Transportation Review Advisory Council Approves Funding List

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Transportation's (ODOT) Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) has approved investing $319.3 million into 14 major transportation projects in 14 counties.

The project list includes $295.2 million for construction and development funding on 8 projects, $9.1 million for new project development funding on 3 projects, and $15.0 million for additional project development funding on 3 projects. The funding is allocated through 2028.

Three of the projects that are being funded include construction of a multi-use path for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

TRAC approves funding on project's that are part of ODOT's Major New Capacity Program.

Applications for TRAC funding can be submitted by ODOT districts, metropolitan planning organizations, county engineers, transit authorities, county commissioners, municipalities, port authorities, or transportation improvement districts. To qualify, projects must increase capacity or reduce congestion and have an overall total project cost of more than $12 million. The 14 projects selected this year were among 26 applications submitted.

TRAC operates on an annual application cycle. The next application cycle begins on May 1, 2025, and ends on May 31, 2025.

At the completion of the application process TRAC members vote on the approval of the Major New Construction Program List of funding commitments for preliminary engineering, detailed design, right-of-way, and project construction. Projects receiving funding commitments are placed into three "tiers" based upon the level of project development:

• Tier I - The group of projects recommended for construction during the upcoming four-year construction period.
• Tier II - The group of projects recommended for additional environmental, design or right-of-way development activities necessary before the projects would be available for construction.
• Tier III - The group of projects with previous phases funded for construction in Tier I. Projects placed in Tier III status are part of a long-range funding plan to advance multiple phase projects.

About TRAC:
The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) was established by Ohio Revised Code in 1997 to help the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) develop and modify a project selection process which approves funding for the development and construction of the Major New Capacity Program.

The TRAC has nine members and is chaired by the Director of ODOT. Six members are appointed by the Governor and one each by the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and the president of the Ohio Senate. Members have overlapping terms. The Director provides funds for new construction only after assuring that system preservation needs have been met. The use of the new construction funds is the responsibility of the TRAC, but the TRAC does not have authority over other aspects of the Department of Transportation.