By Jason Warner & Maria Walliser-Wejebe
Note: A version of this blog was originally published on December 3, 2019. This version is updated to reflect work that has been undertaken by TRAC in the 5 years since.
This week, the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) is set to provide preliminary approval to the draft list of Major New Construction projects for 2026-2029. Once the draft list is approved by the TRAC board, a public comment period will open, providing Ohioans the one and only opportunity to weigh in on projects that will be constructed around the state over the next four years.
TRAC funding is available for projects of any transportation mode, including highways, freight rail, and public transportation. The 2026-2029 Major New Construction Programs list, while dominated by highway and interstate projects, also includes $10 million to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for improvements to the Red Line light rail track.
TRAC Background:
The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) is a nine-member appointed council established in 1997 to assist the Ohio Department of Transportation in developing and modifying a project selection process which approves funding for the development and construction of major new capacity projects (total project cost must be more than $12 million).
TRAC is chaired by the ODOT Director. Six members are appointed by the governor, and one each by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Ohio Senate. Members serve 5-year, overlapping terms.
Projects
The Major New Construction Program List announces annual funding commitments for preliminary engineering (PE), detailed design (DD), right-of-way (RW), and project construction (CO). Projects receiving funding commitments are placed into three “tiers” based on the level of project development.
Projects placed into TRAC Tier I are recommended for construction during the upcoming four-year construction period
Projects placed into TRAC Tier II are recommended for additional environmental, design, or right-of-way development activities before the projects would be available for construction.
Projects listed in Tier III have had previous phases funded for construction in Tier I. Tier III accommodates projects in long range funding plans to advance multiple-phase projects.
Projects typically eligible for TRAC funding are those that aim to improve capacity/reduce congestion by: adding an additional lane on state highway or interstate; adding an additional lane on bridges; new interchanges; new facilities that bypass a congested state highway or interstate; new rail lines for public transportation; capital costs for ITS facilities; or intermodal port and rail projects.
Projects ineligible for TRAC funding are those that aim for minor capacity improvements or projects with a scope of work closely related to preservation and maintenance. These include: widening lane widths; purchase of buses or rolling stock; turn lane improvements; road resurfacing; local road or bridge improvements; or projects with a total cost under $12 million.
2026 - 2029 Major New Construction Program List Under Consideration
TRAC funding was suspended in 2018 due to the exhaustion of funds for major new construction directly related to the state transportation funding shortfall. After lawmakers raised the state motor fuel tax in 2019, along with the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Congress in 2022, projects have been awarded funds every year since 2019.
The draft Major New Construction Program List for 2026-2029, TRAC is proposing to fund 11 projects with total funding commitments in Tiers I – III of $123.1 Million. TRAC received 27 project requests which have been reviewed over the past year totaling $640.2 Million.
Despite the big price stickers associated with TRAC funding commitments, a majority of ODOT funding goes towards maintaining its existing network, including 43,000 lane miles and 14,000 bridges. GOPC has long been a proponent of a ‘fix-it-first’ approach to roadway maintenance, along with advocating for the use of state funding for projects that support a variety of transportation modes. GOPC is encouraged by thoughtful spending for expansion projects, and would push for TRAC to support more transformational projects for all Ohioans, regardless of mode.
View the full 2026-2029 Major New Construction Program list on the TRAC webpage here.
Anyone wishing to submit public comments to TRAC on the Draft Major New Construction List can do so here.