The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Review Advisory Council approved on March 25 a draft funding list totaling $123.1 million for 11 major new projects in eight counties.
The draft list allocates $103.6 million for construction on six Tier I projects. These include $35 million in fiscal year 2027 for roadway improvements to the interchange and ramps at I-71/Snow Road in Brook Park, Cuyahoga County; $5.3 million in fiscal year 2027 for enhancements on SR 172 in Canton, Stark County; and $10 million in fiscal year 2027 for light rail track reconstruction for the Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority in Cuyahoga County. Other Tier I allocations are $17.6 million in fiscal year 2027 for roadway improvements related to the Dayton International Airport Northeast Logistics project in Montgomery County, $27 million in fiscal year 2028 for a new Diverging Diamond Interchange at I-75 and Millikin Road in Butler County, and $8.7 million in fiscal year 2028 for widening and enhancements on Alum Creek Drive in Franklin County.
The draft also includes $19.5 million for additional project development funding across five Tier II projects: $3 million is set aside in fiscal year 2027 for improvements at the I-71 and I-270 interchange on Columbus’s north side; $1.5 million is allocated to roadway and interchange improvements at SR 315 and Lane Avenue, also in Franklin County; $5 million is planned for upgrades at the US 23 and Orange Road intersection in Delaware County; $4 million will go toward a new alignment of the Bluegrass Parkway extension in Fayette County; and a total of $6 million over two years is designated for improvements to the interchange at I-70 and I-675 in Clark County.
A total of twenty-seven projects applied during this cycle. The public can comment on the draft list by emailing trac@dot.ohio.gov until April 16, with a final vote scheduled by TRAC members on April 23.
TRAC operates annually, reviewing applications before voting to approve a Major New Construction Program List that covers preliminary engineering, design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction commitments. Projects are placed into three tiers based on their stage of development: Tier I includes those recommended for construction within four years; Tier II involves projects needing further environmental or design work before construction readiness; Tier III contains long-range plans where previous phases have been funded under Tier I.
The Transportation Review Advisory Council was established by Ohio law in 1997 to help ODOT develop its project selection process focused on major new capacity programs. The council consists of nine members chaired by ODOT’s Director—six appointed by the Governor, one each by leaders from both legislative chambers—and only provides funds after system preservation needs are met according to the official roster page.
