Hilliard council approves $400,000 design contract to start Leap Road South improvements

HILLIARD, Ohio — The Hilliard City Council on April 14 voted 7-0 to authorize a professional services agreement to begin preliminary engineering for the Leap Road South Improvements (Resolution 25R28).

City staff said the action authorizes the city manager to contract with EMH&T Inc. for preliminary engineering and appropriates $400,000 in capital funds already included in this year’s budget. A staff member described the work as a kickoff for “a pretty large project” that will advance survey, concept plans and community engagement.

The council-approved resolution also allows the city manager to enter into transit‑supportive infrastructure (TSI) funding agreements with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). Staff told council that, because Cemetery Road is a transit corridor, the Leap Road project was the city’s top TSI candidate and COTA has allocated a little more than $6,000,000 toward the project in the five‑year CIP.

Why it matters: Staff said constructing sidewalks, a shared‑use path and related drainage and right‑of‑way work makes roughly 60% of the project eligible for TSI funding. That federal- and regional‑level support reduces the local burden for the corridor upgrades and aims to improve pedestrian and bicycle access along a busy arterial.

Council members pressed staff on cost items and timing. A staff member said mini‑roundabouts mentioned in the project materials are not currently included in the baseline cost estimate; the preliminary engineering contract will study whether smaller roundabout designs would fit the corridor and add safety benefits. On public engagement, the staff member said surveys and in‑person outreach are expected later this year after preliminary surveying and data collection.

On schedule, a staff presentation included a rough long‑range target for project completion around 2030 and said acquiring right‑of‑way could take “at least 18 months” for roughly 75 parcels. The staff member emphasized the $400,000 contract is to begin preliminary engineering only; later phases would require future council appropriations.

Council voted unanimously on the measure. Dee, the clerk, recorded the roll call as: Emily Cole — yes; Cynthia Vermillion — yes; Vice President Teeter — yes; President Catone — yes; Greg Betts — yes; Peggy Hale — yes; Frank Carrier — yes.

City staff said the design contract will be supplemented in future years if council appropriates funding to move detailed design forward and that COTA funds will cover the pedestrian and bicycle components of the corridor improvements.

Looking ahead: Staff said preliminary design and community engagement will inform cost estimates and potential features such as compact roundabouts, and that further legislation will come back to council for additional appropriations and consultant selection.