On March 10, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-009 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-010 Plan and TIP Amendment Title:  Resurfacing Auburn Road (CH-4) and Thwing Road (CH-27), in Geauga County Sponsor:  Geauga County Engineer PID No. 80682 Estimated Total Cost: $570,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU History/Background: The Geauga County Engineer is the sponsor of a Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 – a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) House High Priority Projects (HHPP) Earmark No. 3901 (Traffic and safety improvements to county roadways in Geauga County, Ohio). On September 29, 2005, the Board of County Commissioners, Geauga County, Ohio approved Resolution Nos. 05-169 and 05-170, identifying Auburn Road and Thwing Road as the roads to be improved utilizing the earmark. Current Conditions:  Auburn Road is functionally classified as a rural major collector. It is a two-lane facility with lanes 11‘ wide, graded shoulders three feet wide, sealed shoulders three feet wide, and guardrails. The legal speed limit is 55 miles per hour (mph). The average daily traffic (ADT) is 2,615 vehicles per day with three percent trucks. Thwing Road is functionally classified as an urban local road. It is a two-lane facility with lanes 11 feet wide, graded shoulders three feet wide, paved shoulders three feet wide and guardrails. The legal speed limit is 45 miles per hour (mph). The average daily traffic (ADT) is 2,675 vehicles per day with three percent trucks. Proposed Project:  This project involves resurfacing the existing asphalt pavement (including paving shoulders) along 2.38 miles of Auburn Road (sections D and E), from Washington Street (CH-606) to Franks Road (TR-193) in Auburn Township and also along 2.88 miles of Thwing Road (sections A and B), from the Lake/Geauga county line to Auburn Road, in Chardon Township and Munson Township. The proposed pavement width for Auburn Road is 22 feet with three feet wide graded shoulders and two feet wide paved shoulders. The proposed pavement width for Thwing Road is 22 feet with three feet wide graded shoulders and paved shoulders three feet wide. The estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $570,000. The earmark total is $456,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($414,960) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, anything over $414,960 is the responsibility of the project sponsor. The Preliminary engineering (PE) and right-of-way (RW) costs will be borne by the sponsor. The Geauga County Engineer staff will design the project. The county engineer will request to administer the project following local standards. The project will be designed and ready to construct in summer 2007. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project serves NOACA’s System Preservation Goals. The sponsor must pay all costs over the obligation limit. Advance to Committee and public review with the understanding that the sponsor will make a good-faith effort to address questions and comments. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: Auburn: FHWA guidelines would call for a 6’ paved shoulder for a roadway with this speed (55 mph). While this wouldn’t be feasible for this project, the provision of a 2’ paved shoulder will improve bike accommodation. Thwing: This roadway segment will continue to provide 3’ paved shoulders, and is satisfactory as proposed. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) Recommendation: The BAC finds the Auburn Road project as proposed to be an improvement over the current situation due to the paving of 2’ of the shoulder. The BAC appreciates the efforts of the Geauga County Engineer to pave shoulders when possible. For Thwing Road, the project is fine as proposed. Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and TIP. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): If you are a representative of a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please e-mail us. Public Involvement: NOACA encourages comments from the public on this proposed transportation improvement project. Please notify us if you would like to be added to our e-mail notification list for future updates.