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“These projects improve mobility and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians. What’s more, they enhance quality of life,” said T.C. Rogers, OKI president and a Butler County commissioner.
The funds were allocated to Ohio and Kentucky projects through two federal programs: the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program and the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program. While the local jurisdictions were awarded the federal funding, they still need to come up with their local match or about 20 percent to cover the costs of their projects, according to Ashley Patrick, OKI spokeswoman.
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Local projects being awarded STBG funding include:
Liberty Twp.:
Ohio 129/Liberty Way Modification, Phase 2 was awarded more than $5.66 million to construct new ramps from Ohio 129 to Cox Road.
The project also includes a new roundabout at Cox Road and removal of nearby Ohio 129 connections to Liberty Way to eliminate weaving issues.
Middletown:
Central Avenue reconstruction and improvements between Verity Parkway and University Boulevard was awarded more than $4.18 million.
The project will include street reconstruction with upgraded pavement, curb, storm sewer and pedestrian lighting as well as left turn lanes, street calming and bike racks.
Warren County:
The replacement of King Avenue Bridge over the Little Miami River was awarded $5.7 million.
The project includes new 48-foot wide, two-lane structure with shoulders and an 11-foot wide dedicated pedestrian/bikeway with barrier separation.
It will also include horizontal alignment and new vertical profile that will moderate the existing steep vertical grades on the King Avenue approach.
A new tunnel crossing of the Little Miami Trail under Grandin Road and relocated parking area for the trail is also included.
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Local projects receiving TA funding include:
Butler County:
MetroParks Miami-to-Miami multi-use path from Bypass Ohio 4 to Bilstein Boulevard was awarded $750,000. The multi-use trail will connect the western end of the existing Miami and Erie Canal to an existing trail head at Bilstein Park.
Hamilton:
Miami-to-Miami multi-use path from the Canal Cultural Trail at Bilstein Park to Gilmore Road was awarded $510,064. The project is for the construction of the east-west connection of the trails.
Monroe:
Great Miami River Trail, Monroe section project was awarded $650,000 to construct a 10-foot multi-use path along the Great Miami River from the Monroe Bicentennial Commons Park to the city’s northern corporate limits.
Oxford:
The Oxford Area Trail Network West Side Connector project was awarded $750,000 to construct a multi-use trail from Talawanda Middle School to Oxford Community Park.
West Chester Twp.:
The Smith Road Connector Trail was awarded $435,055 to construct a multi-use path connecting the roundabout at Smith and Beckett roads to the existing trail on Smith Road, just west of Princeton-Glendale Road.
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