The work group met March 7, and a number of work group members met on March 28 in Columbus with ODOT and FHWA representatives to review the study process and proposed alternatives. FHWA indicated their reluctance to accept any interchange alternative that would not maintain free flow conditions between I-75 and SR129. Based on this information, the consultant has added the free-flow condition as a tenth criterion and is proceeding with application of the evaluation criteria to the proposed alternatives. A package was developed and sent to ODOT to program the project and generate an LPA agreement for TID project administration.

Details regarding the final close out of SR129 project administration expenses have been established and a resolution authorizing repayment will be considered at the April 14, 2003 TID Board Meeting.

A resolution authorizing execution of an LPA Agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation will be considered at the April 14, 2003 TID Board Meeting. The agreement calls for the TID to administer the SR747 Widening Project and specifies the funding involved. Included in the agreement is ODOT’s commitment of $1,609,000 in state funds to the project’s Right-of-Way and Construction Phases. Resolutions authorizing reimbursement of engineering costs to the TID from Liberty Township and from West Chester Township will also be considered at the April 14, 2003 TID Board Meeting. Liberty Township has authorized their share of the anticipated costs and West Chester Township will consider the issue April 8. A field review meeting with ODOT District 8 representatives is scheduled for April 10. A project scope is being developed for purposes of seeking consultant RFPs for the necessary environmental update and engineering work.

The section of SR 747 north of the Michael A. Fox Highway has become active due to development pressures at the SR 747/Princeton Road intersection. LJB Inc. has produced preliminary cross-section plans and preliminary right-of-way plans so that the parties involved can map a course of action. Staff continues to meet with the stakeholders (as recently as April 2) to try to find a way to finance the improvement. A meeting will be held with ODOT and LJB April 10 to help determine the cost of the remaining engineering work, which when completed will allow the parties to more closely identify right-of-way needs and associated costs.

TID staff continue to pursue initiating environmental analysis work for the entire Bypass 4 corridor. Based on cost estimates obtained by the TID, it appears that resources necessary to accomplish the work are available through both the City of Fairfield and the City of Hamilton-Fairfield Township JEDD, whose board has agreed to make the JEDD income stream available for this effort. A meeting of the parties involved will be scheduled shortly to conclude arrangements. The TID anticipates seeking consultant proposals shortly thereafter. This work will include the environmental analysis for the Bobmeyer Road Extension, and will also provide the necessary documentation to seek from ODOT permission to link the Extension to SR4 Bypass. As with the Liberty Interchange above, a package was developed and sent to ODOT to program the project and generate an LPA agreement for TID project administration.