I wanted to make a few more comments concerning the re-alignment of 256 and the I-70 west access.
Last week the Pickerington City Council was presented with a re-alignment plan that was billed as the fix for our traffic problems under the I-70 Bridge. Judging by the council member?’s reactions this was the very first time any of them had seen the plan. For those that I have talked with and for those that have seen this proposal they all say that 95% of planned benefits, favor Reynoldsburg and Wal-Mart. Obviously the Wal-Mart developers paid for the study and I believe ODOT is trying to implement the developer?’s plan. This debate is not about how poorly the current Pickerington City Council has performed in their representation of the citizens of Pickerington. It is about an opportunity to get ODOT to finally get the Northern part of Fairfield County another I-70 interchange.
My personally concern here is that the 5% of benefits that this re-alignment favors Pickerington, Violet Township and Park Place are clearly over shadowed by safety concerns. This is nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen.
There are people in this community that I have great respect for and they want to approve this plan no matter what. Please take some time to think about a couple of issues. The grid lock outside Wal-Mart was not caused by Pickerington. It has exacerbated the Pickerington area?’s traffic problem. Please remember the cars approaching the I-70 Bridge, from the south, in the morning, do not all come from the City of Pickerington.
I have taken a lot of heat from friends and area residents because I want to maintain control over the traffic light at 256/204. I was told this is not logical. It is not suppose to be logical because this is now politics folks. It doesn?’t show an attitude of cooperation, and so on.
Clearly Wal-Mart and Reynoldsburg have shown that they have political clout with ODOT. They gained that clout by paying for a plan and presenting that plan to ODOT. Now in just a few months ODOT has placed this 256 re-alignment project on the fast track and they want to complete it by this November. We should all be impressed by way Reynoldsburg has ODOT jumping. The same does not hold true for Fairfield County and Violet Township or Pickerington. So if I may be a little devious at this point, why don?’t we use some of their political influence to our advantage? No matter how much money Pickerington has they can?’t just get some bull dozers out and start building a new interchange on I-70. Clearly 256 south of I-70 is at full capacity and needs an alternate route to relief the traffic. ODOT knows it is at full capacity because of their Gerry-rigged approach to our traffic problem. I would suspect that they will re-strip the roads with white duct tape. Clearly we can?’t put more cars onto I-70 west bound until they add another lane on I-70 to handle the traffic that is coming out of Reynoldsburg on Brice Road. ODOT tells Pickerington you will wait a minimum of 7 years before we address your concerns. I propose the following:
Last week the Pickerington City Council was presented with a re-alignment plan that was billed as the fix for our traffic problems under the I-70 Bridge. Judging by the council member?’s reactions this was the very first time any of them had seen the plan. For those that I have talked with and for those that have seen this proposal they all say that 95% of planned benefits, favor Reynoldsburg and Wal-Mart. Obviously the Wal-Mart developers paid for the study and I believe ODOT is trying to implement the developer?’s plan. This debate is not about how poorly the current Pickerington City Council has performed in their representation of the citizens of Pickerington. It is about an opportunity to get ODOT to finally get the Northern part of Fairfield County another I-70 interchange.
My personally concern here is that the 5% of benefits that this re-alignment favors Pickerington, Violet Township and Park Place are clearly over shadowed by safety concerns. This is nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen.
There are people in this community that I have great respect for and they want to approve this plan no matter what. Please take some time to think about a couple of issues. The grid lock outside Wal-Mart was not caused by Pickerington. It has exacerbated the Pickerington area?’s traffic problem. Please remember the cars approaching the I-70 Bridge, from the south, in the morning, do not all come from the City of Pickerington.
I have taken a lot of heat from friends and area residents because I want to maintain control over the traffic light at 256/204. I was told this is not logical. It is not suppose to be logical because this is now politics folks. It doesn?’t show an attitude of cooperation, and so on.
Clearly Wal-Mart and Reynoldsburg have shown that they have political clout with ODOT. They gained that clout by paying for a plan and presenting that plan to ODOT. Now in just a few months ODOT has placed this 256 re-alignment project on the fast track and they want to complete it by this November. We should all be impressed by way Reynoldsburg has ODOT jumping. The same does not hold true for Fairfield County and Violet Township or Pickerington. So if I may be a little devious at this point, why don?’t we use some of their political influence to our advantage? No matter how much money Pickerington has they can?’t just get some bull dozers out and start building a new interchange on I-70. Clearly 256 south of I-70 is at full capacity and needs an alternate route to relief the traffic. ODOT knows it is at full capacity because of their Gerry-rigged approach to our traffic problem. I would suspect that they will re-strip the roads with white duct tape. Clearly we can?’t put more cars onto I-70 west bound until they add another lane on I-70 to handle the traffic that is coming out of Reynoldsburg on Brice Road. ODOT tells Pickerington you will wait a minimum of 7 years before we address your concerns. I propose the following:
