Columbus to consider placing path on south side of road [ThisWeek]

Columbus is open to the possibility of placing a shared-use path on the south side of West Dublin-Granville Road.

The city has taken a closer look at crossing options, land acquisition, environmental concerns and other major issues on the south side of the roadway, said Nick Popa, an engineer with Columbus.

"So we're assessing everything we've assessed on the north side," he said.

Meanwhile, representatives from Perry Township and the city of Worthington have formed a working group to determine specific concerns and decide what is acceptable.

"We're appreciative the city of Columbus is willing to be flexible at looking at all the options that could be on the table," Perry Township Trustee Chet Chaney said.

"We were a little confused because we weren't officially informed at the beginning."

The group will meet over the next couple months and future discussions will include other interested parties, including residents, business owners and land owners, such as Ohio State University.

"Our expectations for the process is we're going to all work together toward a project that works best for the multiple communities along the corridor," said Matt Greeson, Worthington city manager.

"I have every expectation that will occur," he said.

"The city of Columbus is going to get a lot of good input and, as a result, it will make it a better project."

The 2.2-mile path, which would cost $2.5-million, would extend between Sawmill and Linworth roads.

It is part of the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways plan and is designed to link other bike paths in the area.

At a public meeting in June, some residents questioned the wisdom of putting the path on the north side of the street, where it would intersect with roads, entrances to businesses and driveways.

There are still many advantages to the north side of the road, said Randall Bowman, manager of the division of mobility options for the city.

He said West Dublin-Granville doesn't qualify for additional traffic lights, leaving a large stretch of the roadway without signaled crossings.

"Crossing this busy arterial without a signal is danger-ous," Bowman said. "The neighborhoods using the path are located along the north side."

Columbus is now seeking construction and right-of-way funding from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Construction is a few years away, officials said.

[ThisWeek]