Timeline of ODOT Clearing and Community Advocacy

ODOT assessed and determined that the I70 corridor along Thomas Ave in Franklinton Type 1 sound wall and scheduled for construction as part of an I-70 project planned to begin in 2035.

ODOT conducted extensive vegetation clearing along Thomas Avenue and Green Street in the ODOT right-of-way (ROW) via contracted workers.
Cleared up to 100 feet from the highway, despite a 30-foot clear zone recommendation and the presence of guardrails and steep slopes (>1:3H)—unrecoverable slope and critical slopes where vegetation removal has different standards (600.2) and soil erosion is a major concern.
The cleared area was previously fully vegetated with mature trees and shrubs that provided noise, air quality, and erosion control benefits.
Video of removal

The Franklinton Area Neighborhood Civic Association (FAN), led by Rebecca Hunley, organized a Walk-the-Block (walkthrough of directly impacted areas along Thomas Ave) with:

Rep Jarrells and ODOT officials seemed visibly surprised at the level of impact on noise and exposure during the walk along Thomas Avenue.
A public meeting followed, where ODOT representatives were unwilling to directly respond to rationale for the excessive clearing, giving multiple insufficient or incorrect reasons: invasive removal, unhoused individuals, and “clear zones.” Residents indicated that they received no notice of the work and were “devastated” by the impacts of the clearing.

Rebecca Hunley and FAN coordinated with Representative Jarrells to organize a formal meeting with Franklinton residents, ODOT representatives, and City of Columbus Urban Forestry Team
Key Outcomes:

ODOT acknowledged that contractors mistakenly cut city-owned trees.
ODOT committed to removing and replacing the broken fence along Thomas Avenue, although this creates an issue about clarity of boundaries between ODOT right of way and city right of way.
They indicated the fence removal would happen in Spring 2025, allowing for replanting as soon as the fence was installed.
ODOT offered to let the city or residents replant in non-sloped and non-drainage areas along Thomas in the ODOT right of way.
City of Columbus reaffirmed their role and desire to plant in city ROW areas and inability to plant or manage trees on non-city property.
ODOT indicated that residents of Franklinton would need to foot the bill of replanting trees they should not have removed, when this is a low-income neighborhood where the median household income is nearly half of the Columbus average.

Community members began working with Green Columbus to gain access to free seedlings for an April 2025 planting along Green/Thomas.
Residents contacted ODOT to confirm the timeline for fence replacement in order to make plans for replanting.
ODOT stated that fence replacement is now scheduled for Fall 2025, delaying the agreed upon timeline and delaying any replanting along Thomas until Spring 2026 at the earliest.

ODOT representatives informed community members that ODOT would continue clearing the I70 corridor from the Mound Street exit up to West Broad Street.
Concerns raised about proximity to schools (Starling K-8, West Central School for Developmental Disabilities).
ODOT claimed that contractors would only clear 30 feet from the guardrail but would conduct “selective management” beyond that.
Given prior experiences, the community expressed serious concerns and requested clarity on what the community could expect, pushing for transparency and compliance with ODOT’s design standards.
Footage of cleared area at Town and I70 on 2/27: https://youtu.be/R5Xt8OJW51Q

Residents spoke with ODOT’s Noise and Air Quality Coordinator, about the potential to apply for a Type 2 Noise Wall—a noise barrier ODOT will install independent of a current ODOT construction project. This is available to neighborhoods that predated the highway, like Franklinton.
Residents were encouraged to apply for a Type 2 noise wall for both SR315 and I70 corridors.

All sections of I70 to W Broad have 30ft clear zone past guard rails complete. Contractors (Russell Tree Service) cutting mature trees down by the fence along the sports fields.
Residents inquired about their scope and contractors communicated they were clearing the drainage area, along the fence, and leaving as many other trees as possible.
March 20th, 2025
Third conversation with ODOT Noise and Air Quality Coordinator to confirm details before a community canvassing for signatures, included in the Type 2 Noise Wall application.
Organizers were informed that Franklinton is not eligible for a noise wall since it is on the list for a Type 1 wall, scheduled for late 2030s. Clarified that SR315 will never be eligible with the current residential density.
This means that once the neighborhood was determined to need a sound barrier in 2010, residents were then prevented from the possibility of seeking any solid barrier before ODOT’s next project in 2035+.
During this 25-year window, all vegetation was removed in the area determined to need the barrier.

Green Columbus provided 350 seedlings to plant in areas unaffected by the fence replacement, primarily along Green Street.
Residents planted seedlings in the vacant lot at Green and Bellows to grow (as a tree nursery) before planting along Thomas in 2026.

Begin planting seedlings along Thomas Ave
Continue to advocate for resources from ODOT and the City of Columbus to plant more mature trees in the cleared areas.