On September 10, 2010 the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2010-032 Project Planning Review and Resolution No. 2010-033 Plan Amendment. Title: Streetscape Enhancements along Detroit Avenue in Lakewood Sponsor: City of Lakewood Name: CUY LAKEWOOD STREETSCAPE PID No.: 87617 Estimated Total Cost: $415,615 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: 2009 Appropriations Earmark Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Earmark (Project TC0904) History/Background: In December 2007, the City of Lakewood, in partnership with Lakewood Community Progress, Inc. (LCPI)/DBA Lakewood Alive, a 501c (3) community development corporation, completed the Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan, a conceptual streetscape and redevelopment plan for Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, with an emphasis on the City’s downtown district – a 0.8 mile stretch of Detroit Avenue, between Arthur Avenue and Bunts Road. In November 2009, the City of Lakewood was awarded a Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Appropriations Earmark in the amount of $332,500 for Detroit Avenue public right-of-way improvements, which, the sponsor reports, is a portion of the Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan. According to the sponsor, the purpose of the proposed improvements is to revitalize and sustain Lakewood’s downtown by calming and improvements, organizing traffic flow through reconfiguration of rights-of-way, and by restoring the connections across the public and private spaces through beautification of the public realm. The implementation of portions of the Detroit Avenue streetscape improvement project will create an environment where residents and visitors can find a cohesive sense of place in Lakewood’s downtown, and ensure that it continues to serve as a destination neighborhood and thriving center of economic activity for the community. Proposed Project: The proposed project involves streetscape improvements along Detroit Avenue, between Arthur Avenue and Bunts Road, in Lakewood (location map). The improvements include ornamental signal poles, decorative street lighting, stamped concrete crosswalks and sidewalks, and enhanced signage in Lakewood’s downtown district. The total FY 2009 Appropriations Earmark amount is $332,500. Of the earmark amount, $219,645 was applied to the City of Lakewood’s traffic signal upgrade along Detroit Avenue, from Arthur Avenue to Cohassett Avenue, in Lakewood (CUY LAKEWOOD SIGNALS [PHASE II]: PID No. 82794) to include some of the proposed streetscape work elements (i.e. decorative signal poles, decorative street name signs and decorative informational signs) into the signal project to allow the work to be done concurrently, and funds to be used most efficiently and effectively. $112,855 remains from the original amount earmark of $332,500. The estimated cost of the remaining work elements is $141,069. Eighty percent ($112,855) of the construction cost will be funded with the FY 2009 Appropriations Earmark. The City of Lakewood will provide the 20 percent non-federal match of $28,214. Staff Comment (Summary): Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project is consistent with NOACA’s Connections 2030 Plan Goals #3 (Preserve and Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System), #7 (Reinvestment in the Urban Core) and #10 (Quality of Life through Attention to Aesthetics) and ODOT’s Access Ohio 2004 - 2030 Goal #2 (Economic Development and Quality of Life). Recommend committee and public review in order to obtain comments. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: This section of Detroit Avenue carries 127 average weekday buses (both directions) from the Greater Cleeland Regional Transit Authority’s route #26, as of December 2009. 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. "It doesn’t appear that the proposed project includes trees or other plantings. Metropolitan areas with adequate tree cover are much better places to live and having more trees in the yard and along the streets pays big dividends. In consideration of the cost of pavement, trees provide shade and it has been demonstrated that the shade helps extend the life of the pavement. Trees in urban areas function like the public utilities reducing storm water runoffs, improving air quality, and reducing energy consumption. This could be an opportunity to create a streetscape that has multiple benefits to the city related to storm water attenuation through infiltration and evapo transpiration, air and water quality improvements. If trees are planted, we encourage the use of a good soil medium with enough room for the tree roots to spread. In addition, the tree should be planted to allow for the adequate spread of the canopy." - Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District RTA strongly supports this project as it enhances the streetscape and contains bus stop enhancements to bus key waiting areas on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. It will benefit public transit. RTA worked closely with the City on the NOACA funded TLCI plan for this area a few years ago on transit stop locations and amenities. RTA has also funded a Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) project with Lakewood for enhancements near the project area. RTA is concerned over maintenance of traffic issues during construction of the streetscape improvements. It is also concerned that bus pads are installed to avoid pavement issues in the future. - GCRTA 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. Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan.