Path for bicyclists, others, along Rt. 161 on Northwest Side in play again

On Jan 30, 2023

After being shelved for a decade, a proposed multi-purpose trail and sidewalk alongside Route 161 between Sawmill and Linworth roads on Columbus' Northwest Side could become a reality.

A decade after it was first discussed, the bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path along state Route 161 between Linworth and Sawmill Road on Columbus’ Northwest Side is back in play.

The project now would actually be two sections. The first would run along the south side of Route 161 between Sawmill and Thompson Street in the Linworth area, a 2.1-mile stretch that will connect with planned improvements to the Rt. 161-Linworth Road intersection.

Meanwhile, a sidewalk is planned for between Sawmill and Federated Boulevard on the north side of the road.

The project would cost $6.3 million. A decade ago, a similar plan would have cost $2.3 million.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has been reviewing the city of Columbus’ request for federal funding to help pay for the project. The city originally requested $4.5 million for construction and right-of-way acquisition, said Thomas Graham, senior planner for MORPC. But Graham said that the regional planning agency is recommending $2.26 million for Columbus after the city reduced its request so it could get some funding, with Columbus making up the rest.

The public will be able to comment on that and other projects through Feb. 8. Even if MORPC gives final approval later this year for the Route 161 path and money awarded, construction wouldn’t begin until 2028, Graham said.

The planning commission is recommending $148 million in funding for 23 projects, including the Route 161 path.

Back in 2013, officials discussed putting the path along the north side of Route 161 — West Dublin-Granville Road — between Sawmill and Linworth roads, fueling the ire of residents who didn’t want it running through their front yards.

Residents that year filed objections to the path as part of the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to assess environmental effects.

The plan was shelved in 2014 when the city was determining whether to widen the busy two-lane road. That never happened.

James Young, Columbus city engineer/division administrator of design and construction, said the route along the southern side on Route 161 was chosen to avoid that opposition.

Young said the new path would connect that part of Columbus to paths in Dublin and Worthington. It is on the Central Ohio Greenways proposal, he said.

The city tries to create separate paths for pedestrians. Route 161 needs that, he said.

“I see people biking on this road, I see people walking on this road,” Young said.

The most recent daily traffic count along that section of Route 161 was in 2019, when 16,707 vehicles were counted between Linworth Road and McVey Boulevard to the west.

Deb Briner, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Service, mentioned apartments have been built on the south side of Route 161 and residents there would easily be able to use the path. The District at Linworth has more than 300 apartments.

Josh Lapp, who chairs Transit Columbus, an advocacy group, said he believes there would be big demand for such a trail.

“One of the more important things to think about the overall bike and trail system regionally is we don’t have a lot of east-west connections in Columbus,” Lapp said.

This new trail would connect this area of the Northwest Side to Dublin’s growing Bridge Park area, he said.

Mike Devlin’s property backs up to the north side of Route 161. He bought his home in 2021, and was unaware of the decade-old neighborhood flap over the original north-side route.