Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commision State of the Region Hosts Former USDOT Secretary Foxx

Visiting Columbus as the keynote speaker for the annual MORPC State of the Region luncheon, Former Secretary of the USDOT, Anthony Foxx, delivered a poignant, and at times personal, address to Central Ohio’s politicos, decision makers, planners, and designers. Discussing both his own experience growing up in a Charlotte neighborhood flanked by highways and the direct relationship between transportation, connections, and socioeconomic relations, Secretary Foxx specifically called out Columbus’ own Long Street Bridge and Cultural Wall as a successful beginning step to literally bridge the gap between these differences. 

After the conference, Brian Kinzelman, MKSK co-founder and principal, had the opportunity to cohost a private tour of the Long Street Bridge and Cultural Wall for Secretary Foxx. Joining the group were, Jack Marchbanks, ODOT Director, Jennifer Gallagher, Columbus Public Service Director, William Murdock, and MORPC Executive Director. Mr. Marchbanks led the introduction to the project while Brian followed up with details including the planning, design process, and costs associated with completing a large infrastructure and highway cap park. “Secretary Foxx was very engaged,” said Brian, “He was excited to see innovative design executions to help answer social problems the entire country faces – and how Columbus is seizing the opportunity to create prototypes for other cities to utilize.”