Regional Support and Endorsement May 2019 Update Columbus Crossroads Phase 4 INFRA Application Submitted to U.S. DOT on March 4, 2019 Updated Regional Support and Endorsement Support and momentum for this project continues to build since ODOT submitted the application in March. The project was recently endorsed by The Columbus Dispatch’s editorial board, joining more than 130 additional supporting organizations and agencies in Central Ohio that have recognized the significant need for the proposed improvements. These additional endorsements, as well as the original letters of support, are included here for your review and consideration: U.S., State, and Local Elected Officials State Representative Rick Carfagna* Ohio Governor Mike DeWine State Representative Scott Ryan* United States Senate - Ohio Delegation* State Representative Tim Schaffer* Sherrod Brown Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano Rob Portman Franklin County Clerk of Courts Maryellen United States House of Representatives - Central O'Shaughnessy Ohio Delegation* Franklin County Coroner Anahi M. Ortiz Joyce Beatty Franklin County Engineer Cornell R. Robertson* Steve Stivers Franklin County Recorder Daniel J. O'Connor Jr. Troy Balderson Franklin County Treasurer Cheryl Brooks Sullivan Ohio Senate - Franklin County Delegation* Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther* Stephanie Kunze Columbus City Council* Hearcel Craig State and Local Governments Andrew Brenner State of Ohio: Tina Maharath • State Senator Bob Hackett* Department of Public Safety State Senator Brian Hill* • JobsOhio State Senator Jay Hottinger* Franklin County Ohio House of Representatives – Franklin County* Knox County Laura Lanese Union County Kristin Boggs City of Bexley David Leland City of Canal Winchester Adam Miller City of Columbus: Bernadine Kennedy Kent • Division of Fire Richard Brown • Public Safety Department Erica Crawley • Recreation and Parks Department Mary Lightbody City of Dublin Beth Liston City of Grove City Allison Russo City of Lancaster * Letter submitted with initial application materials City of Marysville Steiner + Associates City of New Albany Telhio Credit Union City of Reynoldsburg Wagenbrenner Development City of Upper Arlington White Castle City of Worthington Hospitals & Non-Profit Agencies Village of Johnstown AAA Ohio Auto Club Village of Lockbourne Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc. Village of Plain City Age Friendly Columbus Village of Shawnee Hills All That Perry Township Alvis Agencies & Coalitions Catholic Social Services CelebrateOne Central Community House Central Ohio Transit Authority Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio Columbus 2020 Clean Fuels Ohio Columbus Chamber of Commerce Columbus Association for the Performing Arts Columbus Downtown Development Corporation* Columbus Early Learning Centers Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority Columbus Foundation Columbus Partnership Columbus Landmarks Columbus Region Coalition* Columbus Urban League Columbus Regional Airport Authority Community Development for All People Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority Community Housing Network Experience Columbus Economic & Community Development Institute Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority Freedom a la Cart Franklin County Transportation Improvement FUEL Franklinton District Future Ready Columbus Human Service Chamber of Franklin County Godman Guild Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission* Goodwill Columbus Greater Columbus Arts Council Corporations & Private Business AECOM Habitat for Humanity MidOhio American Electric Power Homeport CASTO Jefferson Avenue Center CBRE Jewish Family Services CoverMyMeds Local Matters Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. LSS Choices Daimler LSS Faith Mission Duke Realty Mt. Carmel Health Systems Easton Town Center National Alliance on Mental Illness ELFORD, INC. Nationwide Children's Hospital* IRONFAB, LLC Netcare Access Kaufman Development Ohio Business Development Center Mighty Crow OhioHealth NAI Ohio Equities, LLC Ronald McDonald House Nationwide Realty Investors Southeast Healthcare Services Next Step Business Consulting Starfish Alliance Ohio MBE Transit Columbus ted Way of Central Ohio pagetech limited Uni YMCA of Central Ohio Paul Werth Associates YWCA Columbus Planning Next RAMA Consulting Educational Institutions Resource International, Inc. Columbus City Schools Rev1 Ventures Cristo Rey Columbus High School Root Insurance Columbus College of Art & Design * Letter submitted with initial application materials Columbus State Community College The Ohio State University Professional Organizations & Trade Associations American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Ohio American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Central Ohio Section American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), Central Ohio Section Association for Bridge Construction & Design (ABCD) Central Ohio Chapter Building Industry Association of Central Ohio Columbus Building Trades Council Communications Workers of America Local 4502 Ohio Contractor's Association* Sheet Metal Workers Local #24 Urban Land Institute Columbus District Council Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Columbus Chapter Business Associations & Neighborhood Organizations Brewery District Merchant Association & Community Association Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District* Discovery Special Improvement District* Franklinton Board of Trade German Village Society German Village Walking Club Miranova Condominium Association Ohio Housing and Lodging Association Parsons Avenue Merchants Association Schumacher Place Civic Association Other Stakeholders Otto Beatty III Mary Debenport Editorial & Media Information Editorial, “Federal funds would help transform I- 70/71 split,” The Columbus Dispatch, May 8, 2019. Alexis Moberger, “Gas tax hike helps I-70 and I-71 revamp project move forward,” ABC6, April 15th, 2019. Chris Galford, “Ohio transportation budget includes three endangered central state projects,” Transportation Today, April 25, 2019. “Massive Columbus Crossroads project continues next week,” Qfm96, 96.3 WLVQ – Radio. “DeWine Says Gas Tax Hike Funding Latest Round of Columbus,” Ohio Public Radio, April 16, 2019. * Letter submitted with initial application materials Bob Hackett Committees State Senator Insurance and Financial Institutions – Chair th 10 District Agriculture Health, Human Services and Medicaid Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Ways and Means Finance – Health and Medicaid Subcommittee - Chair Ohio Senate Senate Building 1 Capitol Square Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 466-3780 February 28, 2019 The Honorable Elaine L. Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 Re: Support for the Columbus Crossroads INFRA Application Dear Secretary Chao: Columbus Crossroads is a $1.3 billion, multi-phase project to transform the crossroads of Interstates 70 and 71 in Downtown Columbus and improve freight movement across Ohio and Midwest. I write this letter to (1) express our strong support for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and City of Columbus joint INFRA grant application for Phase 4 of the Columbus Crossroads project; and (2) to urge your support for this catalytic project of national and regional importance. Leveraging this major investment to replace obsolete highway infrastructure, Columbus Crossroads also seeks to reconnect, restore, and revitalize Downtown Columbus and surrounding neighborhoods. ODOT, the City of Columbus, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and a diverse group of community stakeholders and business entities have collaborated over the last decade to develop and implement this comprehensive vision. Phase 4 focuses on the physical overlap of I-70 and I-71. The overlap serves commuter traffic from across Central Ohio, and it serves freight from across the Midwest. The overlap carries 130,000 vehicles per day – including 17,100 commercial vehicles – and exceeds its design capacity by 50,000 vehicles. The overlap’s trench creates a physical barrier between Downtown Columbus and the neighborhoods south of the overlap. Phase 4, which costs approximately $200 million, is essential for improving safety and reducing congestion for commuters and pedestrians; improving access to essential services and more than 100,000 jobs in Downtown Columbus; and reconnecting the southern neighborhoods. Completion of the Columbus Crossroads project has been identified as a top priority for the City of Columbus, the Central Ohio region, and the State of Ohio. However, this project cannot be completed without leveraging additional funding from the INFRA grants program. We respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Transportation consider the importance of these improvements to the prosperity of our region and state, and the resiliency of the national interstate highway system; and we respectfully urge your support for the application. Sincerely, Bob Hackett State Senator 10th Senate District Columbus Office Committees Office: (614) 466-1431 Finance [email protected] Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education (Chair) 68th House District Financial Institutions Knox County Eastern Delaware County Ways and Means Rick Carfagna State Representative, 68th House District February 28, 2019 The Honorable Elaine L. Chao Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 Re: Support for the Columbus Crossroads INFRA Application Dear Secretary Chao: Columbus Crossroads is a $1.3 billion, multi-phase project