Regional Corridor Analysis Study renamed insight2050 Corridor Concepts to reflect direction

(Columbus, OH – March 1, 2018) – Insight2050, a partnership of Central Ohio community organizations, announced today that Columbus Council President Shannon Hardin and Steiner & Associates CEO and ULI Columbus Chair Yaromir Steiner will lead a team of experts for insight2050 Corridor Concepts, formerly known as the Regional Corridor Analysis Study.  Hardin and Steiner, along with the assistance of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and the partners, will oversee the effort to analyze a variety of metrics to assess the impacts of compact development along five regional corridors, and the relationship between the corridors and high-capacity transit.

“The insight2050 Corridor Concepts effort is a unique public private partnership, that’s why I am excited for Council President Hardin and Yaromir Steiner to co-chair this important study,” states William Murdock, MORPC Executive Director. “Their experience, expertise and passion in leading this team will undoubtedly ensure that efforts to study these corridors are collaborative, cooperative and comprehensive for Columbus and surrounding communities.”

“Our region will grow by a million people over the next several decades,” said Columbus Council President Shannon Hardin. “The question is how will we grow? Will we densify to prioritize transit options and mixed-income neighborhoods or will we continue with business as usual? This planning effort builds upon important conversations to show how we can grow the right way and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

“This transit study is both timely and important as the information that is obtained from this effort will have an impact on the future growth of our city,” said Yaromir Steiner. “It’s an honor to be chairing this endeavor with Council President Shannon Hardin and to collaborate with these community organizations to conduct this important study.”

Under their leadership:

• Calthorpe Analytics, an urban planning and analysis company from Berkeley, California, is modeling both current and future conditions along each corridor to assess its potential for greater density in support of high-capacity transit.
• Market and economic analysis experts Strategic Economics out of Berkeley, California serves the team in developing local economic impacts analyses.
• National experts Fehr & Peers from Washington D.C. understand the impacts of new autonomous technology given the influence new mobility options will have on future land-use decisions and the efficacy of mass transit.
• Ice Miller, Columbus leaders and technical experts in public law, economic development, the internet of things, utilities, and municipal finance, will develop a market-sensitive strategy for each corridor with recommendations related to zoning codes, plans and policies, development incentives, workforce housing policies and smart mobility.
• Local firms OHM Advisors and Engage/MurphyEpson will design and manage effective stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Communities along the five corridors, Bexley, Dublin, Grandview Heights, Groveport, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Whitehall and others, will provide valuable insight into the analysis as they recognize the importance of the outcomes to their future development.

The partnership includes the cities of Columbus, Bexley, Dublin, Grandview Heights, Groveport, Reynoldsburg, Westerville and Whitehall, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the Columbus District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI Columbus), The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Partnership.

“The City of Reynoldsburg is excited to be a part of insight2050”, said Bill Sampson, Reynoldsburg Public Service Director. “We are currently developing a comprehensive master plan for our community and insight2050 will be a valuable tool on future land-use decisions.”

The results will lead to specific implementation recommendations and a set of objective and replicable evaluation criteria that could be applied to other corridors within the region for future study.  The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2018.

ABOUT ULI COLUMBUS

Media Contact:  Alicia Gaston, 614-596-0983, [email protected]  

ULI Columbus was established in 2008 as a District Council of the Urban Land Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization with the mission of providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining thriving communities worldwide. ULI has over 39,000 members worldwide representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines.