With spring upon us in the capital city, we’re all about change. There’s a vibrancy in the air and that’s apparent in our latest roundup of the biggest stories on Columbus Underground. Co-founder and editor Walker Evans sat down to discuss everything from Liz Lessner’s influential legacy to the latest murmurs about when we’ll get passenger rail. There are plenty of renderings to peruse, too.
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The city’s transit system is going through a transformation. At least that’s the intention. On the occasion of an impending transfer of power and a sales tax issue on the ballot this fall to bulk up services, Columbus Underground reporter Brent Warren sat down with both the outgoing and incoming CEOs of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (or COTA) to discuss the shift in leadership, the transportation projects set to be on the ballot this fall, and what’s next for the former Greyhound station in Downtown.
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We’re exploring the evolution of Downtown with Michael Brown, who has been a cornerstone in the city’s development planning and worked both in and outside city government to cheer on its growth. Columbus Underground Co-Founder Walker Evans and Brown delve into the city’s challenges and triumphs, the synergy between projects, the balance between iconic and neighborhood-level public art investments, and the concerted efforts to address systemic issues like homelessness and affordable housing. Through anecdotes and insights, they highlight Columbus’ young, creative energy and the dynamic urban policies that continue to drive its growth.
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Access to transportation is not just about the journey but the opportunities it creates.
This week, Columbus Underground Co-Founder Walker Evans sat down with the staff at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to discuss the plan for LinkUS, Central Ohio’s strategic transportation initiative.
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How should eScooters, ride-hailing apps, and car-share services be considered in the conversation about alternative transportation? Can we think of them as a public good when they are for-profit entities? This week, Columbus Underground reporter Brent Warren discusses the options for last-mile transit that exist in Columbus, how they came to be, and the motivations and incentives for the companies that get us from point A to point B.
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Columbus is the largest city in the country without any form of rail service. That might not be changing anytime soon but plans are coming together for an alternative by way of the LinkUS Columbus initiative: Bus Rapid Transit. In today’s episode, Josh Lapp of Transit Columbus talks about the plan, how to convince people that we need transit, and what Amtrak service in Columbus may look like.
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With the threat of protests and the coronavirus raging, what’s going to happen to downtown Columbus? On the occasion of his recent retirement, we spoke with the former executive director of the two downtown special improvement districts, Cleve Ricksecker, about the state of downtown, why he retired, and why Columbus needs a screamer.
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When is Columbus getting a hyperloop?! Reporter Brent Warren spoke with MORPC’s Director of Transportation & Infrastructure Development, Thea Ewing, to discuss where things stand with plans for the hyperloop, what’s holding Columbus back from having mass transit, and the importance of redundancies in technology; including transportation.
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The City of Reynoldsburg is in for some big changes in the coming years. How they go about that change and get buy-in from their residents is key to their success. Reporter Brent Warren sat down with OHM Advisors Principal Aaron Domini and the city’s Director of Development Andrew Bowsher to talk about how they’re approaching the coming changes and best practices for planning for the future.
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Is Columbus ever going to get light rail? Is that what Columbus really needs? Reporter Brent Warren sat down with Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission Executive Director William Murdock to discuss the work that MORPC does, where the region is going, the difference between developing a plan and implementing it, and how to ignite the conversation about transit change in Columbus.
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Columbus’s suburbs will play a big role in how we’re able to grow in the future. Reporter Brent Warren sat down with Whitehall’s mayor Kim Maggard and Economic Development Director Zach Woodruff to discuss the new mixed-use development plans in Whitehall, how they believe they are uniquely positioned to grow in the years to come, and what you may not know about Whitehall.
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How is Columbus going to deal with its anticipated growth? Former United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, who was in town for MORPC’s State of the Region meeting sat down with Columbus Underground reporter Brent Warren to discuss that, the importance of helping people with technology, and autonomous vehicles.
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