COLUMBUS — The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has approved over $2.4 million in funds for eight transportation projects across Central Ohio, including in Lancaster, with a focus on enhancing infrastructure in rural communities.
The funding, approved by the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization Board on Nov. 3, will support projects in five of the seven CORPO counties, including Fairfield, Knox, Madison, Marion and Union, according to a community announcement. These projects range from bridge reconstruction and resurfacing to bike enhancements and pedestrian improvements.
In Lancaster, a former rural freeway (U.S. 33) on Memorial Drive and Pierce Avenue will be redesigned to accommodate pedestrian activity created by the now fully developed commercial and residential neighborhoods surrounding this urban principal arterial. This project has received strong community support, reflecting shared enthusiasm for its potential impact.
Marion will see improvements at the Barks Road and Ohio 423 intersection, which will include a U-turn. This is part of the broader effort to enhance transportation infrastructure in the area.
Other funded projects include intersection improvements and sidewalk projects in Mount Vernon, street improvements in Marysville, bridge replacement in Madison County, trail access and connectivity improvements in Centerburg, sidewalk improvements in Fredericktown, and resurfacing in Union County.
Supporting rural partnerships in transportation
MORPC, in partnership with CORPO, continues to provide planning, technical assistance and grant writing services to rural communities. This support is crucial as the region grows, ensuring that rural areas have access to the resources and services needed to manage their growth effectively.
“MORPC supports rural communities across Central Ohio as partners,” William Murdock, MORPC’s executive director, said in the announcement. “By collaborating with local leaders, our team helps plan for and invest in infrastructure and programs to enhance quality of life and prepare for new business investments and jobs at the same time.”
In addition to the recent funding approval, MORPC and CORPO applied for $4.8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program in June. This initiative, known as the Coalition for Integrated Road User Safety (CIRUS), aims to enhance roadway safety across rural areas of Central Ohio.
“MORPC recently worked with all seven counties of the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (CORPO) to request $4.8 million in federal funding to enhance roadway safety for users across the rural areas of Central Ohio,” Parag Agrawal, MORPC’s chief mobility and development officer, said in the announcement. “The proposed initiative, Coalition for Integrated Road User Safety (CIRUS), will be a national model of rural transportation safety and will focus on road safety audits, evaluate advanced vehicle safety systems, and identify high-risk rural corridors.”
For more information about CORPO and how MORPC assists rural communities, visit the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization’s website.
This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Memorial Drive in Lancaster set for road and sidewalk improvements
Reporting by Jane Imbody / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
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