Ohio Contractors tell ODOT, U.S. Transportation Secretary ... · line stop, a scales stop, a right or left turn, parallel parking, and straight line driving through diminishing clearance.

On the cover:The new Main Street Bridge in downtown Columbus features a multi-use path for cyclists and walkers.Photo by Andy Eline, Central Office.

Investing inkey freight corridor,page 4.

ODOT at theOhio State Fair, page 6.

Replacing Ohio’s tallest bridge, page 5.

July/Aug 2010

Oh i O De p A r t m e nt O f trA n s p O r t At i O n • em p l Oye e news l e t te r

continued on page 2

Ohio Contractors tell ODOT,U.S. Transportation Secretary:StimuluS Saved jobS in ohioScott Varner, Central Office

V isiting with A Diversegroup of Ohio’s construction contrac-

tors and suppliers, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood learned that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is putting even more Ohioans to work on building new highways, bridges, and multi-modal

transportation facilities across the state.

“There would be a heck of a lot of people out of work, particularly in the construc-tion industry, if it weren’t for the economic recovery plan,” LaHood said during a roundtable visit in Central Ohio with several contractors, Columbus-area Congresswoman

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood talks to one of the competitors at the National Truck Driving Championships held in Columbus.

Columbus’ Main Street Bridgemagnet for new development — story page 4

2 • trAnscript, July/Aug 2010

Stimulus saved jobscontinued from page 1

Mary Jo Kilroy and ODOT Director Molitoris.Brian Burgett, president of Kokosing Construction, told

Secretary LaHood that his company’s workforce has been cut by about 20 percent over the past few years, but the losses would be more severe – another 20 percent or so – without the federal aid.

Monthly reports from Ohio’s contractors show that 9,476 workers were paid with stimulus funds in July – the most since the start of Recovery Act project in 2009. For comparison, the same report in July 2009 showed only 1,478 construction workers on stimulus-funded jobs, earning

just a little more than $1.9 million. The same reports also show that construction workers

clocked in 414,047 hours on the job and earned nearly $13.5 million in paychecks in a single month.

These new job figures add to the thousands of jobs already created and retained by Ohio’s transportation stimulus investments. From June through September, ODOT anticipates more than $40 million in paychecks will be earned by laborers and workers

on stimulus-funded transportation projects, as the summer construction season intensifies.

“Through these Recovery Act investments in transporta-tion, we are putting more Ohioans to work and helping to ignite the state’s economic engine,” said Director Molitoris. “A true 21st Century multimodal transportation system will strengthen Ohio’s competitive position in national and global markets and revitalize our cities and towns.”

While a majority of the Recovery Act projects are improving Ohio’s roadways and bridges, new to the list of stimulus-funded projects to get underway are a $6.8 million intermodal crane replacement project at the Port of Toledo and a $3.3 million waterfront redevelopment project along Lake Erie in Lorain County.

Also in the past month, the Federal Aviation Adminis-tration added more than a quarter of a million dollars in additional funding to the state’s stimulus construction projects at four airports, bringing Ohio’s total aviation Recovery Act allocation to $24.5 million.

Emphasis on Safety for TruckersDuring his stop in Columbus, Secretary LaHood also

attended 2010 National Truck Driving Championships, sponsored by the American Trucking Association.

“I can assure you, if you were to sit through a day of these tough road tests, you would walk away with a new apprecia-tion for one of our nation’s most important professions,” said LaHood.

More than 400 professional drivers competed in skilled tests for 18-wheeled five-axle sleepers, tank trucks, twin trailers, and straight truck. An obstacle course covered real-world challenges commercial truck drivers face every day across the US. These include an alley dock, a rear stop, a front line stop, a scales stop, a right or left turn, parallel parking, and straight line driving through diminishing clearance.

The winners have to be more than highly skilled drivers. Part of their score included a written examination to test their knowledge of safety, equipment, and the trucking industry.

“You know, it is thanks to America’s truckers that we enjoy the quality of life we have today. They are out there – often far from home – navigating weather and congestion, and safely transporting the goods we need and use every day,” added LaHood.

“There would be a heck of a lot of people out of work, particularly in the construction industry, if it weren’t for the economic recovery plan.”

Photo by Scott Varner, Central Offi

ce

After meeting with Ohio’s transportation contractors, Columbus-area Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy and U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood discuss the number of construction jobs created and saved by the Recovery Act with the media.

trAnscript, July/Aug 2010 • 3

Photo by Chris Kasson, Governor Strickland’s O

ffice

Ohio State Fair, ODOT construction featuredon White House blogJohn Porcari, Deputy Secretary – US DOT

Deputy Transportation Secretary Porcari’s update was posted on the White House blog at www.whitehouse.gov.

F ew things say summer like a state fair. And,as a graduate from the nearby University of Dayton, I was thrilled to take part in today’s opening of the

157th Ohio State Fair with Governor Ted Strickland.A proud Buckeye tradition, the Ohio State Fair has

delighted locals and visitors since 1850. Last year alone, over 800,000 people turned out to take part in the livestock competitions, concerts, rides, and butter sculptures that make up a true state fair experience.

But, summertime doesn’t just mean fun times on the fairgrounds – it’s also construction season. Just last month, President Obama and Secretary LaHood were only a few miles from the Ohio Expo Center to break ground on the Recovery Act’s 10,000th road project.

While he was there, the President said: “If we’re going to rebuild America’s economy, we have to rebuild America, period.” Work crews across Ohio and across America are doing just that. The Summer of Recovery is in full swing.

For Ohio, this means more than $1.1 billion for 470 road, bridge, transit and airport projects that will move people and goods across the state more safely and efficiently than ever before.

The Obama Administration’s $8 billion Recovery Act investment in high speed rail also promises big changes for Ohio, with $400 million for 250 miles along the “3C Corridor” between Cleveland and Cincinnati.

To date, more than 30 foreign and domestic rail manufac-turers and suppliers have agreed to establish or expand their operations in states like Ohio, where there’s a willing work force and plenty of factory space. So high speed rail lines in Ohio and elsewhere will create jobs right here at home.

We also know that investing in our rural areas is important. And the Recovery Act is enabling us to make hundreds of loan guarantees to help rural businesses get back

US Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari speaks at the opening of the Ohio State Fair. He also toured ODOT’s display and then shared his visit with readers of the White House’s internet blog.

Maintenance facility seeks Energy and Environmental CertificationDavid Rose, District 10

W ith shovels in hand, a team from ODOT’sDistrict 10 office made history by breaking ground on the district’s first-ever Leadership in Energy &

Environmental Design (LEED) building. The new maintenance facility in Noble County is seeking

LEED Certification for its environmentally-friendly design.“The new Noble County facility will stand as testament to

ODOT’s continued dedication to not only be stewards of the taxpayer’s trust, but also stewards of the environmental trust,” declared District Deputy Director Karen Pawloski.

The $4.5 million maintenance facility will have several environmentally-friendly elements including skylights and a wash bay that recycles water to make brine for ice and

snow operations. Once construction is complete in May of 2011, the facility will officially receive its LEED Certification.

ODOT’s “Go with Green” initiative, which focuses on implementing environmentally-friendly operations and practices, is dedicated to achieve LEED certification on at least 50 percent of its newly constructed buildings.

The new facility in Caldwell will replace the nearly 60 year old existing maintenance garage in Noble County. The existing Noble County maintenance facility was built in 1951 for $91,844.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system.

on their feet. It has also allowed us to improve access to the Appalachian region through new highway constructions that support current and future commerce.

We are investing in broadband projects that will finally connect rural households, hospitals, and schools to the internet; purchasing buses and expand transit services in rural communities; and providing over $1 billion for renewable energy projects that put rural America on the cutting-edge of research into bio-fuels and create green jobs.

The Recovery Act has already saved or created over 117,000 jobs in Ohio. And that’s just a snapshot from one state. Similar stories are playing out across the country, and there’s much more to come.

As the Summer of Recovery continues, the Obama Administration and DOT are committed to making it a little easier for families everywhere to enjoy all of the fun this season has to offer.

Columbus celebrates new Main Street Bridge, magnet for new developmentNancy Burton, District 6

C alling it a magnet for new developmentand new visitors to downtown, Columbus city leaders celebrated the opening of the community’s new Main

Street Bridge – a $60 million partnership between ODOT and the city that is already seeing a return on investment.

“The Main Street Bridge in Columbus does more than connect two sides of a river. This project will serve as a magnet for new jobs and economic growth in one of our state’s vital urban centers,” said ODOT Director Molitoris, who joined Columbus’ mayor and neighborhood leaders for the bridge’s dedication in July.

“The new Main Street Bridge reconnects Franklinton with downtown, transporting residents in their cars, on their bikes, or on foot,” said Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman. “This is also a catalyst for residential and economic develop-ment for Franklinton and for the RiverSouth area.”

The new bridge, which features an inclined arch on the bridge’s north side, meets the needs of motorists with three lanes of traffic. It also will accommodate the growing number of pedestrians and bicyclists traveling into downtown, with an 18-foot, 7-inch wide multi-use path on the bridge’s north side.

“I am so excited about the Main Street Bridge being

finished. This is wonderful news,” said Franklinton Area Commission Chair Carol Stewart. “The bridge being two-way opens our neighborhood back up to downtown the way it was in the past.”

“This is a great day for Franklinton,” said Franklinton Development Association Executive Director Jim Sweeney. “This bridge is obviously an extremely important link between our community and downtown. Perhaps more importantly it’s a symbol of the investment yet to come.”

The bridge’s roadway and multi-use path also will be used for many of the festivals in downtown Columbus. The Main Street bridge project included improvements to a portion of the downtown’s West Bank Park on the west side of the Scioto River.

“The Main Street Bridge encompasses all elements of a complete street,” said Chester R. Jourdan, Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. “Tradition-ally river crossings have proven to be barriers to bicyclists and pedestrians. This bridge will allow all users to safely cross the Scioto River.”

The Main Street bridge project was funded through a federal, state and City of Columbus partnership. ODOT managed the project’s construction.

continued on page 5

4 • trAnscript, July/Aug 2010

Improvements on I-71 part of decade-long investment in key Ohio freight corridorBrian Stacy, District 3

W ith a formal ribbon cutting ceremonyalong the highway in Medina County, Team ODOT has completed its latest, and largest,

investments to improve Interstate 71 – part of a decade’s worth of investment in one of the state’s key freight and

economic corridors.On August 4, District 3 formally

recognized completion of a decade worth of projects along its Interstate 71 corridor with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Interstate 76 and U.S. Route 224 interchange in Medina County. U.S. Congressman John Boccieri and other state and local officials joined Team ODOT for the event.

At more than $77.3 million, this project is the largest in the district’s history and completes the process to widen

I-71 to three lanes from Cuyahoga County to Morrow County. This final project also included some important safety improvements to the I-76/U.S. 224 interchange.

As the state’s third most-used freight corridor in terms of volume, tonnage, and vehicle miles traveled, I-71 has been a focal point of improve-ment for ODOT over the past decade.

Since 2000, ODOT has invested more than $868 million into improve-ments along the I-71 corridor, with 136 different projects stretching from Cleveland through Columbus and into Cincinnati.

Over the next four years, ODOT has scheduled another 43 projects – investing an additional $678 million – including replacement of the Jeremiah

trAnscript, July/Aug 2010 • 5

Replacing Ohio’s tallest bridge means jobs in southwest OhioSharon Smigelski, District 8

I n addition to being the tallest bridge in Ohio,the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge on Interstate 71 in Warren County carries more than $160 billion in goods and

commerce annually cross. That’s one of the reasons ODOT is prioritizing the

replacement of this vital link, breaking ground on the $88.1 million project in August.

“This bridge is Ohio’s tallest and a half mile long overlooking the National and State Scenic Little Miami River,” said District 8 Deputy Director Hans Jindal “This project transforms this region as it is the connector between the communities and people.”

Jindal was joined by Director Jolene M. Molitoris – with state Representatives Ron Maag and Dale Mallory; the Federal Highway Administration’s Laurie Leffler; OKI’s Robert Koehler; county commissioners Dave Young and Todd Portune; county engineers Jeff Linkous, Neil Tunison and William Brayshaw; and Wilmington Mayor David Raizk – for the ceremonial turning of shovels to start the project.

“This is an investment for the jobs and businesses that rely on this vital economic link – carrying people and freight between central and southwest Ohio,” said Director Molitoris. “When you see those orange barrels, know that it means that Ohioans are working.”

Raizk concurred: “When I see orange barrels, I see jobs that are desperately needed in Southwest Ohio,” he said.

The new bridge design is a cast-in-place post-tensioned segmental concrete box girder bridge, with a 440-foot main span, using the balanced cantilever method.

With completion set for Summer 2015, the first phase of construction includes preparatory work beneath the existing twin steel deck-truss bridges. The second phase will be construction of the southbound structure between the existing north and southbound spans.

When that is done, crews will move northbound traffic onto the new structure, followed by demolition of the existing northbound bridge and construction of a new northbound structure in its place. By 2015, traffic will be moved into its final configuration, with demolition of existing southbound bridge to follow.

Each structure will be marked for two lanes and shoulders, but the new width will allow for future reconfigu-ration for three lanes for any future widening of I-71.

Morrow Bridge just north of Cincinnati and a major upgrade of the I-71 interchange in downtown Columbus.

This project in Medina County, constructed by the Ruhlin Company of Sharon Center, is the final I-71 widening project in District 3 and completes a process begun in 2000 when a section of I-71 was widened near Cuyahoga County. Over the last decade, ten projects for a combined $475.1 million have been completed to widen the interstate in Medina, Wayne, Ashland, and Richland Counties.

The average daily traffic volumes on I-71 north and south of I-76/U.S. 224 are 39,000-plus vehicles and 45,000-plus vehicles, respectively.

“Adding capacity to I-71 is one way to improve safety and decrease congestion, but this project means so much more than that to the region,” said District 3 Deputy Director John Hart. “Motorists encountered dangerous weaves, merges, and bottlenecks prior to construction. The new interchange provides for smooth flowing ramps in every direction without conflict.”

In addition to widening I-71 by adding a third lane in each direction, this project has improved safety with the construction of new or modified ramps at the I-76/U.S. 224 interchange. These additions have improved safety and mobility at the interchange for motorists using it to reach Akron, Cleveland, and Columbus.

I-71 improvements investment in key corridorcontinued from page 4

At 239 feet above the Little Miami River Gorge, the bridge is a tribute to Jeremiah Morrow, Ohio’s ninth Governor and first U.S. Congressman following Ohio’s admittance to the Union.

A rendering of the new Jeremiah Morrow Bridge.

TranscripT, July/aug 2010 • 76 • TranscripT, July/aug 2010

As part of this year’s Ohio State Fair, ODOTasked Ohio’s youngest drivers to pledge to not text while behind the wheel.

At ODOT’s fair display, visitors age 16 to 25 were asked if they if they text while driving. Thousands responded with surprising results.

“I was surprised how many people admitted that they have texted while driving,” said Julie Walcoff, Safe Routes to School program manager and fair volunteer. “This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and change behaviors of those young people who do.”

Convincing young drivers to put down their cell phones has become a national safety effort, led by the U.S. Depart-ment of Transportation.

Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that in 2008, more than 20 percent of all crashes involved some type of distraction. Nearly 6,000 people died and more than half a million were injured in

these distracted-driver crashesAccording to those same studies, as much as 71 percent of

drivers admit to texting or talking on the phone while behind the wheel.

“One in four teen drivers say they’ve texted behind the wheel, and that’s a trend we’ve got to confront head on,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, taking your eyes off of the road for two seconds doubles your crash risk. It also only takes two seconds to turn off the phone before getting behind the wheel. US DOT and AAA are sponsoring a National Two-Second Turnoff Day on September 17 to remind teens to take two seconds and turn off the phone while driving.

For Ohio’s young drivers, in exchange for taking the pledge, drivers received an orange “Slow for the Cone Zone” wristband. They also shared their email addresses to get further safety updates from ODOT.

Joel Hunt, Central Office

O DOT’s orange barrels – a symbol of thestate’s summer construction season – joined the butter cow and the prize-winning animals at the

2010 Ohio State Fair.Commemorating ODOT’s historic $2 billion invest-

ment in construction projects in 2010, ODOT’s Ohio State Fair display this year resembled a work zone, complete with heavy equipment, orange barrels, and a changeable message board.

There was also a 30- by 18-foot mural showing the many modes of transportation that keep Ohioans connected today and in the future.

“As we mark the historic $2 billion end of state fiscal year 2010, Team ODOT is now focused on a second $2 billion investment for state fiscal year 2011,” said Scott Varner, deputy director of the Division of Communications, whose team oversees the fair display. “We think this accomplish-

ment is something Ohioans should be proud of.”Visitors to ODOT’s fair display also took a “Go

Ohio Transportation IQ Quiz.” Do you know what

percentage of the U.S. population is within just a day’s drive of Ohio’s borders? The answer was part of a special exhibit on ODOT’s statewide multimodal transportation futures plan.

Also popular was a six-foot-tall construction-worker sign with an oval cutout that visitors could put their faces into and have their picture taken.

Nearly 50 ODOT ambassadors from Central Office and districts 5 and 6 staffed the display, distributing publications and answering questions from fairgoers.

Rick Hentz, transportation technician specialist in the Office of Aerial Engineering, has volunteered for the fair for the past 12 years. “I enjoy getting out and meeting people,” Hentz said. “Some of the same questions come up every year, but there are always plenty of new ones.”

Since 1912, ODOT has also been a staple at the fair, highlighting the state’s transportation progression and efforts to make travel safer and more environmentally-friendly.

It is estimated between 500 and 800 fairgoers visit ODOT’s display every day.

Ohio State Fair display celebrates historic construction investments

ODOT asks young drivers to make a pledgeJoel Hunt, Central Office

Ohio State Fair display celebrates historic construction investments

Ohio Transportation Review Advisory CouncilOhio Cities propose majornew transportation projects of the future

8 • TranscripT, July/aug 2010

Photo by Theresa Pollick, District 2

H aving asked cities and local communitiesacross the state to propose major new transportation projects for Ohio’s future, the Ohio Transportation

Review Advisory Council has begun the process of reviewing more than five dozen projects – ranging from roadways and bridges to transit, rail, and water port investments – each seeking new investment and new development by ODOT.

“From new funding for projects ready for construction to new projects that will be examined and designed for the future, we are looking for those transportation investments that best reflect Governor Strickland’s focus on creating jobs and positioning Ohio to compete in a global economy,” said ODOT Director Molitoris.

Chaired by ODOT’s director, the nine-member TRAC assists in developing a project selection process for ODOT’s largest multimodal investments.

Over the past two months, applications for new construc-tion investments as well as funding for new planning, design, and right-of-way work have been submitted by local municipalities, county commissioners and county engineers, metropolitan planning organizations and port authorities.

A total of 65 projects were submitted for TRAC consid-eration, with 28 Tier I projects and 27 Tier II projects being proposed.

ODOT’s Office of Systems Planning and Program Management is evaluating each application.

Starting in September and running through October, the TRAC will hold a series of four regional public hearings around the state to meet with project sponsors.

ODOT and members of the TRAC will review and score the applications based on criteria which prioritizes projects using a benefit/cost ratio, added to measure the full public benefit of the project, not just traffic and congestion. An enhanced economic development category also scores whether projects reclaim brownfields or improve access to job centers and job-ready sites. The new scoring also emphasizes the need for land use planning and recognizes communities who partner with state on investments in transportation.

“Every major new road, bridge, rail, transit, airport, bikeway, pedestrian or port project that comes to our depart-ment will be judged as an economic development and job growth opportunity,” added Director Molitoris.

Central Toledo ‘Mega Project’ continuesTheresa Pollick, District 2

N orthwest Ohio’s long-awaited Interstate 75/475 interchange upgrade is under

way. On July 30, ODOT’s District 2

team broke ground on the $63.9 million project, marking years of planning and a dedicated partnership between ODOT, the City of Toledo, local

Taking part in the groundbreaking for the I-75/475 interchange upgrade were District 2 Deputy Director David Dysard (left), Toledo Councilman Tom Waniewski, Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, and Toledo Councilman George Sarantou.

businesses and community members.Built in the late 1960s, the current

I-75/475 interchange outgrew its design. The new project will modernize this system’s interchange in Toledo, making the Central Toledo area more easily accessible.

The construction also includes the rebuilding of the Douglas Road ramps and a new interchange at ProMedica Parkway.

The I-75/475 interchange upgrade is part of ODOT’s I-75/475 “Mega Project” - three major projects designed to make improvements to the two interstates and the systems interchange.

Phase 1 – the “Three Bridge Project” – removed piers and rebuilt the Central Avenue, Douglas Road and Auburn Avenue bridges to allow for the widening of the interstates below them. That project is complete.

Phase 2, is the interchange upgrade now underway. Phase 3 is the widening of I-75, which is currently waiting TRAC funding to move forward in the design process.

The I-75/I475 interchange upgrade will continue through the fall of 2013.

TRAC

TranscripT, July/aug 2010 • 9

On time, on budget in Tuscarawas CountyBecky Giauque, District 11

Photo by Eric Calvert, District 11

T wo major projects inTuscarawas County are near completion – coming in on time

and on budget.Construction of a new, $11.5 million

interchange off Interstate 77 at County Road 80 in Dover – intended to help relieve congestion at the existing I-77 interchanges in Dover and Strasburg – is about 70 percent complete to date and on schedule for a December completion.

As of July 31, 2010, there have been 29,946 labor hours reported on the project since it began in mid-September 2009, with an average monthly workforce of 56 people. During the month of July alone, there were 15 contractors working with a total of 94 employees, recording 5,377 work hours.

This new interchange will provide improved access to the rapidly developing area in north Dover and better access for commercial traffic due to current truck traffic restrictions. In addition to a new diamond interchange, the project included the reconstruction of 0.7 mile of CR 80, the construc-tion of a new overpass over I-77, the replacement of a bridge over the Sugar Creek, and the relocation of a portion of Progress Street.

Also nearing completion is the

$3.5 million replacement of a 1906 bridge over the Tuscarawas River in the city of Dover with a new multi-span, multi-beam bridge with sidewalks and pedestrian railing.

Work is 75 percent complete to date and on track for a November reopening.

As of July 31, 2010, there has been 10,526 labor hours reported on the project with an average monthly workforce of 14 people. During the month of July alone, there were three contractors working with a total of 28 employees, logging 2,658 work hours.

Working women at heart of renovations in Clark County garageMandi Abner, District 7

Photo by Mandi A

bner, District 7 M any of the recent updates to ODOT’s 88

county garages have centered on efficiencies: light-saving fixtures to save energy, new heating systems

to lower costs.The recently completed update to the Clark County

Garage was also centered on equality.In June, crews completed a $141,000 project to upgrade

the women’s restroom at the Springfield garage. Prior to this, there was only a one-person women’s facility that had the lockers inside a single room.

Now, the four women currently working out of this garage on a regular basis have a 2-stall, 2-sink restroom with a separate locker room and 6 more lockers than previously.

Director Molitoris wields the giant scissors to snip the ribbon on renovations at the Clark County Garage. The Director is joined by Brandy Shaw, Tricia Funderburgh and Becky Bayless from the Clark County Garage, Equipment and Facilities Deputy Director Gary Wilhelm, Matt Price of MXP Construction, and District 7 Deputy Director Rex Dickey.

10 • TranscripT, July/aug 2010

Input sought from northeast Ohio residents, businesses on new Innerbelt bridge proposalsAmanda Lee, District 12

A fter months ofengineering and design work, three

teams competing to build Cleveland’s new Interstate 90 Innerbelt Bridge delivered their technical and price proposals – part of ODOT’s unique design-build effort to build the state’s largest single transportation investment.

Through the month of August, engineers and technical experts from ODOT and the City of Cleveland are carrying out a thorough process of evaluating each of the three technical proposals. At the same time, ODOT is asking citizens and businesses in Northeast Ohio to weigh in on the look of the new structure.

Conceptual day and night render-ings of the proposed structure were made public online so that northeast Ohio residents could comment on their preferred aesthetic elements. In the first three days, ODOT received more than 750 responses.

“When I travel, what catches my eye is the landmark in that particular city. Cleveland is rich with history, but we are starting over. The newer contempo-rary bridge would stand out for miles,” replied one northeast Ohio resident.

“… that bridge design completely romanticizes and accentuates the city’s natural and timeless beauty. It brings with it a vibrancy that makes Cleveland that much more desirable aesthetically,” said another.

In order to complete construc-tion on this project faster, ODOT is using a unique value based design-build process, in which the design

and construction of the project are combined in a single contract – with the award going to a team of designers and construction contractors.

The department and the city laid out selection criteria for choosing the final design-build team, including:

sustainability and green initiatives, bridge aesthetics, design management, proposed design, construc-tion management, quality management, schedule, community relations, on-the-job training and cost.

“ODOT personnel and City of Cleveland officials are excited to be moving forward with this design-build project,” said District 12 Deputy Director Bonita G. Teeuwen. “The teams

that submitted renderings showed a high level of design, construction and management experience, so their proposals should be very competitive.”

After the technical proposals have been evaluated, the price proposals will be opened. The project will be awarded to the team which provides the “best value” based on a combina-tion of the technical and the price proposals.

The three teams chosen in March 2010 to prepare proposals are Lane/Brayman, A Joint Venture, LLC with designer FIGG; Trumbull-Great Lakes-Ruhlin, A Joint Venture (TGR) with designer Parsons Transportation Group Inc.; and Walsh Construction with designer HNTB Ohio Inc.

Estimated at $450 million, the contract on the I-90 Innerbelt Bridge will be awarded this September. Construction is expected to begin in 2011 and the entire project is expected to be complete by June 2014.

“ . . . that bridge design [ . . . ] brings with it a vibrancy that makes Cleveland that much more desirable aesthetically.”

Bridge Proposal ‘A’

Bridge Proposal ‘B’ Bridge Proposal ‘C’

TranscripT, July/aug 2010 • 11

Anniversary of Historic Disability Act highlighted by new investment Kate Stickle, District 5

C oinciding with the anniversary of thehistoric Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ODOT’s District 5 team celebrated the opening of its new

accessible entrance its district headquarters in Jacksontown.Wider sidewalks and ramps will better serve the public

and ODOT employees, said District 5 Deputy Director Karl Newman, who led the efforts to have the outdated entrance demolished, reconstructed and improved.

The improvement at the District 5 Headquarters is one of the many ODOT efforts across the state to improve facilities to meet ADA accessibility.

Over a two-year period, ODOT has been undertaking a $9.5 million investment at 44 of its highway rest areas to improve ADA accessibility and create greener facilities.

“The American Disabilities Act is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation adopted to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities,” said Kim Watson, ODOT’s Internal Civil Rights Manager, Title VI and ADA/504 Coordinator.

Signed on July 26, 1990, the ADA represents landmark federal legislation to open up services and employment opportunities to the estimated 43 million Americans with disabilities.

Congress recognized that disabled Americans were at an enormous disadvantage. They were often discriminated against in their access to public institutions, educational opportunities, and the ability to find employment. When the ADA was signed into law, it extended civil rights protections to individuals with physical or mental disabilities in a variety

of employment areas, including public transportation and state and local government services, public accommodations, telecommunications.

Celebrating a new and better-accessible entrance to the district office are Marc Guthrie, District 5 Business and Human Resources administrator (left); Shelba Bradley, Central Office Division of Equal Opportunity; Rick Williams, District 5 Highway Management administrator; Kim Watson, Central Office internal civil rights manager; Trenne Pruitt, Central Office Division of Equal Opportunity; Karl Newman, District 5 deputy director; Sarah Johnson, Central Office Division of Equal Opportunity.

Intermodal yard upgrade gets underway in ToledoStu Nicholson, ORDC

T oledo’s role as a freight distribution pointfor the Midwest soon will be strengthened, as an nearly $12.3 million project to expand capacity

and upgrade Norfolk Southern’s Airline Yard is set to get underway with the official notice to proceed from the Ohio Rail Development Commission.

ODOT directed $6.5 million in funding from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to cover nearly half of the project’s cost – the remainder will come from ORDC, the Ohio Department of Development and NS.

Airline Yard already handles intermodal traffic, arriving and departing on NS’s fast double stack intermodal trains, but the freight carrier has not been able to operate at its peak capabilities because of heavy rail traffic moving through the yard, which sits on one of the heaviest-traveled rail freight corridors in the U.S.

The yard also sits on a major junction for many trains traveling to and from Detroit. Because of the congestion, many intermodal trains bypass Toledo for other intermodal facilities in the Midwest.

“This project streamlines our intermodal operations in Toledo and improves the efficiency of Airline Yard,” said Bob Huffman, NS vice president intermodal operations. “With the

anticipated demand to move freight by rail nearly doubling over the next 20 years, these public-private partnerships benefit our nation’s transportation infrastructure.”

This project also elevates Toledo and Northwest Ohio’s strategic connection to national and international markets.

“Toledo is ideally situated on Lake Erie, on the Maumee River and at the junction of I-75 and the Ohio Turnpike,” says Toledo Mayor Mike Bell. “We have the land, an able workforce, reasonable rates and an accommodating transit flow to help move product through the region and into the marketplace.”

“With the $2.75 million Logistics and Distribution Loan made possible through the Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Plan, this project will assist the Toledo area and Ohio’s freight industry,” said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “With Ohio’s prime location in the Midwest, Norfolk Southern’s Airline Yard will be an asset to businesses in the area, create jobs, and improve the state’s overall economy.”

New track capacity, signals and new equipment and machinery are among the upgrades that will be included in the project. The ORDC notice to proceed allows NS to move ahead with the purchase of construction materials.

Photo by Kate Stickle, District 5

Photo by Bruce Hull, Central Office12 • TranscripT, July/aug 2010

ODOT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER and PROVIDER OF SERVICES

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION1980 W. BROAD ST. • COLUMBUS, OHIO 43223 Phone: 614-466-7170 • Fax: 614-644-8662

Visit our Web site at: www.dot.state.oh.usTravel information at: www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Ted Strickland, Governor Jolene M. Molitoris, Director

DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONSScott Varner, Deputy DirectorMichael Stout, Design Editor

ODOT at the Fair – see story, page 6ODOT at the Fair – see story, page 6