are available for public review and comment on the MORPC website at morpc.org/funding.

“The adjustments to the policies proposed by the committee will improve the project evaluation and selection process for the upcoming application cycle set to begin in Summer of 2022. We encourage public review and comment on these policies as we strive to continually improve our process for allocating MORPC-attributable funding.”

Thomas Graham, Senior Planner at MORPC

MORPC will be accepting public comments on the policies through March 18, 2022.

Comments may be submitted via email to tip@morpc.org or in writing to Nick Gill, Transportation Study Director, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 100, Columbus, OH, 43215-5222.

The Transportation Policy Committee is scheduled to consider adopting the policies on May 12, 2022. For more information, contact Thomas Graham at 614.233.4193 or via email at tgraham@morpc.org.