TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PROFILE HIGHWAY FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION Highways are classified based upon their ability to move traffic and the access they provide to the adjoining land. Typically, the higher classification should reflect a larger movement of traffic and a restricted access to land, while the lower classifications provide movement of traffic to a smaller number of vehicles with virtually unlimited access to the adjoining land. The table below lists the functional classifications and their descriptions. ROADWAY CLASSIFICATION Description Major Arterial Generally carry long distance, through-travel movements. Access limited to major traffic generators, such as a major airport or regional shopping center. Traffic moves at fast speeds on major arterials, with 55 mph usually being the minimum speed. Minor Arterial Similar in function to a major arterial, except they carry trips of shorter distance and will allow access to lesser traffic generators. Traffic moves at relatively quick speeds, with 45 mph being the minimum speed. Collector Collector roads “collect” traffic from lower order roads and take them to (major and minor) Arterials. Collectors provide more access to land use than arterials, but not as much access as local roads. Often, access provided will be shared, or will be to service roads, etc. Traffic speed will vary on collector roads from 35 mph to 55 mph. Local Local roads provide direct and immediate access to land. Such roads (aka lower order) are usually residential in nature, such as those found in residential subdivisions. Traffic moves slowly along local roads, rarely exceeding 35 mph. The majority of roadway miles in Licking County are local roads. In Licking County roadways are classified predominantly to achieve access management techniques. The map on the next page shows the functional class for Licking County roadways included in the Licking County Development Regulations. Other functional classification and access management plans also exist and follow a similar hierarchy of classifications. There is a federal aid system, which is similar, but differs, that is used to determine eligibility for federal funds. Only federally classified roadways above a minor collector are eligible for most federal transportation programs. LCATS Transportation Moves 2035, Final May 2012 Page 54 of 185 MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS Within the LCATS service area there are three major east-west corridors, and four key north-south corridors. The east-west corridors are the Columbus-Pittsburgh corridor, Ohio State Route 16, and Interstate 70. The north-south corridors are Ohio State Route 79 (between I-70 and SR 16), Ohio State Route 13 (from SR 16 north) State Route 37 (from IR 70 to SR 161) and Thornwood Drive. Each of these corridors is described in further detail below. EAST – WEST ROUTES Licking County has an excellent east-west highway system connecting to the Columbus region and Zanesville. INTERSTATE 70 Interstate 70 stretches approximately 30 miles throughout southern Licking County, providing access to Columbus on the west and to Zanesville on the east. As the graphs below show, the amount of traffic is heavier on the west side of the county than on the east side. The Far East Freeway study recommended that the current 4-lane section between SR 256 and SR 79 add two additional lanes. In the latest transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, a new program called Corridors of the Future was initiated. Approximately, five multi-state corridors were selected across the country. Interstate 70 from Missouri to West Virginia was one of the selected corridors. One possible future option is to build freight only toll lanes along the corridor. COLUMBUS-PITTSBURGH CORRIDOR (STATE ROUTE 161/37/16/US36) Ohio State Route 161 extends from the far west side of Franklin County east to central Licking County, ending near the Village of Alexandria (where it becomes Ohio State Route 37). In Licking County SR 161/37 is a newly LCATS Transportation Moves 2035, Final May 2012 Page 56 of 185 constructed four-lane highway. SR 161/16 is also identified as a “macro-corridor” on ODOT’s Access Ohio Statewide Transportation Plan. These high priority routes generally receive priority for maintenance and improvement as well as snow and ice control. Through the City of Newark and eastern Licking County SR 16 is a four lane divided highway, to Ohio State Route 146. SR 161/37/16/36 is a major arterial and is part of the National Highway System. The State Route 16 and Cherry Valley Road at grade intersection along the 4-lane portion is a safety concern. Currently, LCATS is engaged with local stakeholder groups to advance the State Route 16 and Cherry Valley Road intersection project. LCATS funded Steps 1-4 of the major Project Development Process with the intention of converting the at-grade intersection to an interchange. In April 2006, a well-attended public involvement meeting was held. Based on engineering studies, preliminary environmental studies and public involvement an alternative was recommended. The recommended alternative is to cul-de-sac the existing intersection; build an interchange to the east of the existing intersection. Fortunately, this location is on property that was previously purchased by ODOT for the State Route 157 corridor. The completion of an interchange at Cherry Valley Road will eliminate the only future at-grade intersection between IR 270 and the east side of the City of Newark. ODOT District 5 has been developing the next steps and is on schedule to complete the design and right of way plans by the end of calendar year 2012. The environmental clearance was completed in June 2011. There are currently funds available from the ODOT major new program (TRAC) to be used for purchasing the remaining right of way needed. On State Route 16 beginning at the east side of Newark the same safety and congestion concerns exist where three more at grade signalized intersections exist. These currently have fewer crashes and less congestion than Cherry Valley, but the same future problems. They are Dayton, Marne and Brownsville Roads. OHIO STATE ROUTE 16 Within Licking County, Ohio State Route 16 extends from the City of Reynoldsburg on the southwest to the Licking - Muskingum County line on the east. It passes through the City of Pataskala, the Village of Granville, and the City of Newark. Between Taylor Road (on the far southwest side of Licking County) to where it meets SR 161/37 in the Village of Granville, SR 16 is a two-lane road. This 2-lane section of State Route 16 carries high volumes of commuter traffic into the Franklin County daily and also serves as a major part of the roadway network in the western portion of the county. NORTH - SOUTH ROUTES While Licking County has strong east-west connections, our north-south connections are primarily 2-lane facilities. Several are needed to meet the demand. LCATS Transportation Moves 2035, Final May 2012 Page 57 of 185 THORNWOOD DRIVE Located in the center of Licking County, and connecting SR 79 to SR 16 is the Thornwood Drive Corridor. This corridor is currently under development for improvements and upgrades. Construction plans have been partially completed and an environmental clearance has been approved. Funding for this project is uncertain. It is likely that the project as proposed will need to be scaled back. Potential reductions may occur in the paved shoulder width and grading. This could reduce the overall construction cost and reduce the impacts and cost of right of way acquisition. This project has been developed jointly between the City of Newark, City of Heath, and County Engineer utilizing LCATS federal fund and local funds. This is an important part of the connection necessary to entice development along this valuable corridor. It is one part of the 3- projects needed to reach the development potential of the Thornwood Drive/Cherry Valley interchange projects. OHIO STATE ROUTE 79 Located in the center of Licking County, Ohio State Route 79 is one of the major north- south corridors for the county, providing access from Interstate 70 to the Village of Hebron, the City of Heath, and the City of Newark. State Route 79 is a major arterial and is part of the National Highway System. The southern portion of SR 79 serves two large industrial parks, the Newark Industrial Park in the Village of Hebron and the Mid-Ohio Industrial Park in the City of Heath. Within the City of Heath, SR 79 serves a heavily developed retail commercial area. Because of the high traffic volumes and the many access points along SR 79 in the City of Heath, there is heavy congestion and a significant safety problem. Currently a safety project is under construction starting with the intersection realignment of Radian & Putnam Drives and placing a median from there to Hopewell Dr. OHIO STATE ROUTE 13 State Route 13 (from SR 16 north) is part of the National Highway System and is classified as a minor arterial. It carries through traffic from the City of Newark to the City of Mount Vernon in Knox County and then north to IR 71. Within the City of Newark, traffic moves poorly on SR 13. However, there seems to be little congestion problems to the north of the city. Currently, SR 13 over SR 16 operates as a one-way pair with different designations for northbound and southbound. The City of Newark is currently designing plans to widen the current SR 13 (Mount Vernon Road) bridge over SR 16 to allow for 2-way traffic. This project will also require some intersection upgrades at the adjoining surface streets. A combination of LCATS funds, local funds and non-traditional funding will be utilized. OHIO STATE ROUTE 37 State Route 37 is located in the central part of Licking County.