TID Board Moving Forward on Projects

The Muskingum County Transportation Improvement District may be able to get more projects done thanks to changes in state guidelines.

At today’s TID Board meeting, representatives from the state explained changes in the Transportation Review Advisory Council’s timeline requirements for new projects that cost more than $5 million.

Port Authority Director Jerry Nolder says the new guidelines may help increase the priority of some local projects, including the State Routes 93 and 22 connector project.

“We have to resubmit and they will rescore that and we think under the new TRAC process that we have a very good possibility of getting that bumped to a Tier 1
project , so we will be working with the district office to try to get that application in by August first,” says Nolder.

One project definitely moving forward is the turning lane on State Route 93 into the Eastpointe Industrial Park. They have received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and will now move forward on construction plans.

The $1.2 million project is funded by federal stimulus money and should begin in late Spring 2010.

“It gives us another entrance into the park, improves the safety and gives truck access, safe access, into the park,” says Nolder.

The TID Board also approved their 2010 budget. The budget will include $20,000 from Muskingum County and a $250,000 grant from the state.