Politics
Columbus City Council Approves 2026 Transportation Improvement Ordinance, Directing Funds to Street Repairs and Bus Expansions
The ordinance allocates 45 million dollars for road work on 120 miles of city streets and adds bus service on four routes serving neighborhoods east of downtown.
How we reported this
Columbus City Council voted 7 to 2 on July 7 to pass the 2026 Transportation Improvement Ordinance. The measure sets aside 45 million dollars from the capital budget for pavement resurfacing and bus route changes that begin in September.
Why the Ordinance Comes Up Now
The city completed its annual pavement condition survey in May. That survey showed 38 percent of local streets rated poor or failing. Council members reviewed the findings during budget hearings in June before final action this week.
The ordinance also responds to ridership data from the Central Ohio Transit Authority. COTA reported a 12 percent rise in weekday boardings on routes that serve the Near East Side and Linden since 2024. The new funds will extend service hours on those lines by one hour each weekday evening.
How the Changes Reach Residents
Residents on the East Side will gain an additional stop at the intersection of Main Street and 18th Avenue. That addition shortens the walk for riders who now transfer twice to reach downtown jobs. Street crews will also mill and repave Livingston Avenue between Parsons Avenue and Nelson Road, a stretch used by 18,000 vehicles daily.
Property owners along the repaving corridors will not face new assessments. The work is paid from the capital budget already approved in the 2025 city operating plan. Drivers on those streets can expect single-lane closures during daytime hours for eight weeks starting in October.
City records show the 45 million dollar total breaks down to 32 million for pavement and 13 million for transit equipment and scheduling. The Department of Public Service will publish weekly construction updates on its website beginning August 1.
Implementation starts with design reviews this month. Bids for the first paving contracts will open in late August, with work crews on site by early fall.