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Eastern Corridor Update from ODOT

As usual,  ODOT is short on details in this Eastern Corridor Update. This update was received through e-mail.

 

State Route 32 Relocation – PROJECT UPDATE 
Project Enters into Collaborative Process

May 27, 2014 – Beginning this month, the proposed State Route (SR) 32 Relocation project, which is one component of the multi-modal Eastern Corridor Program, is entering into a collaborative process that is expected to continue through the summer and fall and conclude by the end of the year. Information gained through this process will help determine the options available for moving forward with the proposed project.

The SR 32 Relocation project is one of the most complicated projects under consideration in the country as it is located in a region that requires coordination with multiple federal and state agencies which have varying and sometimes differing interests. These agencies include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; National Park Service; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corp or Engineers; the Federal Highway Administration; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Scenic Rivers; Ohio Historic Preservation Office; and others.

To help coordinate among these agencies, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has engaged the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution and its contracted independent organization, the Consensus Building Institute (CBI), to assess the interests of the agencies in relation to the proposed project and determine how best to work through potential conflicts.

To support their work, CBI will be reviewing project documentation, completed studies and recommendations including the Eastern Corridor Major Investment Study, the2002 Land Use Vision Plan, the 2005 Green Infrastructure Concept Master Plan, the 2004 Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and the 2006 Tier 1 Record of Decision. They will also meet with local and regional governmental agencies, as well as consider input from local communities, business organizations, and other stakeholders.

ODOT is integrating this work into their project development process for the SR 32 Relocation project. At this time, potential corridors within which possible roadway alignments could be located have been recommended, but specific routes have not yet been identified. This process will result in identification of both challenges and opportunities within the corridors to address the transportation needs of the region.

As one of the primary thoroughfares within the Eastern Corridor region, SR 32 is an important element of the Eastern Corridor Program. Currently, this road experiences high volumes of commuter, heavy truck and residential traffic. This creates high levels of congestion and accident rates and poor levels of overall service, inhibiting economic development and access to the growing number of jobs. In addition, travel is primarily limited to car and truck-based traffic. The proposed SR 32 Relocation project is intended to address these issues and provide direct, multi-modal access to US 50, the Red Bank corridor and I-71 using a boulevard-style, four-lane road. For more information, visit www.EasternCorridor.org.
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The Eastern Corridor is a program of integrated, multi-modal transportation investments that, together, will provide essential east-west connectivity for the Greater Cincinnati region. Currently in its second phase of study, the Program will address critical congestion issues and mobility challenges expected to worsen by 2030. Planned enhancements will improve travel and connections between central Cincinnati and the communities extending east through Hamilton County into western Clermont County. Program elements include improvements to existing road networks, new and expanded roadways, rail transit, expanded bus routes and improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Eastern Corridor Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Eastern Corridor Implementation Partners: Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District (HCTID), Clermont County Transportation Improvement District (CCTID), City of Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) and the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA). More information about Eastern Corridor is available at www.EasternCorridor.org.