“A lot of these are some pretty high-profile, big-dollar projects, as far as the jurisdictions are concerned,” said Paul Arnold, MVRPC’s manager of Short-Range Programs. “They may not be huge as far as a normal ODOT project, but for the individual jurisdictions — Dayton, Kettering, Beavercreek — these are significant funds. ”
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The millions in federal funds have been requested to help pay for 45 future projects advanced by local cities, counties and park districts. But only a third to a half of that amount will get funded federally, Arnold said.
The projects on the draft list are being considered for Federal Highway Administration funding through three different programs: the Surface Transportation Program, the Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program and the Transportation Alternatives Program.
“These three sources of federal funds are the largest sources of funding we are able to distribute to our member jurisdictions,” Arnold said. “The public is welcome to come in and go through everything and see the same amount of detail that we’re going to see as we are evaluating a project.”
The projects range from as small as sidewalk improvements in Beavercreek to further widening of Wayne Avenue in Dayton, the continuation of recent awards.
Riverside is requesting $2.5 million in federal funds for a modification of the U.S. 35/Woodman Drive interchange expected to total $13.5 million, the most expensive project on the draft list.
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Five Rivers MetroParks is seeking almost $3.2 million for a bike path along Wolf Creek that would connect an existing trail at Wesleyan MetroPark to Hickorydale Park in Dayton.
The federal awards are for projects to be completed during the state’s 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, about five years out, Arnold said.
“For a project to go through the federal process from engineering, through right-of-way, through construction, that’s about the amount of time it would typically take,” he said.
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Other jurisdictions and organizations submitting proposals for the draft list include Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Brookville, Dayton, Englewood, Franklin, the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, Kettering, the Miami Conservancy District, Miami County Park District, MVRPC, Montgomery County, Piqua, Tipp City, Troy, Vandalia and Xenia.
After the public comment period, staff will evaluate each project using a funding prioritization process and recommend selected projects for funding to MVRPC’s Board of Directors at, or before, the March 7, 2019 board meeting.
The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission was established in 1964 to promote collaboration among communities, stakeholders and residents to advance regional priorities. MVRPC performs various regional planning activities, including air quality, water quality, transportation, land use and research. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization. MVRPC is responsible for transportation planning in Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties and parts of northern Warren County. MVRPC’s areawide water quality planning designation encompasses five counties with the addition of Darke and Preble counties.
For additional information, contact MVRPC’s Paul Arnold at (937) 223-6323 or parnold@mvrpc.org.
Transportation projects public meeting
What: Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
When: Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton
Parking validation for The Arts Garage, 107 N. Ludlow St., will be distributed at meeting.
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