Ohio Planning Conference ~ Transportation Connects Ohio Session 2B: Economic Development Through Stakeholder Collaboration- The Pickaway County East- West

Ohio Planning Conference ~ Transportation Connects Ohio

Session 2B: Economic Development Through Stakeholder Collaboration- The Pickaway County East-West Connector/ Tiger Grant

Ohio Planning Conference ~ Transportation Connects Ohio


Session Presenters:• Jeff Zimmerman/ Director, Columbus Region Logistics Council, Columbus

Chamber of Commerce• Ben Ritchey/ President, Acadia Group LLC• Dan Haake/ Project Manager- Freight Planner, CDM Smith• Thom Slack/ Planning & Engineering Administrator, Ohio Department of

Transportation• Ryan Scribner/ Executive Director, Pickaway Progress Partnership


Presentation Objective• Regional collaboration as a means to

– strengthen economic opportunity/ develop economic competitiveness

– Develop regional cross-sector ownership– Identify a winning strategy

• Outcomes/ Regional Impact – attract federal/ state funding support– Job creation/ Infrastructure investment– Sustainable economic development

Central OhioStrategic Location, Global Reachmakes Logistics a significanteconomic sector

The Pickaway East West Connector aka

Rickenbacker Intermodal Connector 2012 USDOT TIGER Grant applicationProject BenefitsThis project will be the last segment of a vast and impressive partnership between an array of stakeholders including:• Columbus Regional Airport Authority• Ohio Department of Development/ JobsOhio• Norfolk Southern Railroad• Ohio Department of Transportation• Franklin County Board of Commissioners• CSX Railroadleveraging over $490 million in public and private investments. Once complete, the project will create an efficient freight corridor between regional, national and global markets. It will maintain the roads in a state of good repair while allowing Rickenbacker Airport and Intermodal Facility to handle the increased commercial traffic resulting from the Heartland Corridor and the Panama Canal expansion

The Pickaway East West Connector aka

Rickenbacker Intermodal Connector Project Benefits• alleviate existing commercial traffic congestion • create a road network to handle increased freight handling at Rickenbacker for

the next 20-30 years. • create additional opportunities for industrial growth in Region

opens opportunities to create 12,000 new jobs and add $15.1 billion dollars into Ohio’s economy over the next 30 years

“This is something important. Something that’s going to make a difference in the lives of hundreds – if not hundreds of thousands – of Americans. Whole industries and jobs are created in this way. Not just the construction and the engineering jobs needed to build this road. But also jobs for the truckers that will drive this road… and the manufacturers who’ll make the goods they carry… and the retailers who’ll sell them.”- Anthony Foxx/ U.S. Sec’y. of Transportation- excerpt of remarks at the Pickaway East-West Connector Invest in America, Commit to the Future bus tour, April 2014

Rickenbacker Inland Port roadway projects- over $92 million in transportation improvements: Improve traffic flow/ Create greater efficiency

Phase 1AWiden and re-align Duvall Road to a total of three lanes from US 23 to Ashville Pike Build a bridge over the railroad on Duvall Road

Phase 1B will widen Ashville Pike from Duvall Road to Rickenbacker Parkway.

Future Phases

Phase 2 will widen Duvall Road and Ashville Pike from three lanes to five lanes. This project needs to be designed and construction is expected to begin in 2015.

Phase 3 will reconstruct a new interchange at US 23 and SR 762.

Pickaway East West Connector/ Rickenbacker Intermodal Connector


Ben Ritchey/ President, Acadia Group, LLC

The Big Picture- Opportunity driving Strategy/ Private Sector Collaboration….

Private Sector Collaboration

• Discussion Points– Focus: Private Sector Involvement in Infrastructure Projects

– Approach: Columbus Region Logistics Council (CRLC) Approach to Infrastructure Projects


• CRLC Organization– Regional Logistics Firms– Industry led Advisory Board– Focus on Logistics Economic Development– Part of Columbus Chamber/2020– Started: 1970- Inland Port Commission, 2008-CRLC– CRLC has 4 committees: Infrastructure, Business Environment, Technology, Workforce


• CRLC Infrastructure Approach– Gathers Freight Regional Players (public, private)– CRLC does not own/operate, only collaborates– Gathers specific infrastructure needs (i.e., Rickenbacker missed deals, congestion)

– Targets funding opportunities (i.e., Ohio Stimulus, TIGER)

– Organizes CRLC interested members to support– Collects private sector funding, when needed


• How in Involve Private Sector in Projects– Focus on specific projects of interest to CRLC members

– Match project needs to funding opportunities– Determine CRLC role(s)

• Support, case study, funding

– Private Sector Funding Role/Needs• Grants to Projects (not investments), combine with public sector funds, unique justification (ROI)


Dan Haake/ Project Manager- Freight Planner, CDM Smith

Strategy creating winning grant funding- Collaboration, Momentum, Communication….

It’s Not Easy

• Four Attempts• Staff Transitions• Leadership Changes• Technology Issues• Wrong Assumptions• Benefit/Cost• Politics

Building a Partnership• Regional Partnership

– Franklin County Engineer– ODOT/CRAA– Columbus Chamber/CRLC– Obetz– MORPC

• Ability to sell as a private sector need

• Importance of CRLC and RICC

Telling the Story

• Think Globally, Act Locally

• Last piece in a global puzzle– Over $500 public investment, just needed this last piece

• Division of labor– Everyone had a role

Official Support

Asymmetrical Grant Diplomacy

• The Rickenbacker Story• Advocacy on the Hill• Rep. Stivers and Senator Brown

• Fly-in to visit Secretary LaHood

• Power of the story today


Thom Slack/ Planning & Engineering Administrator, ODOT District 6

Project details, status, uniqueness- Public/ Private partnership components ….

Ohio Department of TransportationJohn R. Kasich, Governor Jerry Wray, Director

Economic Development Through Stakeholder Collaboration

Pickaway East/West ConnectorProject Delivery

Thomas Slack, P.E.Administrator, Planning & Engineering

ODOT, District Six

July 15, 2014

Project Overview

Provides safer flow of vehicle traffic

Accommodates increased rail traffic

Upgrades roads surrounding Terminal

New southern entrance to Rickenbacker

Project Benefits

Project Delivery

Project Delivery

In order to qualify for TIGER funds the

project needed to meet:

• Federal requirements, including NEPA

• An aggressive schedule

Public Input

I want the rest of the community of Duvall bought out.

We want the path around Duvall and want our home left alone

What kind of landscaping or buffering will be installed?

Project should not be considered if ever. Such ventures have a history of never materializing as planned.

Public Input

Please come to a decision on this project. Many of us have put our lives on hold.

I am not opposed of the project in general, I just want to move on with my life as do many others.

You have held enough meetings and have informed the community well. So after these comments reach you on August 9, survey the people of Duvall and then make a decision.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts and concerns.

Project Schedule

Construction starting in 2012

Environmental cleared November 2011

Design of First Phase (including overpass)

• 8 months

Acquisition of Right-of-Way

• 5 months

Project Schedule

Accomplished thanks to:

• Use of available funds

• Concurrent design and review

• Prompt railroad agreements

• Transfer of properties along Ashville Pike

Result

The Pickaway East/West Connector:

• Met the timeline of the TIGER program

• Will provide for safer, more efficient

freight movement to and from the

Rickenbacker Intermodal Terminal and

surrounding sites.


Ryan Scribner/ Executive Director, Pickaway Progress Partnership

Rickenbacker Development Project Impact- Public-Private collaboration go forward….

RYA N S C R I B N E R

E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T D I R E C T O R

P I C K AWAY P R O G R E S S PA RT N E R S H I P

Economic Development Through Stakeholder Collaboration

The Pickaway County East-West Connector

Northern Pickaway County Rickenbacker Development Area

Tremendous potential Norfolk Southern Intermodal Location Developable acreage Cooperative Local Government

Big Questions… Infrastructure Competitive Incentives Accessibility

Northern Pickaway County Rickenbacker Intermodal Development Area


“Alphabet soup”

- JEDD’s- AMA- CRA- TIF- PILOT- CEDA- TIGER


Opportunities

Unprecedented interest from development community

New projects – Attraction & ExpansionReinvigorated planning discussions amongst

local government stakeholders


Challenges

WorkforceInfrastructureConflicting land use interestsPreservation of 23 Corridor

Audience- Questions for Presenters?

Documents

Ohio Planning Conference ~ Transportation Connects Ohio Session 2B: Economic Development Through Stakeholder Collaboration- The Pickaway County East- West