Worthington Seeks Federal Regional Grant to Replace Two Olentangy Trail Bridges
City Council approved Resolution No. 55-2026 to pursue MORPC grant funding for crossings near Tucker Drive and Whitney Avenue.
Worthington City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 8, 2026, to adopt Resolution No. 55-2026, authorizing the city manager to apply for federal grant funding through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to replace two aging pedestrian bridges along the Olentangy Trail, according to the city council's action record.
According to the adopted resolution, two bridges along the Olentangy Trail located near the Tucker Drive and Whitney Avenue trailheads are in need of replacement. The measure authorizes the city manager to apply to MORPC for federal Metropolitan Planning Organization funds and enter into necessary agreements to obtain the financial assistance. All seven council members present approved the resolution, according to the post-meeting summary.
The municipal grant application enters MORPC's biennial funding cycle for federal transportation dollars suballocated through the Ohio Department of Transportation. For the 2026 application cycle, MORPC projects approximately $109 million will be available for existing commitment updates and new funding commitments covering state fiscal years 2027 through 2033. Under MORPC's regional schedule, screening applications were due July 17, 2026, followed by final applications due Sept. 25, 2026. The regional agency administers funds originating from federal programs including the Surface Transportation Block Grant, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement, Carbon Reduction, and Transportation Alternatives programs.
The bridge replacement initiative aligns with ongoing municipal transportation investments in Worthington. At the same Sept. 8 meeting, council members also approved Ordinance No. 26-2026, funding the city's 2026 Active Transportation and Mobility Services Project to support multi-modal mobility planning and infrastructure throughout the community.
The municipal resolution and post-meeting records did not disclose specific engineering cost estimates, required local matching fund amounts, or formal structural condition ratings for the two trail bridges.
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City Council Post-Meeting Reports · September 8, 2026 · other
Supporting evidence (3)
Worthington City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 8, 2026, to adopt Resolution No. 55-2026, authorizing the city manager to apply for federal grant funding through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to replace two aging pedestrian bridges along the Olentangy Trail, according to the city council's action record.
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Council members voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 55-2026.
All seven council members present approved the resolution, according to the post-meeting summary.
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Council members voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 55-2026.
At the same Sept. 8 meeting, council members also approved Ordinance No. 26-2026, funding the city's 2026 Active Transportation and Mobility Services Project to support multi-modal mobility planning and infrastructure throughout the community.
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Ordinance No. 26-2026 – Appropriation – Active Transportation and Mobility Services Project
City Council Resolutions · Resolution No. 55-2026 · resolution
Supporting evidence (2)
According to the adopted resolution, two bridges along the Olentangy Trail located near the Tucker Drive and Whitney Avenue trailheads are in need of replacement.
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Two bridges along the Olentangy Trail located near the Tucker Drive and Whitney Avenue trailheads are in need of replacement
The measure authorizes the city manager to apply to MORPC for federal Metropolitan Planning Organization funds and enter into necessary agreements to obtain the financial assistance.
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SECTION 2. The City Manager is hereby authorized to apply to MORPC for Federal MPO Funds for the Olentangy Trail Bridge Replacement Project.
https://www.morpc.org/programs-services/morpc-attributable-funding-for-transportation/
Supporting evidence (2)
For the 2026 application cycle, MORPC projects approximately $109 million will be available for existing commitment updates and new funding commitments covering state fiscal years 2027 through 2033.
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MORPC currently projects approximately $109 million will be available for existing commitment updates and new funding commitments for state fiscal years (SFY) 2027-2033.
Under MORPC's regional schedule, screening applications were due July 17, 2026, followed by final applications due Sept. 25, 2026.
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Screening Applications Due: July 17, 2026, by 5:00 PM Final Applications Due: September 25, 2026, by 5:00 PM