The NOACA Governing Board approved the following project as a candidate to be amended to the NOACA Transportation Plan and in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) by adopting Resolution No. 2004-029 on June 11, 2004.
Title: Fitch Road Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad Grade Separation
Sponsor: Cuyahoga County Engineer
Estimated Total Cost: $6,700,000
Proposed Source of Federal Funds: Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) earmark and NOACA funds
History/Background:
The Fitch Road Grade Separation is listed in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century legislation, Ohio Demonstration Projects, dated 7/10/98. A $3,844,123 appropriation was secured for the project. Olmsted Township Board of Trustees passed resolution No. 4-04 on January 22, 2004 encouraging the Cuyahoga County Engineers office to facilitate a railroad grade separation at Fitch Road and the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Current Conditions:
Fitch Road is two lane road with a pavement width of twenty-two feet (22’) and uncurbed shoulders 1’ – 2’ feet wide. Fitch Road is functionally classified as an urban minor arterial. The average daily traffic (ADT) is 6,210 vehicles per day with 2% truck traffic (2000 traffic count). The speed limit on Fitch Road is 35 miles per hour (mph). . Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) provides limited express service during AM and PM peak travel periods along this segment of Fitch (Route #263) and local service (Route 68) between John Road and Butternut Ridge Road.
According to Norfolk Southern Corporation, with the Conrail acquisition complete, the number of NS trains running through the communities of Olmsted Township, Olmsted Falls and Berea has increased to 60 (56 freight/4 passenger) trains per day at an average speed of 50 – 60 mph. The average length of the freight trains is 5,800 feet. The average length of the passenger trains is 3,800. Safety force delays are documented as being a major concern for Olmsted Township and Olmsted Falls resulting from the train traffic.
Proposed Project:
Construct a railroad grade separation at Fitch Road and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. The proposed project will remain two (2) lanes, but with pavement width of twenty-eight feet (28’) and sidewalks five feet (5’) wide. The estimated total project cost is $6,700,000, broken down as follows: $600,000 for engineering (PE); $600,000 for right-of-way (RW); and $5,500,000 for construction. The sponsor has requested $2,850,000 of NOACA controlled funds, which will supplement the $3,844,123 congressional earmark. The anticipated project completion date would be October 2008.
Staff Comment(Summary):
This project addresses goal # 4 (Transportation Safety) of Access Ohio through policy statement B1 initiative (Systematically reduce the number of at-grade rail-highway crossings).
This project indirectly serves Urban Core and Environmental Justice (EJ) populations by more safely and efficiently accommodating redirected rail freight as a result of the railroad merger.
On January 9, 2004, the NOACA governing Board approved Resolution No. 2004-002, committing $1,940,000 of NOACA funds to a railroad grade separation project on SR-252 in Olmsted Falls to the east (CUY SR 252-0.05: PID No. 25482).
A railroad grade separation project is also being considered for Stearns Road, to the west, in Olmsted Township.
Has community impact been assessed?
Move for committee and public review in order to obtain comments.
Intergovernmental Review (IGR):
Public Involvement:
Committee Review:
Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee/Transportation Advisory Committee:
No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA’s Transportation Plan and TIP.
Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC):
This project as proposed meets the standards referred to above for experienced cyclists and will improve the current situation for all cyclists. Pedestrians will be accommodated by the addition of the sidewalks. The BAC recommends that all curb lane inlet basin grates be bike friendly, and that curb inlets be considered.
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