Communities Receive Funding to Conduct Transportation Planning Studies

Six Northeast Ohio communities are on the way to preparing studies that can strengthen neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for residents. At its meeting today, the Governing Board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) awarded planning grants totaling $845,000 for 13 projects as part of the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) planning grant program. The TLCI helps communities in Northeast Ohio obtain federal funding and technical assistance for planning studies that strengthen community livability.

“When projects are thoughtfully planned from the beginning, they’re more likely to be funded and implemented,” says Howard R. Maier, NOACA executive director. “We’re pleased to help communities get a funding boost to develop comprehensive plans for their transportation improvements through the TLCI.”

Eight of the Board-approved projects are for neighborhoods in the city of Cleveland, and there is one each in the cities of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Euclid, Eastlake and Elyria. Projects include streetscape and beautification plans, transportation connection plans, access and mobility plans, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and travel corridor improvements.

In other business, the Governing Board voted to add seven new projects to Connections 2030, the region’s long-range transportation plan, and three of these projects to the State Fiscal Years 2008 – 2011 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Connections 2030 is the regional plan that outlines the development of Northeast Ohio’s transportation system and identifies transportation investments that are planned through the year 2030. The TIP is the comprehensive, four-year listing of federal-aid highway, transit, bikeway and enhancement projects scheduled for implementation in NOACA’s five counties (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina). Details about all seven projects can be viewed on NOACA’s website at http://www.noaca.org/mar2011ppr.html. Governing Board members also advanced a preventive maintenance project on I-490 in Maple Heights, North Randall, Bedford Heights, and Warrensville Heights from the long-range plan to the TIP, so that it can receive federal funding.

For more information, contact Cheryl Onesky, Senior Communications Specialist, at 241-2414, extension 221; or Jonathan Giblin, Director of Programs, ext. 346.