On June 9, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-022 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-023 Plan and TIP Amendment. Title:  Aesthetic Lighting of the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge in Lorain Sponsor:  Lorain County Commissioners PID No. 80851 Estimated Total Cost: $250,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) History/Background: The Charles Berry Bascule Bridge (LOR US 6-09.67) is located at East Erie Avenue in the City of Lorain. Richland Engineering and MKC Associates, Inc. prepared The Charles Berry Bridge Aesthetic Lighting Study to analyze the costs, types, effects and benefits of different lighting sources to illuminate the bridge moving span (steel truss structure) and the pier and tower buildings. The following design criteria were established as a basis for this study: Do not mount any luminaries (light fixtures) directly to the bridge steel structure. This would be a maintenance problem because of lack of access. Future painting of the bridge would be more costly and would damage the additional lighting equipment. Keep all luminaries from being directly under roadway or sidewalk because of debris falling, especially during a lift. Eliminate any visible light from the roadway level that could distract drivers' ability to safely operate a vehicle. Limit the visible light from the river channel that could distract a boaters' visual ability to navigate the channel. Current Conditions: The Charles Berry Bascule Bridge carries four lanes of traffic from Erie Avenue and US-6, and pedestrians, over the Black River to the Black River Landing and Transportation Center and the harbor area of Lorain. The roadway carries an average of 15,490 vehicles per day (2000), with 2 percent trucks. The bascule span is 333 feet. The forward abutment span is 67 feet. The overall structure length is 1,052 feet. The roadway is about 40 feet above the Black River. The bridge has had as many as 2,500 openings per year in the past. The bridge opens on demand for commercial vessels. Pleasure boats must wait for the hour or half-hour for the bridge to open. There were 1,079 openings in 2004, fifty percent of which were for pleasure boats. The State of Ohio owns the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge, but it is operated by the Lorain County Commissioners. The bridge is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Normal operation of both bridge leaves is from the west side control house, but if necessary, the east side of the bridge can be operated from the east side control house. The bridge crew is responsible for operating the bridge, conducting routine bridge maintenance, and performing minor repairs on the structure and on the mechanical and electrical systems. Proposed Project:  The proposed project involves installing decorative lighting to enhance the bridge aesthetics. Color changing LED (light emitting diode) floodlights will be used to illuminate the bridge moving span., The lighting will also illuminate the bridge span steel structure when the bridge is in the open position and accent the pier and tower buildings with uplighting and low mounted floodlights. The controls are computer software based and can be as simple as the metal halide system described above with a single color, to scrolling colors every five seconds automatically (where colors are used) or anything in between. Programming can also be specialized to an individual holiday or event. The proposed project’s total construction cost is estimated at $250,000. $150,000 will be provided with ODOT controlled Transportation Enhancement Surface Transportation Program (E/STP-S) funds. The Lorain County Commission will provide $50,000. The City of Lorain will provide $25,000. The Lorain Port Authority will provide $25,000. The sponsor expects the project can be complete by June 2007. The need or requirement to turn the span lighting system off during a lift to eliminate a glare or visibility problems for river navigation needs to be determined - this consideration could require additional electrical control components. Any lighting system will require maintenance, the exterior of the luminaries should be kept free of dirt and debris; and shall be periodically cleaned to maintain proper light output levels. The interior of the luminaries may need to be opened and cleaned on a semi-annual basis as well. The following parties might influence the scope of work or type of system, location of equipment or control requirements: Bridge Maintenance Personnel Ohio Department of Transportation Lorain Port Authority City of Lorain, Ohio State Historic Preservation Office United States Coast Guard Commercial shipping input Staff will work to obtain comments from the above stakeholders via Intergovernmental Review and Consultation. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: NOACA is encouraged that ODOT is bringing E/STP-S funds in the region. Recommends this project go to the Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS) and Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) for consideration. ODOT Central is to be commended for investing Transportation Enhancement funds in the region. They should also be encouraged to invest in other regional Transportation Enhancement projects. Plan/Forecast Team: Recommend funding. Possible comments received via Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC) from affected agencies (e.g. U.S. Coast Guard) should be addressed prior to implementing this project. Committee Review: 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): The Lorain County Engineers strongly support the project to provide lighting of the Bascule Bridge in the City of Lorain. With the residential developments being constructed just upriver from the bridge this will be an added amenity to help bring residents to the City and further development of the waterfront. The waterfront is an asset that hopefully can bring a rebirth to the City and any improvements to the area will help. William C. Holtzman, Lorain County Engineer's Department “I support this project.” - Lorain County General Health District “We have received numerous positive comments about this project. The lighting would add significantly to downtown Lorain.” - Lorain County Metroparks “Lorain County Transit is also glad to see ODOT investing in this region. While not a direct stakeholder in the project, this project is just one of many ideas and concepts to improve and enhance downtown Lorain. If these all come together and have the desired effect of bringing people to downtown Lorain, Lorain County Transit may be the beneficiary of increased ridership. On behalf of LCT, we believe that this is a viable project for NOACA to pursue.” -Lorain County Transit “We are very much in support of the proposal to provide aesthetic enhancements (lighting) to the Charles Berry (Erie Avenue) Bridge in Lorain, Ohio. This project will not only be an asset to the community as a whole, but also to the waterfront. The Lorain Port Authority's Black River Landing Site is adjacent to the bridge. The proposed lighting project will undoubtedly be a complement to the port's facilities. It should be noted, that this project involves a joint cooperative effort between the Lorain County Commissioners, City of Lorain and Lorain Port Authority. Additionally, this project has been discussed over the past 20 years. It is a pleasure to see it come to fruition.” -Lorain Port Authority "Lorain Soil and Water Conservation District supports the Bascule Bridge lighting project. By providing lighting to the bridge, it can welcome new opportunities to the port’s facilities." -Lorain Soil and Water Conservation District 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.