LIMA — At its 7 p.m. meeting Monday, Lima City Council will continue efforts to make a railroad grade separation at East Elm Street at the I&O Railroad line a reality.
The council will vote on submitting an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery funds, with city engineer Kirk Niemeyer hoping that those funds can be applied to construction costs.
“The TIGER funds, if awarded, would be utilized for the construction ($14.5 million) and the construction inspection/administration ($1 million) of the project,” he wrote in a letter to the council.
The project received a major boost in December when the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Advisory Committee awarded $3 million to the project, which will be used to acquire properties for the project’s right-of-way and complete a required environmental assessment, along with another use, Niemeyer said.
“The recent ODOT TRAC award of $3 million will improve the city’s local match percentage on this year’s application, which in turn will enhance chances of an award,” he said.
Public Works director Howard Elstro has emphasized the need to have a grade separation at this railroad, not just for traffic flow, but for safety, as well.
“The city has been petitioned by the public, doctors, nurses, ambulance companies and emergency responders, including fire and police, for the past 15 years to try to solve the problem of slow and stopped trains on the I&O Railroad,” he said. “Doctors and nurses cannot provide critical care. For the general public and commerce, it means a delay of services, which can affect quality of life and have an economic impact on area businesses.”
The deadline to apply for TIGER funds is April 29.
