Delaware City Council approved a resolution at its meeting Monday that may fund the design for improving The Point intersection.
The city is going to apply for $1.5 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC), and provide $1.5 million in matching funds. The nine-member TRAC approves projects for funding through a competitive application process. Delaware County is not on TRAC’s final 2016-2019 “Major New Construction Program List.”
“The combined ($3 million) funds will allow the project to advance through preliminary design, environmental review and final design,” states a staff fact sheet prepared for council.
Although the city said a 2009 modification initially improved westbound traffic flow at The Point, delays are now the norm at rush hour.
“The next level of improvements requires replacement of the existing two-lane railroad bridge with a larger span structure that can accommodate at least four vehicle lanes and pedestrian facilities on either side,” the fact sheet said. “Preliminary evaluations indicate that such an improvement could cost up to $23 million.”
Also on Monday, council approved:
• Having ODOT repair an 84-inch corrugated metal storm sewer culvert below the U.S. 23/U.S. 42 interchange. The city’s portion of the project is $400,000.
• Purchasing a compact wheel loader for $50,000 that would be installed at the new solid waste recycling facility at 440 E. William St. Eventually, the city’s Cherry Street recycling facility will be demolished.
• Requesting $396,618.74 from the Federal Aviation Administration to resurface taxiway A at the Delaware Municipal Airport. If the grant is approved, the city would pay $44,068.75 (or 10 percent of the total) for the final phase of its taxiway rehabilitation.
• Canceling its meeting scheduled for Aug. 22.
Council has also discussed:
• Plans by the Northwest Neighborhood Association to turn Boardman Field into a park.
• The difficulty of parking in Mingo Park due to summer sporting events.
• Adding lighting to the Veterans Memorial Plaza.
• The upcoming Ironman triathlon and the need for volunteers.
• Bids will be accepted for the West Central Avenue underpass project, where a sensor will detect and warn if a truck is too high to go under the railroad bridge.
In other legislative action, council approved at its June 13 meeting:
• Parking lot maintenance work at the Delaware Community Center.
• An agreement with ODOT to install rectangular rapid flashing beacons on South Liberty Street at the Oak Hill Avenue/Spring Street and Rowland Avenue intersections. It was said the beacons would provide added safety for pedestrians at Ohio Wesleyan University.
