The race for state funding to expand highways, redesign outdated interchanges and repave crumbling streets is back on as Ohio drivers pump more money into state coffers when they fill up their gas tanks.

Already, agencies have submitted applications to the state for 27 major road projects totaling nearly $917 million, including sevenin central Ohio seeking about $180 million.

Though the gas tax revenue and other changes in the state's transportation budget approved in the spring are expected to generate an additional $865 million for road projects, only a sliver of that amount is set aside for major new construction. For 2020, about $170 million will be available for new major work.

Most of ODOT's budget goes to maintaining its existing network, spokesman Matt Bruning said.

Central Ohio is seeking millions to address congestion on Interstate 70 on the East Side of Columbus, redesign highway ramps at the Interstate 270/Route 23 interchange on the South Side, and to add a northbound express lane on a portion of Interstate 71 between Stringtown Road and Interstate 270, among other projects.

Those projects and others across the state will go through Ohio’s longstanding Transportation Review Advisory Council, which will make the final decision in November on distributing state money for major new construction — any project that costs more than $12 million — from 2020 through 2024.

>>Tell us about central Ohio's most pressing transportation needs.

Traditionally, local governments, counties, Ohio Department of Transportation districts, regional organizations and others submit projects to TRAC on an annual basis. But that process was suspended in 2018 because the state ran out of money for major new construction.

Gov. Mike DeWine proposed increasing the gas tax by 18 cents per gallon, though, in his first major move as governor when he introduced the transportation budget this year. The legislature increased the gas tax by 10.5 cents per gallon, to 38.5 cents, and the diesel tax by 19 cents, to 47 cents a gallon, starting July 1.

The tax increases, along with additional registration fees on electric and hybrid vehicles, are expected to raise an additional $865 million a year, including about $500 million more for the state. The rest would go to local governments, which keep a portion of the gas tax.

ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks sits as chairman of the council, with six appointees from the governor and one each from the speaker of the House and Senate president.

“In some cases, they may provide the full funding that’s been asked for on the project. They may provide partial funding,” Bruning said.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission announced Thursday that it will be taking public comment on the proposed central Ohio projects under its jurisdiction. Other government agencies submit those projects, but MORPC prioritizes them and testifies before the TRAC in September about which projects deserve funding.

It weighs public comment along with other criteria, such as congestion, population and economic development, when it sets those priorities, said Dina Lopez, MORPC strategic project manager.

The biggest ticket item on central Ohio’s list of contenders is the Far East Freeway, which is seeking $74.6 million for that project’s first phase, which would replace the southbound loop ramp from Interstate 270 to eastbound Interstate 70 with a flyover ramp and build new lanes along eastbound 70.

Besides that project, the rest of the central Ohio projects seeking money include:

• Delaware Point Project Routes 36/37: The widening of both routes at the city's eastern edge to two lanes each way and replacing a railroad bridge — $8 million

• Far East Freeway Phases 2 and 3: Reconfiguring Brice Road interchange, construction of westbound ramps of Interstate 270 interchange, and replacing Brice Road bridge — $54.6 million

• Interstate 71 from Stringtown Road to Interstate 270: Adding northbound express lane on I-71, resurfacing and removing northbound weave between the two interchanges — $10 million

• Route 23 and Interstate 270 South Outerbelt: Removing two cloverleaf ramps, building two new signalized ramps, rehabilitating two bridges and resurfacing portions of both highways — $13 million

• Route 33 at Pickerington/Allen Road: Removing existing intersections and replacing with interchange between Hill-Diley roads and Winchester Road interchanges — $10 million

• Routes 33/161 at Post Road interchange: Building two new loop ramps and multi-lane roundabouts — $9.25 million.

rrouan@dispatch.com

@RickRouan

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