Video shows before and after of Winter Storm Fern as Franklin County issued its first ever level 3 snow emergency.
Editor’s Note: Beat notes is a weekly feature from Dispatch journalists who share what’s been happening in their area of coverage and upcoming events. This week we hear from Nathan Hart, who covers transportation and south Columbus.
Working my beat
A lot of transportation news tips I get either come from readers or from other Dispatch employees. Most people use the roads, take occasional flights and get stuck in traffic, so when something new is happening, they find a way to let me know. I also keep in frequent contact with transportation agencies like COTA, ODOT and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, who keep me informed of any big changes coming along.
For my South Columbus reporting, I keep an eye on public meeting agendas, press releases and community groups to stay informed of what’s happening in the area.
Another big part of my beat is my weekly transportation column, Getting There. I use it to explore the nitty-gritty details of transportation in central Ohio and to report construction projects people should look out for in their daily lives.
Top recent stories
The biggest recent transportation story was Winter Storm Fern, which left central Ohio with snow covered roads for days on end. I ventured out into the snow to report on when Columbus expected its roads to be passable again, and I wrote about how COTA fared during Franklin County’s first ever Level 3 snow emergency.
Outside of the storm, I recently dove into the history behind Interstate 270 being named after Jack Nicklaus (a surprisingly complicated subject) and I researched why everyone’s headlights these days are so bright.
On the south Columbus side of things, I figured out what a highly secured warehouse on the South Side was being used for and I wrote about a former Urbancrest employee who the Ohio Auditor of State issued a finding against.
Upcoming stories
COTA and LinkUS plan to break ground on the West Broad Street bus rapid transit corridor sometime in 2026, which will be a big transportation story. Construction season will also start back up once the weather gets warmer, which will surely lead to multiple stories from yours truly.
I’ve also got some longer-form story ideas and a big project I’m working on, but I don’t want to spoil them! Just know that if something transportation or South Columbus-related happens, I’ll be there.
Transportation and neighborhoods reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at [email protected], at @NathanRHart on X and at nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
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