Beyond buses, COTA levy would fund trails, bike paths, sidewalks projects. See where.
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Central Ohio leaders have unveiled 150 miles worth of sidewalks, trails, bike paths and other projects that could be built across Franklin County by 2030 if voters approve a sales tax levy this fall.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission announced 83 proposed projects Thursday as part of the LinkUs initiative, which a Central Ohio Transit Authority levy would fund.
"This levy isn't just about more COTA service. If approved by the voters this November, the COTA levy will build sidewalks, bikeways and trails that will make all of our neighborhoods safer, more connected, more bikeable, more walkable," Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said.
If the COTA ballot measure passes, 27.5% of COTA sales tax income, or about $50 million annually, would go to transit-supportive infrastructure projects like those announced Thursday. These are just the initial projects planned for the next five years as the permanent tax levy would fund more down the line, said Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Executive Director William Murdock.
We all know our region is growing, Murdock said, and it's urgent to plan for sustainable growth that provides transportation for everybody. Murdock also told The Dispatch the Columbus region is behind other cities in investing in transportation and infrastructure like this.
“These investments will change everyone's daily life for the better," Murdock said.
Residents can view all the proposed projects on an interactive map at morpc.org/moresidewalks and submit feedback over the next 30 days.
While 23 projects are within the city of Columbus, the rest are in the suburbs and townships around Franklin County.
"The region impact of LinkUs extends far beyond downtown Columbus and far beyond the city of Columbus," said Gahanna Mayor Laurie Jadwin.
To drive that point home, the announcement was made at the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse, close to the Big Walnut Trail, which currently ends at Rocky Fork Drive and Morrison Road. One of the 83 proposals would fill a gap in the trail and connect Gahanna's northern border to its southern border. This would enable people to safely walk across I-270 and Hamilton Road.
Ginther highlighted a few Columbus projects at the event, including a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists and sidewalk improvements planned for McNaughten Road on the Far East Side.
"Our neighbors there had been asking for more sidewalks to keep students and families safe," Ginther said.
Ginther also pointed to funding for the Linden Green Line, a plan to construct a shared-use path along seven miles of an abandoned railroad corridor.
One of the most expensive proposed plans would spend more than $20 million to build a shared-use path called the Capital Trail along Broad Street from the Scioto River to Alum Creek.
Many of the projects are planned around COTA's bus lines and proposed bus rapid transit lines that the levy would fund.
How much would the LinkUs sales tax cost?
COTA President and CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler said Thursday COTA is asking to raise sales tax by less than a penny on the dollar.
If approved, the COTA levy would raise sales taxes in Franklin County (and the slivers of the COTA service area outside Franklin County) by half a percent, to bring COTA's total share of sales tax to 1%. That would bring Franklin County’s total sales tax to 8%.
The ballot measure is projected to bring in an estimated $2 billion in new revenue for COTA by 2030 and more than $8 billion by 2050. COTA plans to leverage this revenue to obtain federal grants for at least $800 million that require a local match.
How to submit feedback on proposed projects
Residents can submit their feedback on the 83 proposed projects during a 30-day public comment period ending Aug. 23 by going to morpc.org/moresidewalks or by email to tsi@morpc.org or in writing to Shelby Oldroyd, Re: Transit Supportive Infrastructure, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus area transit levy would fund trails, bike paths, sidewalks
