To Access MORPC’s database of currently available funding opportunities, click here.
A portion of federal transportation funding is allocated at MORPC’s discretion, following an application and selection process. We call these funds MORPC-attributable funds. We work closely with local agencies to prioritize the use of these funds to meet their needs and those of the entire region. They can be used for roads and bridges, public transit, bikeways, sidewalks, and a variety of other activities. The funds come from three federal programs: the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG), the Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
We manage this program under the oversight of our Attributable Funds Committee (AFC). We solicit and evaluate applications for funding from local public agencies every two years. Because of the time it takes to plan, study and design these projects, we try to keep most of the next four years’ worth of funding lined up for projects already in the pipeline.
More information and updates can be viewed on the MORPC-attributable Funding for Transportation webpage.
Questions can be directed to Thomas Graham at 614.233.4193.
The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) is a nine-member Council chaired by ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.
The TRAC is tasked with evaluating funding applications that result in ODOT’s largest transportation project investments. ODOT transportation professionals have developed a funding application evaluation analysis to assist in the TRAC’s decision making.
Part of the application evaluation includes input from metropolitan planning organizations like MORPC. Therefore, each TRAC funding cycle, MORPC conducts its own evaluation of the Central Ohio TRAC applications that fall within our transportation planning boundaries and prioritizes the applications based on the region’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan goals and objectives. MORPC then provides the region’s TRAC project priorities to ODOT, which are considered during the project funding selection process.
2023 TRAC Projects
Ten projects from our transportation planning area were submitted to TRAC during the 2023 application period. Funded through ODOT’s Major New Capacity Program, these transportation projects have a total project cost greater than $12 million, add capacity to the transportation system, and support economic development. The proposed projects seeking funding for this cycle are located in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, and Licking counties.
To learn more about the TRAC project applications, please review the following one-page fact sheets:
- LinkUS W Broad St. Bus Rapid Transit
- I-70/I-71 Downtown Ramp Up Phase 2D
- I-70/I-71 Downtown Ramp Up Phase 3
- I-270 & I-71 Interchange (North)
- I-71 Hard Shoulder Running/Smart Lane
- I-71/Sunbury Parkway & Interchange
- Alum Creek Dr. (SR 317 to Groveport Rd.)
- I-71 & Taylor Rd./SR 256 Interchanges
- I-70 Widening (Licking County)
- SR 161/SR 37 Widening
TRAC received 28 applications from across the state for development or construction of transportation projects requesting a total of $658 million statewide. The 10 TRAC funding requests made in the MORPC planning area represent nearly $350 million.
MORPC is receiving comments from the public from June 26 through August 11. These comments will be considered in MORPC’s project prioritization analysis and will be shared with the project applicants. Please submit comments by e-mail to trac@morpc.org or by mail to:
Elliott Lewis
Re: TRAC Public Input
111 Liberty Street
Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43215
The 5310 program we administer provides capital and operating grants for public transportation services in order to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Columbus urbanized area. Those eligible for funding include private non-profit organizations, state and local governments, and operators of public transportation services.
This program provides federal funds for:
- 80 percent of the cost of capital projects requiring a 20 percent match
- 50 percent federal funds requiring a 50 percent match for operating projects
More information on Section 5310 funding, the coordinated plans, and the most current application cycle is available on MORPC’s Enhanced Mobility webpage.
Questions about the program can be directed to John Gardocki at 614.233.4146.
The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) provides financing for local public infrastructure improvements through both the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) and the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LTIP). SCIP is a grant/loan program for roads, bridges, water supply, wastewater treatment, storm water collection, and solid waste disposal. LTIP is a grant program for roads and bridges only.
Under the oversight of the Public Works Integrating Committee, we provide administrative support for Franklin County projects by processing and reviewing grant and loan requests before submitting them to the OPWC for approval.
For more information on the application process, please visit our Local Infrastructure Funding from Ohio Public Works webpage.
The state’s Clean Ohio Fund restores, protects, and connects Ohio’s natural and urban places by preserving green space and farmland, improving outdoor recreation, and cleaning up brownfields to encourage redevelopment and revitalize communities. Each of the four programs that compose the fund has a specific funding focus, as well as different guidelines and contact information.
The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund helps communities acquire green space and protect and enhance rivers and streams. The Ohio Public Works Commission administers the program statewide. We administer the application and selection process for conservation projects in Franklin County. For more information, please visit our Clean Ohio Conservation Fund webpage.
Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education Grants
Ohio EPA Recycling and Letter Prevention Grants
For more information, contact Brandi Whetstone at 614.233.4174.
U.S. EPA Brownfields Program – Central Ohio has been awarded $600,000 to distribute to eligible Brownfield sites within the 15-county region. The grant funding can be used to assess sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, and/or petroleum. More information about the program and applications are available at morpc.org/brownfields.
Insight2050 Technical Assistance Program (TA Program) – This program provides MORPC staff assistance to Central Ohio communities within the boundary of the metropolitan planning organization for the planning of sustainable transportation and community development efforts related to the findings of insight2050 Scenario Results report. More information about the program and competitive application process is available at getinsight2050.org/resources/technical-assistance-program.
