MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2009
For More Information:
John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798
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Mayor Coleman, City Council Join U.S. House Transportation Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar, Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy, MORPC, ODOT and Neighborhood Leaders to Kick-off Stimulus Funded Street Resurfacing Project
U.S. Representatives James L. Oberstar and Mary Jo Kilroy, Mayor Michael B. Coleman, City Council, MORPC, ODOT, and neighborhood leaders today kicked off the resurfacing of nine streets funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Congressman Oberstar chairs the House Transportation Committee, which plays a central role in crafting the ARRA funding package. The city, MORPC and ODOT worked together to secure the federal stimulus dollars for local projects. The event was held near Hudson and High Street; Hudson between East and Indianola Avenues is among the nine streets to be resurfaced with ARRA funds.
“We thank Chairman Oberstar and Congresswoman Kilroy for doing the right thing to invest in the future of Columbus,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “We stood together and fought hard for these federal stimulus dollars, and we will keep on fighting for every dollar we can invest in Columbus neighborhoods.”
The $3 million project is projected to create 84 construction and spinoff jobs.
“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping to improve neighborhoods and build a better Columbus,” said Columbus City Council Public Service and Transportation Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig. “Stimulus dollars are not just helping us to resurface city streets, but also helping us retain police officers, move the homeless to housing and include energy saving ‘green’ technology in the buildings we construct.”
Mooberry Street between 18th Street and Fairwood Avenue and Miller Avenue between Cole Street and East Livingston Avenue will be the first two streets to be resurfaced beginning next week. The remaining seven streets will be resurfaced beginning in the spring of 2010. The street resurfacing was among a package of local projects proposed for ARRA funding and coordinated through MORPC.
“It is absolutely critical to the economic prosperity and quality of life of our residents that we invest in our transportation infrastructure,” said MORPC Executive Director Chester R. Jourdan, Jr. “We appreciate and thank Chairman Oberstar and Congresswoman Kilroy for their important roles in helping to secure needed funding for critical transportation projects here in Columbus and around the nation. We will continue to work with Chairman Oberstar and central Ohio’s Congressional delegation to ensure that we have the needed resources to build and maintain a world-class, multi-modal transportation system to support the economic competitiveness of our region, state and nation.”
The street resurfacing project was one of three ARRA transportation projects out of 30 in ODOT’s District 6 region to receive ARRA funding and be bid; ODOT District 6 includes Franklin Delaware, Fayette, Marion, Morrow, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties.
"Across the state, ODOT is investing, overseeing and monitoring more than $1.1 billion in transportation stimulus made available to Ohio under the Recovery Act,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. “When you combine the stimulus with ODOT’s regular construction program, Ohio’s investment in construction over this biennium will be the largest by more than a third in the history of Ohio.”
The nine streets selected are among those in most needed of resurfacing in Columbus.
“The federal help to resurface these nine streets is sorely needed, especially this year when we have no city funds available for resurfacing because of the City’s budget crisis,” said Department of Public Service Director Mark Kelsey. “We could not resurface these streets without ARRA funding.”
The City of Columbus typically budgets $18 million to $22 million for street resurfacing each year.
ARRA Funded Streets Resurfacing Project Fact Sheet
- Streets to be resurfaced with $3 million in ARRA funds include—
- Front Street, between Sycamore Street and Liberty Street
- Hudson Street, between East Avenue and Indianola Avenue
- Indianola Avenue, between Morse Road and Lincoln Avenue
- Miller Avenue, between Cole Street and East Livingston Avenue
- Mooberry Street, between 18th Street and Fairwood Avenue
- Mt. Vernon Avenue, between Champion Avenue and Taylor Avenue
- Taylor Avenue, between Mt. Vernon Avenue and Leonard Avenue
- Tussing Road, between Brice Road and Highland Park Drive
- Woodcrest Road, between Noe-Bixby Road to East Livingston Avenue
- The nine streets are among those in most need of resurfacing in Columbus
- The ARRA resurfacing project will also include 277 Americans With Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps
- The ARRA resurfacing project is projected to create 84 construction and spinoff jobs.
Fra-Resurfacing ARRA Fact Sheet (3) for 091809 Event
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