On December 8, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-047 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-048 Plan and TIP Amendment Title:  Construct a Pedestrian Facility on Highland Road in Highland Heights Sponsor:  City of Highland Heights PID No.: 80954 Estimated Total Cost: $591,500 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU History/Background:The City of Highland Heights is the sponsor of a Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act of 2005 – a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) House High Priority Projects (HHPP) Earmark No. 110 (Construct Highland Road pedestrian path and intersection improvements at Highland and Bishop Roads). The City of Highland Heights approved Resolution Nos. 38-2004, authorizing the mayor to make an application with NOACA for the Highland Road pedestrian facility and 11-2006 authorizing the improvement of Highland Road. According to the city’s consultant, Stephen Hovancsek & Associates, Inc., the Highland Road/Bishop Road Intersection Project has been separated from the Highland Road pedestrian facility project. The City of Highland Heights will seek Issue II funding for the Highland Road/Bishop Road intersection improvement project. Current Conditions: Highland Road is functionally classified as an urban minor arterial. Highland Road is a two-lane road, with lanes twelve feet wide and shoulders two feet wide. The width of the existing right-of-way (RW) is 70 feet. The average daily traffic (ADT) on Highland Road is 7,400 to 9,200 vehicles per day (NOACA Cuyahoga County Highway Traffic Counts Map, published December 2004). The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Proposed Project:  The proposed project involves constructing over 8,600 lineal feet of paved, pedestrian access facility, five feet wide and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) along Highland Road, from the Highland Heights west corporation line to I-271, in Highland Heights. According to the sponsor, the project will enable pedestrians to move along Highland Road, the main east-west corridor of the city, on a continuous, ADA-compliant facility where none now exists. This will promote pedestrian access and safety within the city. The new facility will provide the essential connection, currently missing, to the Municipal Complex, which contains the City Hall and Community Center, from every major residential neighborhood and development within the City. As a result, pedestrian access from the remotest corners of the city to the Municipal Complex will be provided for thousands of people. The new facility will provide immediate pedestrian access on Highland Road for 137 homes, businesses, two shopping centers and a church. To facilitate the installation of the new pedestrian walkway a few trees will be removed. All work will occur in the right-of-way of Highland Road. The total construction cost of the project is estimated to be $591,500. The sponsor intends to use the earmark funding for the construction phase of the project. The earmark total is $489,600. An obligation limit of 91% ($445,536) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, anything over $445,536 is the responsibility of the sponsor. The sponsor intends to administer the contract. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: The sponsor must provide for all costs over the obligation limit. Advance to committee and public review to obtain comments. Plan Forecast Team: Refer to Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team and Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) for pedestrian review. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: Sidewalks would improve walkability in Highland Heights and provide connectivity with sidewalks in Richmond Heights. Move for committee and public review with consideration of comments. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): This project would be good for pedestrians. 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): "Cleveland Metroparks supports the City of Highland Heights project to construct a pedestrian facility on Highland Road in Highland Heights. From the project description, however, we note that an ADA approved 5 foot wide trail would be constructed along Highland Road from Bishop to I-271. Although the facility is projected as a pedestrian facility, we are uncertain as to whether bicycles would be permitted. If so, a five foot width would be insufficient to accommodate two way bicycle traffic. The project would terminate less than a half mile from Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation. We would welcome a connection to the park. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this project." - Cleveland Metroparks "As Engineers for the City of Richmond Heights, we support this project. If the pedestrian facility is extended to the North Chagrin Reservation, and future expansion is possible to the west, safe access from the Highland/Richmond intersection in the heart of Richmond Hts. to the MetroParks will be made possible along Highland Road." - City Engineer of City of Richmond Heights, Cuyahoga County 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.