On September 8, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-035 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-036 Plan and TIP Amendment Title:  Cuyahoga Community College Entrance Improvements Sponsor:  Cuyahoga County Engineer Estimated Total Cost: $975,000 PID No. 80972 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU History/Background: The Cuyahoga Community College received an earmark from SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation law, (House High Priority Projects (HHPP) Earmark Nos. 1798 and 3431). The earmarks are for road improvements from Richmond Road to Cuyahoga Community College. Current Conditions: According to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), the Eastern Campus has 6,000 credit students enrolled and thousands of annual visitors. Tri-C reports that almost 101,000 cars, 80 special event buses, 22,152 Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) buses (route nos. 14 and 94), and 2,340 paratransit and regular school buses travel to the Eastern campus each year, placing demands on the campus parking facilities, roadways, access drives and curbs. Tri-C developed a strategy to improve transportation required for the eastern campus, in coordination with a Master Plan and the eastern campus’ daily operations. The Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office is the management agency to oversee the design and construction of the project. Proposed Project:  The project involves treatments to various parking facilities and roadways within the Tri-C campus based on the priority and available funding: - Lot G (including the lower exit to Maintenance Drive – estimated construction cost, $500,000); - Lot D (all areas except the handicap parking area - estimated construction cost, $250,000); - Lot A (staff and facility lots - estimated construction cost, $110,000); and - Lot C (estimated construction cost, $115,000) The estimated total cost for these facilities is $975,000. The SAFETEA-LU HHPP earmark (No. 1798) is $120,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($109,200) has been applied to the earmark total. The SAFETEA-LU HHPP earmark (No. 3431) is $1,080,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($982,800) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, a combined total of $1,092,000 in earmark funding is available to the sponsor for this project. Anything over $1,092,000 is the responsibility of the project sponsor. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: The sponsor is responsible for 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: The eligibility to use federal funds for this project should be determined. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): On a site visit, no bicycle parking facilities were seen. Provide covered bike parking or lockers in each parking lot as near as possible to the buildings. Transit Council: Tri-C East is a major destination and traffic generator in this region. RTA provides service to the campus with the #94 and #14. RTA navigates around the campus using Richmond Road and looping around the back in front of Metro Health to Robert Bishop Drive. The College constructed a bus turn out on Robert Bishop to maintain traffic flow on the roadway and allow RTA to layover in this area. RTA utilizes this area extensively. This area was also studied for a possible extension of the Blue Line. As part of that project, RTA identified improvements that could potentially be made to better serve the area with a variety of bus and circulator routes under a “TSM” or transportation system management plan. While officially this project is not under present consideration, RTA is advocating the preservation of right-of-way for a future extension project. Any public improvements should not preclude future improvements. RTA must continue to provide service to this important institution. It is important that any roadwork is completed with materials that withstand the heavy weight and turning movements of RTA buses. The roadways have sidewalks along them for passengers to walk from the bus towards the campus. The roadways must be wide enough to accommodate the size of the buses. No improvement should be made that in any way precludes the use by a transit vehicle especially on the main roadway system. Any improvements that can accommodate additional amenities or services to transit patrons would be welcomed. RTA requests an opportunity to participate in the design of the project in order to insure transit’s requirements are addressed in the early stages of design. 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 email us. Public Involvement: NOACA encourages comments from the public on this proposed transportation improvement project. 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