A stakeholders meeting was held July 22, at which the results of the alternative ranking process were presented. Based on the criterion regarding the commitment to a non-signalized interchange implicit in the original SR129/I-75 design, and recognizing that suitable free-flow alternatives existed, the stakeholders agreed to eliminate the six interchange alternatives requiring signalization. Remaining are the no-build, the no-build plus TSM, the local road improvements, the Tylersville Interchange improvements, the SR129/I-75 System Interchange, and the SR129/Collector-Distributor Interchange. Each of the interchange options includes the local road improvements, and each interchange option can be paired with either the Butler-Warren Road improvement or the Cox Road extension, making ten alternatives total. It was also decided to reinstate the "funding availability" criterion for the final round of evaluation. The stakeholders will meet again August 14 to select the final recommended alternative for presentation to the general public shortly thereafter. Presuming public concurrence, the final report on the five-step planning process including the recommended alternative will be submitted to ODOT and FHWA.

The environmental sub-consultant, CH2M Hill, is working concurrently on items that will be required in subsequent submissions to ODOT once the recommended alternative is approved. To date, the Hazmat, Ecological, and Cultural Resources inventories have been completed. The aerial survey is complete. Mapping and further environmental work will continue once the recommended alternative is identified and the impact area can be refined.

ODOT’s I-75 Corridor Technical Coordinating Group continues activity to ensure that travel demand projections arising from each of the I-75 interchanges under study or design are consistent. Although the proposal for an interchange at Greentree Road is dormant, proposed modifications to the SR 129, SR63 and SR122 interchanges have inter-related effects that need to be accommodated. Data submissions to ODOT for this purpose have been completed, and ODOT comments will be provided at a meeting August 8 at District 8.

The scope of services for engineering for this project was developed and reviewed with ODOT District 8. The TID website posted the scope June 26 and required interested consultants to deliver cost proposals by July 25. Ten firms responded (in no particular order: Jordan Jones & Goulding, LJB, Bayer Becker, Balke American, KZF, Palmer, Burgess & Niple, CDS, M-E, and Edwards & Kelcey). The bid review committee consisting of Jim Blount, Dave Gully and Barry Tiffany will meet August 6 with the intention of making a recommendation to the TID Board at the August 11 meeting.

Agreement has been reached among Liberty Township, the affected developers, the Butler County Department of Environmental Services, and the Butler County Engineer for the provision of the necessary funding to allow the TID to proceed with a contract amendment with LJB, Inc. to conclude the design for the SR 747/Princeton Road intersection. The individual agreement with the Butler County DES that was approved at the last TID Board meeting has been modified per DES request. The agreement will now be executed between the TID and the Butler County Commissioners, acting on behalf of the BCDES. Authorization for execution of the replacement agreement is on the TID Board’s August 11 agenda. Discussions continue with the Butler County Engineer regarding potential partnering with the TID so that the Engineer could serve as the engineer-of-record for certification purposes as well as utility relocation issues. LJB, Inc. is proceeding with the intersection redesign plans, which are anticipated to be available at the end of the year. Discussions have begun with Liberty Township regarding the acquisition of the necessary right-of-way.

The scope of Services for Environmental Analysis has been prepared and reviewed with ODOT. A meeting among the involved agencies will be held August 5 in order to resolve final details prior to advertising for cost proposals. 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.