MANSFIELD — The Richland County Regional Planning Commission discussed updates on county infrastructure and transportation projects at its quarterly meeting Wednesday.
The County Garage Rehab Project on Main Street project is underway, with the anticipated completion date set for this September. Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) money is being used to fund this project.
Additional TAP funds will be available starting next year. These funds allow for improvements to non-motorized transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, trails and bikeways.
Also, the Richland County Transit board approved a capital replacement grant through the Ohio Department of Transportation, which will provide $765,000 for vehicle replacements and security cameras at 100 percent federal participation.
The commission noted that significant savings in fuel expenses helped the transit board complete 2015 comfortably within budget.
Roadway projects
The state Route 97 and I-71 improvement project in Bellville is scheduled to start next week. Work will continue through September.
“It is a great example of a locally identified project being able to leverage multiple state and federal funding sources for implementation,” the commission stated.
The state Route 39 and Mansfield Avenue project in Shelby will finish in November. The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has $2 million committed to this project combining two projects to sell as one.
Speakers
Mansfield Economic Development Director Tim Bowersock informed the commission the city is ready to submit a grant request for $100,000 to the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup Grant.
During Butler Mayor Kenneth Kinley’s report, he shared updates on the new elementary school approved in Butler, work at the wastewater treatment plant and the safe routes to school grant.
Leigh Oesterling, planning and environment team leader for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Ohio Division was the featured speaker at the meeting. Osterling educated the commission on FHWA’s role in transportation planning at the state level.
FHWA’s role is that of stewardship and oversight. She also highlighted FHWA planning emphasis areas and initiatives for the upcoming year.
Auditor of State Award
RCRPC has been awarded the Auditor of State Award. The Auditor of State Award is presented to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a financial audit. Entities that receive the award meet the criteria of a “clean” audit report.
