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Franklin County Engineer

As a local public works agency headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the Franklin County Engineer's Office is responsible for the maintenance and construction of 271 miles of county roadway and 351 county bridges, as well as upkeep of all county ditches, drains, retention basins, and other storm water facilities within the right-of-way of county roads in unincorporated areas. To meet the continuing development and infrastructure needs of Franklin County, the Engineer's Office utilizes the latest technologies for determining and maintaining roadway centerlines and boundaries; retracing and setting new monuments for original public land surveys; preparing geographic information system mapping for real estate tax assessments; and establishing precise countywide horizontal and vertical control to maintain uniformity in construction, surveying, and mapping.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
McKinley Avenue, under IR-670, between Harper Road and Harrison Road, is closed for IR-670 Bridge Rehabilitation. The closure will take place from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, for approximately two weeks, weather permitting.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Please join us in wishing Franklin County Engineer, Adam W. Fowler, P.E., P.S., a Happy Birthday! We hope you enjoy your day!
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Today is International Women’s Day, and we honor the contributions, resilience, and achievements of women across all industries. This year's theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.", is a call to action because an equitable future is only possible when every woman and girl has the power, rights, and opportunities to thrive. #IWD2025
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
We’re proud to be the first agency in Ohio accepted into the Safety Partnership Agreement (SPA) program! The Bureau of Workers' Compensation’s Public Employment Risk Reduction Program approved our application, recognizing our commitment to workplace safety and proactive risk management. Through this program, we’re dedicated to assisting agencies statewide by sharing expert guidance and best practices to promote safer workplaces. This achievement reflects our ongoing mission to protect our team and the communities we serve.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
There’s still time to share your thoughts in our short survey and help shape the way we serve YOU!

Take the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/B3mnajw1sv

Deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, March 19!

#YourCountyYourVoice
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
#TeamFCEO had a great time visiting the Hilliard Horizon Elementary PTO meeting to share details about our upcoming Renner Road project! We appreciate the opportunity to connect with the community, answer questions, and provide insight into the improvements ahead. Your feedback is valuable as we work to enhance safety and mobility in the area! Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for your support!
Franklin County Engineer's Office
970 DUBLIN ROAD
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
(614) 525-3030
fracoeng@franklincountyengineer.org

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Highway Chronicle Chapter 8

Highway Chronicle Chapter 8

Streetcars Provide Reliable Mud-Free Travel

building
Tram

In 1863, horse-drawn streetcar service, referred to as “the street railroad,” provided the first mud-free public transit in Franklin County. A ride down High Street, from Naghten Street to Livingston Avenue, cost just a nickel. Tracks were later added to Long Street in 1870, and State and Oak Streets in 1872.

Electric streetcars, powered by overhead wiring, were introduced to Columbus during the summer of 1887 when the new technology was tested on 11th Avenue, between High Street and the State Fairgrounds. This innovation lead to the development of countywide electric street car service. High Street was the first major route, inaugurated on January 14, 1891.

Decorative steel arches erected over High Street, to hold the electrified wiring for the streetcars, lead Columbus to be known as “the Arch City.”

Interurban streetcars that provided passenger and freight service between cities began operating in 1902. Once the large parlor cars left the busy streets of Columbus, they could travel more than 50 mph on their routes to Dayton, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Zanesville, Mt. Vernon, Mansfield and Cleveland. Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway.

By 1905, more than 700 miles of streetcar track ran through Franklin County and the central Ohio region. Popular destinations included the Ohio Statehouse; Palace, Ohio and Southern Theaters; State Fairgrounds; Buckeye Lake, Indianola, Olentangy, and Minerva Amusement Parks; Lazarus Department Store; and The Ohio State University.

The popularity of automobiles and buses, and the “Great Depression” of the 1930s brought about the end of interurban streetcar lines. Local streetcars, however, would remain in operation until replaced with trackless trolleys and diesel buses by the Columbus Transit Company.

The last streetcar ran on the Neil Avenue/Main Street Line on September 4, 1948.

If you listen closely, you can still hear the bells, the rattling change, and the conductor’s booming voice: “Next stop, Capital Square!”