The Governing Board approved the following project for inclusion in the TIP by adopting Resolution No. 2000-066 on 10/13/00

Sponsor: City of Cleveland
Estimated Total Cost: $7,800,000
Proposed Source of Federal Funds: Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21)

History/Background:
According to their Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) application, submitted in April, 2000, the project has funding commitments from several sources, including TEA-21 ($2,770,000), Ohio Rail Development Commission ($1,500,000) Norfolk and Southern Railroad ($750,000) and Cleveland G. O. Bonds ($1,540,000). These sources meet all but $1,240,000 of the project's estimated total cost.

The sponsor applied to TRAC for the remaining $1,240,000 in 1999 and 2000. TRAC removed the project from consideration and will consider the project for prioritizing in the new Railroad Grade Separation funding program established in 2000.

Current Conditions:
London Road is two-lane road with a 30.2-foot pavement width and 6.6-foot sidewalk. Pavement condition is poor. The approach roadway geometry is 13 degree skew with no height or weight restrictions. London Road is functionally classified as an urban collector. The average daily traffic (ADT) is 4,800 (1994 count).  Land use along London Road, is primarily residential and light industry.

Approximately 38 trains traverse this grade crossing daily. Based on information provided and staff calculations, the length of time for a train to traverse the crossing is about 2.5 minutes, causing a queue of about 13 vehicles on either side of the crossing. The amount of time needed to dissipate the queue and restore normal traffic movement is about 3 minutes. London Road does not carry any transit service. There is transit service on contiguous (St. Clair Ave. and Euclid Ave.) arterials.

Proposed Improvement:
Construct a railroad underpass, below the Norfolk and Southern (N&S) Railroad, from 0.19 mile north of Euclid Avenue to Mandalay Avenue (approximately 0.25 mile).  The proposed bridge carrying the N&S tracks will be through girder, double track, ballasted deck bridge, single span; 60.39 feet (center to center of bearing) and will span the London Road right-of-way. The proposed pavement width is 30.2 feet with 6.6-foot sidewalks (same as existing). Traffic will be detoured by way of Wayside Road. The sponsor will administer the project, from preliminary engineering (PE), right-of-way (RW) and construction (C).

The project cost is estimated to be $7,800,000 ($2,750,000/Federal; $1,500,000/State; $2,310,000/Local, $1,240,000/Undetermined).

The project would initially be added to the supplemental highway and bikeway element of the SFY 2000 – 2003 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  The project underwent a feasibility study for Cleveland to begin PE and environmental assessments.

Staff Assessmemt (Summary)
London Road is an important road for commuter cyclists to be able to get to work. This project will produce 15-foot lanes, which will meet federal guidelines to accommodate experienced cyclists.

• The ADT (4,800) is considered low (relatively speaking).
• Funding needs to be clarified, for example, two businesses will lose either a loading dock entrance or access driveway. Their replacement may require right-of-way acquisition. 
• If RR becomes the overpass, a temporary RR run-around will be necessary and some ROW (temporary or permanent) may be necessary.
• Project development activities should provide an emission reduction estimate for NOACA's 2006 budget year, project opening day (year), project design year and NOACA's transportation plan year.  
• London Rd(/Holmes Rd) could serve as a connector for trucks between CSX intermodal facility and Euclid Avenue where there are several vacant industrial facilities that might be redeveloped (according to the Freight Logistics Committee).
• NOACA may want to defer programming the project until undetermined amount ($1.2m) is identified.       

Intergovernmental Review (IGR) Summary:
No significant written comments have been received, and all the responses submitted to date support the above project.
If you are a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please email us.

Public Involvement Summary
No significant comments have been received.
If you would like to make a comment on this project, contact us!

Committee Review Summaries:

Transportation Advisory Committee
Project recommended for Governing Board approval on 9/15/00. 

Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee Recommendations:
The programming of this project should be deferred until the source of the $1,240,000 has been identified.  The sponsor has applied to the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) for this funding amount, and it is expected that TRAC will make a decision within the next quarter.  Once the funding source has been identified the project should be programmed; additional planning review is not needed.

Bicycle Advisory Subcommittee Recommendations:
No recommendation--15' lanes will be retained, which meets federal guidelines

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