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Columbus Infrastructure Funding Round Opens as City Pushes Safety and Growth Plans
Ohio Public Works Commission applications for $37 million in State Fiscal Year 2028 projects coincide with local council action on pedestrian improvements and ongoing LinkUS work.
How we reported this
The Ohio Public Works Commission opened applications this week for Round 41 of its State Fiscal Year 2028 infrastructure funding, offering roughly $37 million for local projects that begin construction in 2027 or 2028.
City leaders in Columbus, Ohio, are positioning several transportation and land-use efforts to compete for those dollars while they advance separate safety and development programs already in motion. The timing matters because the Columbus Growth Strategy, adopted by the city in January 2026, now supplies the first citywide land-use map and policy to shape where housing and infrastructure dollars are spent.
Quick Build Toolkit Ordinance Moves Forward
Columbus City Council is sponsoring Ordinance 0133-2026 to appropriate money for a Quick Build Toolkit. The program is designed to deliver low-cost pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades on existing streets without waiting for full reconstruction cycles. Council action on the ordinance aligns with the Growth Strategy's emphasis on directing new housing growth toward areas already served by sidewalks and transit.
LinkUS remains the larger regional effort behind those street-level changes. COTA's plan calls for more than 500 miles of new bikeways, greenways and sidewalks across central Ohio. The Quick Build Toolkit is intended to test segments of that network on a faster timetable while permanent funding decisions are finalized.
Next Steps for Applicants and Residents
Local agencies and nonprofit partners can submit Round 41 applications through the commission's standard portal. Projects that tie directly to the Columbus Growth Strategy map or the LinkUS corridor plan are expected to receive priority scoring from state reviewers. Residents interested in specific corridors can review the adopted land-use map on the city's website to see which neighborhoods are designated for near-term investment.
City staff will continue to brief council on ordinance 0133-2026 and LinkUS progress reports through the summer. No additional public hearings on the funding round itself have been scheduled yet by the Ohio Public Works Commission.