The Ohio Department of Transporta-tion has identified 148 transportation infrastructure projects - with at least one project in each of Ohio’s 88 counties - to be fully or partially funded by the Ameri-can Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Federal transportation stimulus funds totaling $774 million will be spent in every region of Ohio. Based on federal calculations for transportation investment, an estimated 21,250 jobs will be created or retained through these stimulus projects, with thousands of additional jobs spurred by the economic development that occurs as a result of the projects ODOT has identified projects that will put thousands of Ohioans to work quickly, but to make the best use of these resources, they must do more than create today’s jobs. ODOT must also leverage them to create tomorrow’s opportunities, and so they have chosen to act boldly and strate-gically in selecting Ohio’s transportation priorities. In addition to distributing stimulus resources broadly to provide Ohioans in every region with an opportunity to par-ticipate in the economic recovery, ODOT is targeting these funds to develop unique regional economic assets. Doing so will strengthen the state’s

infrastructure system while also bolster-ing each region’s economic vitality in immeasurable ways. These Recovery investments will rebuild Ohio’s infra-structure system and position communi-ties throughout Ohio for lasting economic growth and prosperity. These projects will move Ohio toward a more multi-modal system of transporta-tion, linking Ohio’s businesses and people with highways, railways transit, aviation and ports and setting Ohioans on a path into a prosperous new world. In addition to selecting projects which met federal transportation requirements and ARRA guidelines, ODOT, the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio Rail Development Commission collabo-rated to prioritize some of the 148 proj-ects determined to meet both the critical infrastructure needs of each region and promote lasting economic growth. ODOT has designated $603.5 million into 113 roadway and bridge projects, $34.5 million into five maritime projects, $68.9 million directed at 22 separate rail-road projects and $50.9 million to support improved intermodal connections. Many of the highlights of these invest-ments lie here in the greater Cleveland region. Cleveland’s Innerbelt Bridge, the state’s most-pressing transportation con-cern is targeted by $200 million in stimu-

Page 4April 2009 Transportation Times Transportation Times The External Newsletter of the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 12

April 2009Volume X, Issue 2

GovernorTed Strickland

Jolene M. Molitoris

Bonita G. Teeuwen, P.E.

Production AdministratorMichael Kubek, P.E.

Highway ManagementAdministratorDennis C. Albrecht, Jr., P.E.

Planning & ProgramsAdministratorDale Schiavoni, P.E.

ODOT Director

D-12 Deputy Director

In This Issue• Stimulus Projects Announced• Molitoris Takes Over as Director• Historic Construction Season

The Ohio Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Transportation TimesODOT District 125500 Transportation Blvd.Garfield Heights, OH 44125(216) 584-2005 or 584-2006

www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Ron WiechLabor Relations Officer

Faye CallahanJocelynn Clemings

Public Information Office

Quality & Efficiency OfficerSteve Henry

Construction

Lieutenant GovernorLee Fisher

Kicking-off this year will be the second phase of the Lake 2 Corridor Modernization Project, a nearly $86 million project which will completely modernize and add a lane to State Route 2 through Eastlake, Willoughby and Mentor in Lake County. ODOT saved over $10 million on the project by, in part, using the alternate bid pavement selection process. The project originally called for petroleum-based asphalt on this portion of roadway but instead, competitively priced concrete will be used based on the head to head bidding process. This portion of the corridor alone is estimated to create about 2,400 jobs. ODOT will also begin a $10 million structural steel repair project which will allow full traffic to resume on the Interstate 90 Innerbelt Bridge into downtown Cleveland as early as the winter of 2009. “All of the projects this season speak to the important transportation needs of our citizens, communities and busi-

ness, while creating jobs and positioning Ohio for long-term economic growth and stability,” said ODOT Director Molitoris. “With these investments, we are moving Ohio into a prosperous new world.” Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ODOT was allocated $774 million in transportation stimu-lus funds, which will be invested in 149 transportation projects. Approximately 65 “shovel ready” infrastructure projects will get underway this season, with an investment of more than $340 million in stimulus funds. Combined, the stimulus resources and ODOT’s planned construction spending will total more than $2.8 billion over the next 15 months (through the 2010 State Fiscal Year). Ohio motorists can keep up-to-date on when construc-tion projects will impact their travels by logging on to www.BuckeyeTraffic.org, ODOT’s 24-hour online source for road and traffic conditions.

From Page 2

Stimulus Projects Announced

See Stimulus, Page 2

Page 2 Transportation Times April 2009 Page 3Transportation TimesApril 2009

lus funds. Combined with approximately $200 million in additional state and federal dollars, ODOT will build a new five-lane westbound I-90 Innerbelt Bridge. Greater Cleveland also received $20 million to advance the planning and design of the Opportunity Cor-ridor, a proposed 3.3-mile urban roadway to connect the I-490 to the growing University Circle. Ohio’s stimulus projects will add to the more than $2.1 billion in capital/construction projects ODOT already has planned to oversee or undertake over the next 15 months. That includes nearly $1.6 billion in invest-ments through the end of this calendar year, encompass-ing more than 650 transportation projects in each of the state’s 88 counties. In addition to these stimulus and state funds, other

transportation-related Recovery Act resources have been directly allocated to local communities. Over $161 mil-lion has been directly allocated to Ohio’s local Metropoli-tan Planning Organizations. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) which serves Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina Counties received $44.2 million in stimulus funding, the largest amount to any Metropolitan Planning Organization in the state. The State of Ohio will require recipients of Recovery Act resources to post any new job opportunities at both www.OhioMeansJobs.com and Ohio’s “One-Stop” sites. At least one site is located in every Ohio county. One-Stops provide a variety of training services and match job seekers with employment opportunities.

Stimulus

www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris strengthens Governor Ted Strickland’s com-mitment to moving Ohio into a prosperous new world by modernizing the state’s multi-modal transportation system through collaboration and innovation. “From her work in Washington and Ohio, Jolene is nationally recognized for her historic leadership in the transportation industry,” said Governor Strickland, appoint-ing her to the position in January 2009 and giving her the distinction as the department’s first woman director since the establishment of the Ohio Department of Highways in 1905. At the state level, Ms. Molitoris began her career at the Ohio Rail Transportation Authority (ORTA), achieving the position of Executive Director. During her tenure, Ohio led the nation in state-developed high speed rail planning. From ORTA, she was appointed Deputy Director for Rail at ODOT, where she worked with port authorities statewide to create 13 new short line railroads - the most in any state following the deregulation of the railroad indus-try. This initiative positively affected 220 industries and 40,000 jobs. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ms. Molitoris was the first woman to head the Federal Railroad Administration.

During her eight years in Washington, she led agency-wide changes to make significant improvements in safety and customer service. The changes resulted in the seven safest years in US railroad history. Her tenure was also highlighted by innovative efforts to develop public-private partnerships in financing national transportation improve-ments. Because of her achievements, Railway Age magazine named her one of the great 20th Century Railroaders. In

2007, Governor Strickland appointed Ms. Molitoris as chair of the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC), the first wom-an to lead that organization. “In all that we do, ODOT will strive to integrate the many modes of transporta-tion in this state, giving Ohioans real choices and connecting the investment of state dollars to the creation of new jobs and economic development,” Director Moli-toris said. “As director, I will

work closely with our public and private partners to truly transform transportation and move Ohio into a prosperous new world.” Ms. Molitoris received her undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and her graduate degree from

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Among the awards she has received are the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Advancing Women in Transportation International Woman of the Year, the Advancing Women in Transportation DC Chapter and Columbus Chapter Woman of the Year, and the Sojourner Truth Award from the White House Women’s Office.

Molitoris takes over as ODOT DirectorMoving Ohio into a Prosperous New World

“From her work in Washington and Ohio, Jolene is nationally recognized for her historic leadership in the

transportation industry.”Governor Ted Strickland

(Above) Director Molitoris is the first fe-male director since the establishment of the Ohio Department of Highways in 1905.

Historic Construction Season Kicks-Off Embarking on the largest investment in Ohio’s trans-portation system in state history, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officially kicked off its 2009 Construction Season, highlighted by multi-modal invest-ments across Ohio and more than 650 roadway and bridge projects in each region of the state.

With a total investment of more than $1.9 billion in construction projects, ODOT’s 2009 Construction Season includes at least 36 interstate projects, 125 bridge projects, and dozens of multi-modal investments - ranging from improvements on railroads, at airports, and along our wa-

terways. At least 65 additional transportation infrastructure projects - impacting highways, bridges, railroads, airports, and shipyards - will also get underway this season, funded in-full or in-part by the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act. “The 2009 construction season will be the first of two years of historic investment in Ohio’s transportation system, as we leverage state resources with federal trans-portation funds and stimulus dollars,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. “As more of the stimulus-funded projects are made ready for construction both this year and next, we will put thousands of Ohioans to work maintaining and mod-ernizing roads and bridges, building railroad, maritime, and airport infrastructure, and creating enhancement and streetscape projects.” Last year, District 12 completed such major projects as the three-year, $32 million modernization of Interstate 480 at the interchange of I-77 as well as the first phase of the Lake 2 Corridor Modernization Project in Lake County. This year will see the completion of projects like the $46 million Fulton Road Bridge and the $ 17.5 million reconstruction of the Interstate 271/Mayfield Road inter-change. District 12 is also entering the second year of the I-77 Corridor widening, one of the District’s largest projects at over $90 million dollars.

See Construction, Page 4

(Above) Director Molitoris speaks with Project Engineer Anne Powell during the Statewide Construction Kick-Off.

From Page 1

Page 2 Transportation Times April 2009 Page 3Transportation TimesApril 2009

lus funds. Combined with approximately $200 million in additional state and federal dollars, ODOT will build a new five-lane westbound I-90 Innerbelt Bridge. Greater Cleveland also received $20 million to advance the planning and design of the Opportunity Cor-ridor, a proposed 3.3-mile urban roadway to connect the I-490 to the growing University Circle. Ohio’s stimulus projects will add to the more than $2.1 billion in capital/construction projects ODOT already has planned to oversee or undertake over the next 15 months. That includes nearly $1.6 billion in invest-ments through the end of this calendar year, encompass-ing more than 650 transportation projects in each of the state’s 88 counties. In addition to these stimulus and state funds, other

transportation-related Recovery Act resources have been directly allocated to local communities. Over $161 mil-lion has been directly allocated to Ohio’s local Metropoli-tan Planning Organizations. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) which serves Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina Counties received $44.2 million in stimulus funding, the largest amount to any Metropolitan Planning Organization in the state. The State of Ohio will require recipients of Recovery Act resources to post any new job opportunities at both www.OhioMeansJobs.com and Ohio’s “One-Stop” sites. At least one site is located in every Ohio county. One-Stops provide a variety of training services and match job seekers with employment opportunities.

Stimulus

www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris strengthens Governor Ted Strickland’s com-mitment to moving Ohio into a prosperous new world by modernizing the state’s multi-modal transportation system through collaboration and innovation. “From her work in Washington and Ohio, Jolene is nationally recognized for her historic leadership in the transportation industry,” said Governor Strickland, appoint-ing her to the position in January 2009 and giving her the distinction as the department’s first woman director since the establishment of the Ohio Department of Highways in 1905. At the state level, Ms. Molitoris began her career at the Ohio Rail Transportation Authority (ORTA), achieving the position of Executive Director. During her tenure, Ohio led the nation in state-developed high speed rail planning. From ORTA, she was appointed Deputy Director for Rail at ODOT, where she worked with port authorities statewide to create 13 new short line railroads - the most in any state following the deregulation of the railroad indus-try. This initiative positively affected 220 industries and 40,000 jobs. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ms. Molitoris was the first woman to head the Federal Railroad Administration.

During her eight years in Washington, she led agency-wide changes to make significant improvements in safety and customer service. The changes resulted in the seven safest years in US railroad history. Her tenure was also highlighted by innovative efforts to develop public-private partnerships in financing national transportation improve-ments. Because of her achievements, Railway Age magazine named her one of the great 20th Century Railroaders. In

2007, Governor Strickland appointed Ms. Molitoris as chair of the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC), the first wom-an to lead that organization. “In all that we do, ODOT will strive to integrate the many modes of transporta-tion in this state, giving Ohioans real choices and connecting the investment of state dollars to the creation of new jobs and economic development,” Director Moli-toris said. “As director, I will

work closely with our public and private partners to truly transform transportation and move Ohio into a prosperous new world.” Ms. Molitoris received her undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and her graduate degree from

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Among the awards she has received are the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Advancing Women in Transportation International Woman of the Year, the Advancing Women in Transportation DC Chapter and Columbus Chapter Woman of the Year, and the Sojourner Truth Award from the White House Women’s Office.

Molitoris takes over as ODOT DirectorMoving Ohio into a Prosperous New World

“From her work in Washington and Ohio, Jolene is nationally recognized for her historic leadership in the

transportation industry.”Governor Ted Strickland

(Above) Director Molitoris is the first fe-male director since the establishment of the Ohio Department of Highways in 1905.

Historic Construction Season Kicks-Off Embarking on the largest investment in Ohio’s trans-portation system in state history, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officially kicked off its 2009 Construction Season, highlighted by multi-modal invest-ments across Ohio and more than 650 roadway and bridge projects in each region of the state.

With a total investment of more than $1.9 billion in construction projects, ODOT’s 2009 Construction Season includes at least 36 interstate projects, 125 bridge projects, and dozens of multi-modal investments - ranging from improvements on railroads, at airports, and along our wa-

terways. At least 65 additional transportation infrastructure projects - impacting highways, bridges, railroads, airports, and shipyards - will also get underway this season, funded in-full or in-part by the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act. “The 2009 construction season will be the first of two years of historic investment in Ohio’s transportation system, as we leverage state resources with federal trans-portation funds and stimulus dollars,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. “As more of the stimulus-funded projects are made ready for construction both this year and next, we will put thousands of Ohioans to work maintaining and mod-ernizing roads and bridges, building railroad, maritime, and airport infrastructure, and creating enhancement and streetscape projects.” Last year, District 12 completed such major projects as the three-year, $32 million modernization of Interstate 480 at the interchange of I-77 as well as the first phase of the Lake 2 Corridor Modernization Project in Lake County. This year will see the completion of projects like the $46 million Fulton Road Bridge and the $ 17.5 million reconstruction of the Interstate 271/Mayfield Road inter-change. District 12 is also entering the second year of the I-77 Corridor widening, one of the District’s largest projects at over $90 million dollars.

See Construction, Page 4

(Above) Director Molitoris speaks with Project Engineer Anne Powell during the Statewide Construction Kick-Off.

From Page 1

The Ohio Department of Transporta-tion has identified 148 transportation infrastructure projects - with at least one project in each of Ohio’s 88 counties - to be fully or partially funded by the Ameri-can Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Federal transportation stimulus funds totaling $774 million will be spent in every region of Ohio. Based on federal calculations for transportation investment, an estimated 21,250 jobs will be created or retained through these stimulus projects, with thousands of additional jobs spurred by the economic development that occurs as a result of the projects ODOT has identified projects that will put thousands of Ohioans to work quickly, but to make the best use of these resources, they must do more than create today’s jobs. ODOT must also leverage them to create tomorrow’s opportunities, and so they have chosen to act boldly and strate-gically in selecting Ohio’s transportation priorities. In addition to distributing stimulus resources broadly to provide Ohioans in every region with an opportunity to par-ticipate in the economic recovery, ODOT is targeting these funds to develop unique regional economic assets. Doing so will strengthen the state’s

infrastructure system while also bolster-ing each region’s economic vitality in immeasurable ways. These Recovery investments will rebuild Ohio’s infra-structure system and position communi-ties throughout Ohio for lasting economic growth and prosperity. These projects will move Ohio toward a more multi-modal system of transporta-tion, linking Ohio’s businesses and people with highways, railways transit, aviation and ports and setting Ohioans on a path into a prosperous new world. In addition to selecting projects which met federal transportation requirements and ARRA guidelines, ODOT, the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio Rail Development Commission collabo-rated to prioritize some of the 148 proj-ects determined to meet both the critical infrastructure needs of each region and promote lasting economic growth. ODOT has designated $603.5 million into 113 roadway and bridge projects, $34.5 million into five maritime projects, $68.9 million directed at 22 separate rail-road projects and $50.9 million to support improved intermodal connections. Many of the highlights of these invest-ments lie here in the greater Cleveland region. Cleveland’s Innerbelt Bridge, the state’s most-pressing transportation con-cern is targeted by $200 million in stimu-

Page 4April 2009 Transportation Times Transportation Times The External Newsletter of the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 12

April 2009Volume X, Issue 2

GovernorTed Strickland

Jolene M. Molitoris

Bonita G. Teeuwen, P.E.

Production AdministratorMichael Kubek, P.E.

Highway ManagementAdministratorDennis C. Albrecht, Jr., P.E.

Planning & ProgramsAdministratorDale Schiavoni, P.E.

ODOT Director

D-12 Deputy Director

In This Issue• Stimulus Projects Announced• Molitoris Takes Over as Director• Historic Construction Season

The Ohio Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Transportation TimesODOT District 125500 Transportation Blvd.Garfield Heights, OH 44125(216) 584-2005 or 584-2006

www.BuckeyeTraffic.org

Ron WiechLabor Relations Officer

Faye CallahanJocelynn Clemings

Public Information Office

Quality & Efficiency OfficerSteve Henry

Construction

Lieutenant GovernorLee Fisher

Kicking-off this year will be the second phase of the Lake 2 Corridor Modernization Project, a nearly $86 million project which will completely modernize and add a lane to State Route 2 through Eastlake, Willoughby and Mentor in Lake County. ODOT saved over $10 million on the project by, in part, using the alternate bid pavement selection process. The project originally called for petroleum-based asphalt on this portion of roadway but instead, competitively priced concrete will be used based on the head to head bidding process. This portion of the corridor alone is estimated to create about 2,400 jobs. ODOT will also begin a $10 million structural steel repair project which will allow full traffic to resume on the Interstate 90 Innerbelt Bridge into downtown Cleveland as early as the winter of 2009. “All of the projects this season speak to the important transportation needs of our citizens, communities and busi-

ness, while creating jobs and positioning Ohio for long-term economic growth and stability,” said ODOT Director Molitoris. “With these investments, we are moving Ohio into a prosperous new world.” Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ODOT was allocated $774 million in transportation stimu-lus funds, which will be invested in 149 transportation projects. Approximately 65 “shovel ready” infrastructure projects will get underway this season, with an investment of more than $340 million in stimulus funds. Combined, the stimulus resources and ODOT’s planned construction spending will total more than $2.8 billion over the next 15 months (through the 2010 State Fiscal Year). Ohio motorists can keep up-to-date on when construc-tion projects will impact their travels by logging on to www.BuckeyeTraffic.org, ODOT’s 24-hour online source for road and traffic conditions.

From Page 2

Stimulus Projects Announced

See Stimulus, Page 2