• Work on Alum Creek Drive to Start in June
• Port Limits of Columbus Extended to Include Rickenbacker Area and More
• COTA Announces New Route through Rickenbacker Area
• Rickenbacker Hosts Chinese-Based Company
• Navy Operational Support Center at Rickenbacker Selected for Prestigious Award
• Myrtle Beach Service Returns to Rickenbacker International Airport
• Plans Underway to Celebrate First Cargo Flight
• Concert Group Logistics Opens Office Near Rickenbacker
• REAN 2010 Meeting Dates Online

As the main access route between the Rickenbacker area and I-270, Alum Creek Drive handles an enormous amount of automobile and truck traffic. Additionally, vehicle traffic is projected to increase 60 percent by the year 2030. Work is slated to begin this summer to alleviate current congestion issues and avoid future problems at the Alum Creek Drive-Groveport Road intersection.

The $13.3 million project has two phases with the first phase creating new through lanes northbound and southbound on Alum Creek Drive. This work is scheduled to begin in June 2010 and take about a year to complete. A new bypass roadway for Groveport Road traffic will be constructed during the second phase. This work will include two roundabouts and an overpass bridge over Alum Creek Drive, resulting in traffic flowing more efficiently. This phase is expected to be completed in 2012. With these new improvements, the average vehicle transit time through the intersection will go from over three minutes to about 20 seconds.

“This is a game-changer for the Columbus region,” said Ty Marsh, President and CEO, Columbus Chamber. “Infrastructure improvements are critical for the continued growth of the logistics industry and the completion of the Alum Creek project will remove a significant barrier to growth of this industry.”

Multiple agencies are partnering to fund this vital project for the Rickenbacker area including the state of Ohio through the Logistics and Distribution Stimulus Program and the Department of Transportation, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Franklin County and the Village of Obetz as well as funds from private companies in the area. The construction project will be administered by the Franklin County Engineer's Office.

“By alleviating the congestion issues along Alum Creek Drive, we'll assure that the Rickenbacker area remains a desired location for state-of-the art warehouse and distribution facilities,” explained Robin Holderman, Vice President of Real Estate for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

The Rickenbacker area is an international logistics hub that offers great incentives to established and potential companies doing business in the area. Recently the list of incentives just got longer with the extension of Columbus’ port limits.

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority partnered with Norfolk Southern more than two years ago to ask the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to extend the current port boundaries to include the Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker Intermodal Terminal and surrounding infrastructures. The change went into effect on January 6 and was expanded to include all of Franklin County and the part of Pickaway County that is east of U.S. Route 23 and north of State Route 752.

The new port limits now cover almost all of the companies in the Rickenbacker area allowing these companies to easily work with CBP to quickly receive goods and avoid expenses from doing business outside of the port boundaries. The goal of the change was to make the boundaries more easily identifiable to the public and importers. It also makes it more efficient and convenient for companies to access facilities and resources in the port of Columbus.

The port of Columbus boundary expanded on January 6 to include all of Franklin County and a portion of northern Pickaway County. The blue line outlines the new boundary and the black outlines the old port boundary.

COTA’s extended #81 bus route to the Rickenbacker area.

In response to customer requests, COTA has announced extended service to the Rickenbacker area. The #81 bus route now travels on weekdays along Alum Creek Drive south of Williams Road on eight trips – four trips for the morning commute and four trips for the afternoon commute.

The #81 bus route travels south on Alum Creek Drive, east on Spiegel Drive, south on Port Road, west on London Groveport Road, and then north on Alum Creek Drive. The welcomed bus route will increase service to and make employment more attractive in the Rickenbacker area.

The already established #50 Rickenbacker Express route has had its afternoon trip times modified to accommodate the 4:30 p.m. shifts the businesses in the area maintain.

Recently the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) at Rickenbacker was named the 2009 Navy Reserve Family Readiness recipient. Annually the Department of Defense recognizes a unit from each reserve component from the U.S. military for exceptional family readiness while maintaining superior mission readiness.

“Winning the prestigious award would not be possible without the dedicated support our sailors and families receive from the Rickenbacker and surrounding communities,” explains Commanding Officer Mike Varias of the NOSC. “Out of the hundreds of commands under the Navy Reserve Force, I am proud to say we were considered the ‘best of the best’ and will honorably represent the Navy Reserve Component at the Department of Defense recognition ceremony in the Pentagon at the Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C. in February.”

The NOSC was acknowledged for having notable collaboration with local civilian and military enterprises as well as support for sailors and families including many children and youth-specific programs plus a monthly newsletter addressing various family readiness topics.

Golfers and beach bums can now rejoice: flights from Rickenbacker International Airport to Myrtle Beach resume April 21 on Saturdays and Wednesdays from Direct Air.

“We are delighted that Direct Air will be returning to the Central Ohio market for a third season,” said Rickenbacker International Airport's David Whitaker, Vice President of Business Development & Communications. “Many travelers enjoy the ease of using the Rickenbacker Charter Terminal and appreciate the convenient non-stop service that Direct Air provides to Myrtle Beach.”

On Nov. 7, 1910, hundreds of people gathered in Columbus to witness history in the making as the first air cargo flight took place. Philip Parmalee, a 24 year old pilot, flew the “Model B” airplane that was designed by Orville and Wilbur Wright. The airplane was contracted by the Morehouse-Martens Dry Goods Company of Columbus to carry $800 worth of silk. Flying without a compass, Parmalee used a map and the sun to guide his journey from Dayton to Columbus.

November 2010 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first air cargo flight and plans are being made to recognize this monumental moment in history that has significantly impacted, shaped and changed our world. More information will be shared in upcoming editions of Rickenbacker Area Report.

Concert Group Logistics (CGL), an Illinois-based logistics company, recently opened its Columbus station under the leadership of Dwayne Hill.

“We’re excited about bringing CGL to the Columbus market. At a time when personalized customer service is becoming a commodity, CGL is excited to join that niche, especially in the Columbus area,” said Hill. “I’m confident our team will be able to continually provide our customers great service because of the area’s benefits, especially the international logistics hub at Rickenbacker.”

For the past four years, Hill has owned and operated the CGL Cincinnati station. He has achieved great success in the area and decided to expand into the Columbus market. Hill hired Megan Novak and Steve Grooms to handle sales and operations for the new station. Combined the team has 41 years of local experience and shares a dedication to providing the highest level of personalized customer service. Novak also serves on the Board of the Columbus Regional Air Cargo Association, a local organization that brings educational, networking and growth opportunities to the air cargo industry.
  
CGL’s local market experts deliver domestic and international shipping solutions through a network of 27 stations within the U.S., and a global network of over 2,500 qualified partners spanning 500 markets. Founded in 2001, CGL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Express-1 Expedited Solutions.

The Rickenbacker Employer Assistance Network’s (REAN) 2010 meeting dates are now posted online.

REAN is a volunteer network of human resource professionals and area business owners interested in leveraging each others’ resources and strengths to further develop and grow the Rickenbacker area.

Meetings are held from noon until 1 p.m. on the second or third Wednesday of each month, January – November. Meeting locations are often sponsored by an area business. Participation in REAN is free. The next meeting in is scheduled for noon on February 17.

Contact Christopher Kitchen at (614) 239-4079 for more information.