ODOT To Change Top-Funding Formula

CENTRAL OHIO -- The Ohio Department of Transportation wants to change the way it chooses which projects get top funding priority.

NBC 4's Patrick Preston reported on the FAST FACTS.

Meeting Thursday, the agency's Transportation Review Advisory Council, or TRAC, was considering a new funding formula that would emphasize factors such as economic development benefits, environmental impact and local investment.

ODOT's director said projects in motion, such as the Interstate 70/71 split, likely would continue.

"I really don't see any impact on Tier 1 projects," Director James Beasley said, "and we made a pledge early on in this administration that we would be the least disruptive as possible. And I think continuing those Tier 1 projects would support that commitment."

But ODOT could decide to scale back projects based on cost-benefit analysis.

TRAC planned to vote on the funding-formula change next month.

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