Beatty Secures Historic Investment in Linden Green Line

Washington, DC- Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) today announced $12 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. This transformative grant will support the Linden Green Line Project, which will redevelop a seven-mile abandoned rail corridor into a thriving regional linear park and active transportation corridor. The project, located in Franklin County's South Linden, North Linden, and Northland neighborhoods, will connect four community centers, 19 schools, and 3,000 local businesses while addressing historic injustices and ensuring safer connectivity for residents.

"When I hosted Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg in Ohio's Third Congressional District last April, I organized a site tour of the Linden Green Line Project to showcase its promise and potential," said Congresswoman Beatty. "This RAISE grant, funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a transformative investment that creates a vital hub for exercise, connection, and play, enriching the lives of Ohio families, students, businesses, and faith communities. It also addresses historic injustices from redlining and other restrictions, while providing safer routes to schools, community centers, and parks. Having led efforts to shape and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and personally advocated for this project, this achievement is especially fulfilling. I am deeply grateful to President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg, Mayor Ginther, and our regional partners for their commitment to Central Ohio's future."

"Thanks to President Biden and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, crucial projects that communities across the country have long hoped for are finally becoming a reality," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "With the $1.32 billion in funding we're announcing today, we're setting in motion nearly 200 projects that will make roads safer, help mitigate the impact of climate change, and ensure that people in communities of all sizes can get where they need to go safely and efficiently - including $12 million for a new path to keep pedestrians and drivers safe in Columbus."

"The Biden-Harris Administration and USDOT are thrilled to support the Linden Green Line Project, which will create a new linear park and hiking and biking trail, with a $12 million RAISE grant. Congratulations to Congresswoman Beatty and the City of Columbus for this visionary project that will connect and revitalize so many neighborhoods, provide healthy transportation options, and create beautiful new green spaces," said USDOT Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg."Having visited Columbus last spring, I have seen firsthand how local leaders have invested dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make the city's transportation system safer, more accessible, and better able to serve local residents and businesses."

"Thanks to the leadership of US Representative Beatty and President Biden, the Linden Green Line will help open doors to new economic opportunities and increase mobility for residents. This project is more than just a linear park-it is a lifeline that improves the overall quality of life in Linden," said Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. "The Green Line will provide access to further community investments, including the only safe pedestrian and bicycle access to the new soccer facility within Kilbourne Run Sports Park, and provide better access to the Linden Community Center. The project also coincides with major nearby investments being made in affordable housing."

"Securing a RAISE grant for the Linden Greenline is a transformative achievement for Columbus and our region," said Joe Garrity, MORPC's Senior Director of Government Affairs & Community Relations. "This marks the first time Central Ohio has been awarded a RAISE grant since 2012, and this success is a testament to the leadership of Congresswoman Beatty, the City of Columbus, and the collaborative efforts of key public and private sector partners. As our region grows bigger, we must also grow better by investing in forward-thinking infrastructure. This critical investment will deliver a vital bike and pedestrian infrastructure project to a historically underserved community, linking neighborhoods long affected by disinvestment and highway construction through a seven-mile rail-trail that fosters connectivity and opportunity."

The Linden Green Line will have a monumental impact on Central Ohio, creating seven miles of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, 58 acres of new greenspace, and linking 135 miles of regional greenways. Serving over 131,000 residents and 3,000 businesses, the project will reconnect 13 neighborhoods across 25 square miles, many of which were harmed by redlining. It will also address critical safety issues on Cleveland Avenue and Westerville Road, part of the High Injury Network, by improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.

More information on the funding can be found here. Construction on the Linden Green Line is scheduled to begin in 2026.

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