Study Background

Southwest Licking County and the surrounding region are anticipating substantial growth in population and development, resulting from the Intel development in New Albany, which is the largest single private sector company investment in Ohio’s history.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is proactively assessing potential changes in land use and travel demand throughout the region resulting from Intel, other related Intel-driven developments, and general growth in the region. As part of this effort, they are leading a multi-modal transportation study in western Licking County, referred to as the SR161 / I-70 Connections Study.

In pursuit of our mission to provide a transportation system that is safe, accessible, and positioned for the future, ODOT is seeking your input.

Study Objectives

The objective of this study is to establish a clear framework for improving north/south connections between two major east/west highways (I-70 and SR161) and identify any spot locations within the study area where improvements would benefit regional mobility or address safety concerns. The study’s primary objective is to identify and prioritize multi-modal transportation improvements within the study area that are feasible to implement within a ten-year timeframe. Completion of the study is set for early 2025.

The study team will first collect relevant information about the study area through the following methods:

• Obtain existing traffic and crash data from various data-sources.
• Obtain data from Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Licking County Area Transportation (LCATs) related to existing and forecast travel demand in the region.
• Collect data including planned and ongoing transportation studies, land use plans, crash and traffic data.
• Meet with local stakeholders to gather input regarding existing traffic issues and planned development.
• Obtain input from the public through the interactive web mapping tool.
• Conduct surveys (as needed) and site visits to assess the existing conditions of the study area.

In the coming months, the team will use this information to:

• Identify existing safety concerns.
• Identify areas that are anticipated to have poor traffic operations and congestion.
• Develop and evaluate a range of multi-modal transportation solutions that consider the needs of all users.
• Prioritize improvements based on factors such as benefit to regional mobility and safety, feasibility, impacts, compatibility with area planning, and cost.

Solutions will be tailored by corridor or intersection to minimize impacts while addressing transportation needs. Recommendations will consider pedestrians and bicyclists, compatibility with the surrounding environment and community character, planned transit corridors, environmental impacts, and cost.

Intel Development

In 2022, Intel announced plans for an initial investment of more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip manufacturing factories in Ohio. This construction will generate 3,500 job opportunities during its initial development phase, with the potential for three additional phases, each resulting in an equivalent number of employment opportunities. Furthermore, the region's economy is expected to receive a considerable boost from the creation of approximately 7,000 jobs resulting from the construction of the facility. To learn more about Intel’s planning efforts, visit:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/corporate-responsibility/intel-in-ohio.html

Silicon Heartland Transportation Partnership

The Intel development will create a substantial impact on travel demand in the central Ohio area. As a result, ODOT has launched the Silicon Heartland Transportation Partnership, aimed at addressing transportation needs within a 20, 40, and 60-minute trip radius of Intel's fabrication facility.

An extensive evaluation of the 20-minute travel time led to the identification of nearly 70 projects, carrying an estimated cost of nearly $1.5 billion. ODOT further analyzed which crucial projects could be executed within a 5-year timeline and identified almost 21 projects costing around $88 million. Local officials and transportation agencies have identified the area between SR161 and I-70 in the Western Licking County as an area of potential concern, and thus the area was selected for further evaluation.