The NOACA Governing Board approved the following project as a candidate to be amended to the NOACA Transportation Plan by adopting Resolution No. 2004-044 on September 10, 2004.

Title: Reconstruct and Widen Griswold Road in Elyria Township
Sponsor: Lorain County Engineer
Estimated Total Cost: $2,800,000
Proposed Source of Federal Funds: NOACA

History/Background:
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution No. 03-256, authorizing that the county engineer apply for federal aid for several proposed county road resurfacing projects.

Current Conditions:
Griswold Road is functionally classified as an urban collector. Griswold Road is a two-lane road with lanes twelve feet (12”) wide; aggregate shoulders two feet (2’) wide and sidewalks five feet (5’) wide. The width of the existing right-of-way (RW) is sixty feet (60’). The average daily traffic (ADT) on Griswold Road is 5,344 with six percent (6%) trucks (2001 count). The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. The sponsor reports the road is heavily traveled with traffic to and from Midway Mall.

Proposed Project:
This project involves reconstructing and widening (from two to three lanes) approximately 0.61 mile of Griswold Road from Murray Ridge Road to West River Road in Elyria and Elyria Township. The proposed project includes widening two lanes to thirteen feet (13’) and one lane 11 feet (11’) and including a sidewalk, five feet (5’) wide on the south side. The total construction cost is estimated to be $2,800,000 ($100,000 for RW and $2,700,000 for construction). Eighty percent of the construction (C) cost ($2,160,000) can be funded with NOACA-attributable Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds. The sponsor will apply for Ohio Public Works (OPWC) funds for the twenty percent non-federal share ($540,000). Construction is estimated to occur in September 2006.

Staff Comment (Summary):

• This project promotes NOACA’s Framework For Action 2025 Plan Goal 3 (Preserve and Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System).
• Currently, there is a SR-57 Corridor Study being conducted. While the project can be amended to the Transportation Plan, staff recommends consideration of this project’s amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) be postponed until the outcome of the SR-57 Study.
• Sponsor should provide an analytical justification/rationale of the third lane.
• Will the Black River be impacted by storm water? If so, avoid, minimize, or mitigate temporary and/or permanent negative impact on the river and its related environs by ecosystem-sensitive design and construction techniques. Can vegetative swales be considered in place of curb and gutter?
• Explore the feasibility of correcting existing watershed problems created by the original design and/or placement of the transportation facility.
• This project as proposed will not accommodate cycles and pedestrians. The sponsor should meet with NOACA staff and committees as appropriate, pursuant to NOACA’s Regional Transportation Investment Policy and Multimodal policies, to discuss bicycle and pedestrian accommodation.
• This project is in keeping with Lorain County Engineers’ Annual Highway Condition Report, March 27, 2002.
• Advance to committee and public review in order to obtain comments with the understanding that the sponsor will make a good-faith effort to address questions and comments.