Economic Success Outpacing Life of Interchange
The I-270/US 33 interchange is a critical Franklin/Union County gateway, and must be updated to keep pace with the area's vibrant economy. Designed in the 1960s when Dublin was a rural community, this interchange is now compromising the safe and efficient movement of people and freight. That's why Dublin, Marysville and Union County are collaborating with the Ohio Department of Transportation to rebuild and improve this significant interchange.
Job Creation & Retention
In 1966, when Dublin was home to 670 residents, state and federal funds built the I-270/US33 interchange. Today, Dublin is home to more than 40,000 residents and 66,500 employees; 27,700 of those Dublin employees work within the immediately impacted area of this interchange. This 40-year-old interchange has yielded $1.2 billion in private investments. Upgrading one of Ohio's highly successful infrastructure projects is a re-investment in the retention, expansion, attraction and creation of jobs. Examples include:
Iconic Legacy Companies & Institutions
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Ashland Inc.
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Cardinal Health
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OCLC
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Nationwide Insurance
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OhioHealth/Dublin Methodist Hospital
World Class Events
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the Memorial Tournament
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2013 President's Cup
Entrepreneurial Start-up Businesses
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More than 1,000 acres available for development
Re-investment in this interchange will have economic impact beyond Dublin's borders. Marysville and Union County businesses have 19,500 employees who live and work near the interchange; 3,000 Honda, 3,000 Industrial Parkway and 800 Scotts Miracle-Gro employees use this interchange daily. At build out (20 years), 32,000 new jobs are anticipated in the interchange area, spurring an additional $2.3 billion in future private investment.
Regional Support
Dublin's partnerships with jurisdictions such as Union County, agencies such as the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and businesses such as Cardinal Health and Honda, have resulted in investments in infrastructure that support area businesses and residents and anchor the region's strong economic base. This interchange is on the list of preferred projects endorsed by:
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The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
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The Columbus Chamber of Commerce
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The Columbus Regional Federal Funds Group
Dublin has received more than 100 letters in support of the project from businesses, organizations, regional elected officials, government agencies and citizens including:
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Cardinal Health
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Honda of America
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Scotts Miracle-Gro
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Ashland Inc.
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OhioHealth / Dublin Methodist Hospital
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the Memorial Tournament
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2013 Presidents Cup
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Union County Commissioners
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City of Marysville
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Washington Township
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Union County Chamber of Commerce
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Dublin Chamber of Commerce
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Congressman Patrick Tiberi
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Congressman Steve Stivers
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State Senator Jim Hughes
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State Representative John Patrick Carney
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State Representative Cheryl Grossman
Traffic Congestion and Safety Concerns at I-270 and US 33
Safety - This interchange is ranked in the top 20 locations in the state for freeway crashes and exceeds its design capacity by more than 50 percent. Keeping vehicles moving more efficiently will reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities; prevent freeway system failure; eliminate back-ups and minimize accelerating and braking.
Goods Movement/Improved Air Quality - More than 25,000 trucks move freight to and through this interchange daily; trucks consume over 22,500 gallons of diesel fuel and emit over 250 tons of CO2, 4 tons of NOx, and 200 pounds of particulate matter for every 5 minutes stuck in traffic.
Fiscal Stewardship - Congestion creates an annual delay of 115 hours per traveler per year at a cost of $1.4 billion annually in Ohio, or $600 to $1,600 per person in lost time, commerce and fuel. This jeopardizes "just in time" delivery methods used by Honda and other area manufacturers.
Related Infrastructure Efficiency - Replacing the northbound-to-westbound ramp of the I-270/US 33 interchange is the first step of several transportation improvements that will keep people and goods moving more efficiently. Back-ups at US 33/SR 161 can be adequately addressed only after the northbound-to-westbound ramp is fixed; the widening of US 33, too, can move forward only once this chokepoint is relieved.
Funding For Phase 1 of Project
Project Phase |
Funding (In Millions) |
| Planning/Environmental Analysis | $3 Million |
| Detailed Design | $4 Million |
| Right or Way Purchase/Utility Relocation | $5 Million |
| Construction | $33 Million |
| Total | $45 Million |
Timeline
2009
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Submitted Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) request for $9.6 million
2010
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Request from FY 11 federal appropriations for
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$2 million for environmental and design
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Awarded $2 million from TRAC
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City of Dublin commited $500,000
2011
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Begin preliminary engineering and environmental impact studies
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Monitor federal transportation reauthorization bill as a source for construction dollars ($35 million)
2012
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Complete preliminary engineering and environmental impact studies
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Begin final design/detailed construction drawings
2014
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Begin right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation
2015
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Begin construction
2017
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Complete construction
I-270 and U.S. 33 Interchange Improvements
In a recent study by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation, the I-270 and U.S. 33 interchange was identified as the worst performing I-270 freeway interchange between Sawmill Road and Interstate 70. The freeway study concluded that I-270/U.S. 33 will have wide-spread congestion and system failure by 2030, seriously jeopardizing opportunities for sustained and future economic growth.
The City of Dublin has committed its local match of $2.4 million to fund the initial planning studies and the Phase I construction drawings through its Five-year Capital Improvements Program. Dublin also is seeking available state and federal funding to ensure that the planning for these needed improvements to this critical interchange continues to move forward. Improvements to this interchange will have direct benefits to residents and area businesses.
