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 Amendment Title:  Resurface Hemlock Road in Russell Township Sponsor:  Geauga County Engineer Estimated Total Cost: $200,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: NOACA History/Background: On May 23, 2006 the Geauga County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution No. 06-080 to improve Hemlock Road (CH-606) in Russell Township. Current Conditions: Hemlock Road is a two-lane facility with lanes 10 feet wide. The total existing pavement width is 20 feet with chip sealed aggregate shoulders two feet wide. Hemlock Road is functionally classified as an urban collector. The speed limit is 40 miles per hour (mph). The average daily traffic (ADT) is 2,600 vehicles per day with 2.6 percent trucks (2003). Proposed Project:  This project involves resurfacing the existing asphalt pavement along 2.13 miles of Hemlock Road (sections Y and Z) from the South Russell Village line to Hemlock Point Road (TR-155) and Music Street (CH-36) in Russell Township. The lane and shoulder widths will remain the same as the existing widths. The shoulder will be paved with asphalt. The estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $200,000. The sponsor requests that 80-percent ($160,000) of the construction (C) cost be funded with NOACA-administered Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds. The Geauga County Engineer will provide the non-federal share of construction ($40,000). The preliminary engineering (PE) and right-of-way (RW) costs will be borne by the sponsor. Geauga County Engineer staff will design the project. The county engineer will request to administer the project following local standards. The design parameters for this project will meet the design standards for the ODOT 3R standards. Geauga County standards have been developed based upon the 3R standards. The existing pavement widths and paved shoulder widths meet local standards. The project can be designed and ready to construct in the summer of 2009 (i.e.1st quarter SFY 2010). Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project serves NOACA's System Preservation Goals. At its March 17, 2006 meeting, the RTIS authorized staff to inform applicants that it is unlikely that any new application requesting federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for 2006-2009 would be approved due to the funding shortfall. Because circumstances may change, we recommend that successful applications requesting funds for 2006-2009 be placed on the Transportation Plan (2010 and beyond). If funding becomes available, proposed projects can be considered for funding on a case-by-case basis. Criteria used by the RTIS for programming a project will include the status of other reservoir projects, project readiness, county targets, type of project, project cost and Board priorities. 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: This section of Hemlock Road has pavement condition rating (PCR) of 85 (good, pavement rated in 2003). According to the Geauga County Engineer the roads are repaved on a 10-year cycle as part of their pavement maintenance program. Paving the 2' shoulder which is now aggregate will improve the situation for cyclists. The project sponsor should work with Geauga County Transit about the construction schedule. This section of Hemlock Road is categorized for cyclists with intermediate skills on the Geauga County Bike Transportation map. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): Paving the 2 foot aggregate should will be an improvement for cyclists. Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "In favor." - Geauga Park District "In favor." - Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District "GCT has no comment on this project." - Geauga County Transit (GCT) 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. Please notify us if you would like to be added to our e-mail notification list for future updates.