To: TID Board Members
Date: December 1, 2003
Re: Director’s Report
Current Projects
The final report for the Five-Step Planning Process has been submitted to ODOT, FHWA and the TID. The next step on the Liberty Interchange project is the Collector-Distributor / Extended Cox Road Alternative Interchange Modification Study, and concurrent in-depth environmental analysis, with completion of the necessary aerial mapping. As an initial step, the consultant has provided ODOT with a proposed scope of engineering activity leading to stage one design. A meeting has been scheduled for December 9 at ODOT District 8 to review this submittal and ensure that it is consistent with ODOT’s new Project Development Process for Major Projects. ODOT’s consultant, Burgess and Niple, is proceeding with the development of certified traffic volumes for the project, which are a necessary input to the design process.
A meeting was held November 13 among all parties to ensure that any concerns were addressed prior to concluding the proposed contract with the selected consultant firm, KZF, for engineering services for this project. The contract was subsequently executed, and KZF has commenced work on the project.
At the November TID Board meeting, it was agreed that the management of this project would best be handed off to the Butler County Engineer. The TID will continue to manage the engineering contract. LJB, Inc. is proceeding with the intersection redesign plans, which are anticipated to be available at the end of the year. A meeting was held November 19 at which LJB presented updated plans to all of the funding parties and interested agencies. This stakeholder group will meet again December 3. Discussions continue with Liberty Township regarding the acquisition of the necessary right-of-way. Discussions continue with Butler County on construction funding mechanisms using the Township’s TIF revenue stream.
Staff has twice met with ODOT and the consultant team led by M-E Companies to discuss specifics of staging and timing. The advent of ODOT’s new Project Development Process has rendered null the original scope of services under which the consultant was selected. Discussions have centered on the necessary revisions in bringing the scope into alignment with ODOT’s revised process. While the overall engineering costs are likely to remain similar, the amount of engineering needed to reach a stage of design suitable for environmental clearance has increased. Efforts are underway to define the necessary deliverables and revise the cost accordingly. Agreements with the various funding sources are awaiting the revised costs and may be available for Board action at the December 8 meeting.
The Balke American study "Environmental Inventory and Preliminary Transportation Options – Fairfield Area Priority Transportation Improvements" was referred by the Board to the Hamilton-Fairfield Joint Advisory Committee for their input. No response has yet been received. Staff will continue to monitor developments.
Future Projects
No recent activity has taken place on this proposal.
No recent activity has taken place with this group.
Other Issues
We have received word that a bill is awaiting Governor Taft’s signature that names certain roadway facilities. Included in that legislation is language naming the twin structures on the Michael A. Fox Highway over Gregory Creek / Maud-Hughes Road in honor of former Butler County Engineer William R. Foster, an action arising from a request made of Representative Gary Cates by the TID Board.