Traveling thru Columbus Ohio on I -71 need a motel near by.

There are quite a number of hotels in that price range in that area.  I can't tell if they are in a safe area or not because I don't know Columbus.  The reviews for these hotels are not very good.  The best reviews in that price range were for the Varsity Inn South Hotel and the Motel 6 Columbus OSU

There's a train that runs right next to the Varsity Inn South Hotel - I work about a mile from there.  It's just south of The Ohio State University campus.  There's a Tim Hortons, Wendy's and a Bob Evans right there.  The Motel 6 Columbus OSU is close to Riverside Hospital so there's some medical offices right there in the area...no train next door.  El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant is close to this.  I'd lean toward 6...

Try hotwire.com for booking a $60 motel.