On December 8, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved Resolution No. 2006-047 Project Planning Review and Resolution No. 2006-048 Plan and TIP Amendment regarding this project. In addition, conditional approval was given following the Transportation Water Advisory Council's review and comment on Willoughby's completed questionaire. Title:  Magic Mile Project in Willoughby Sponsor:  City of Willoughby PID No.: 80982 Estimated Total Cost: $1,600,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU History/Background: The City of Willoughby is the sponsor of a Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, and Transportation Equity Act of 2005 – a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) House High Priority Projects (HHPP) Earmark No. 2873 (Bicycle paths for the Magic Mile). The City of Willoughby retained Behnke Associates, Inc. to prepare a Parks Master Plan (December 1997). On July 12, 2006, the City of Willoughby approved Resolution No. 2006-96, authorizing the mayor to make an application to NOACA for the purpose of acquiring funds necessary to the pathway between two city parks located adjacent to the Chagrin River. Current Conditions:The City of Willoughby operates Daniels Park and Todd Field, two multi-use recreational parks adjacent to the Chagrin River. The two parks are located approximately one mile apart. According to the sponsor, citizens desiring to travel from one park to another must use US-20 (Euclid Avenue) and SR-84 (Johnny Cake Ridge Road), two large-volume highways, for approximately three miles, which requires driving through an extremely busy business district.The sponsor also reports there is no route pedestrians or cyclists can use between the two parks and along the shores of the Chagrin River.The only current access to these parks is via SR-84 and Glenn Avenue, two very steep roadways with minimal or non-existent berms where there are no sidewalks. Proposed Project:  The proposed project involves constructing a 1.33 mile shared use recreational trail, 6 to 8 feet wide, running parallel along the Chagrin River, from Todd Field to Daniels Park, in Willoughby. According to the sponsor, the trail will be another link in the trailway system of Lake County. The Lake Metroparks master plan includes this trail in anticipation of linking other parks along the Chagrin River.The total construction cost of the project is reported to be $1,600,000. The earmark total is $640,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($582,400) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, anything over $582,400 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 in order to obtain comments. Plan Forecast Team: The proposed trail is part of a city-wide bicycle-pedestrian plan. It appears to be a good plan but funding the entire plan may become an issue. Refer to Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team and Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC), Transportation Water Quality Task Force (TransWAC), and TIP Team for review. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: A 6’ to 8’ multipurpose path is very narrow, particularly the 6’ portions. AASHTO and ODOT standards call for 10’, or 8’ with exceptional circumstances. This path should be widened if at all possible. Move for committee and public review with consideration of comments. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): The proposed multipurpose trail should be at least 10’ wide to conform to AASHTO and ODOT standards. Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): Amendment to the Transportation Plan and TIP was recommended for conditional approval following TRANSWAC's review and comment on Willoughby's completed questionnaire. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "The Lake County Planning Commission would like to support this project as it would be an asset to the City of Willoughby." - Lake County Planning Commission "Lake SWCD supports this project and is willing to provide technical assistance with design to minimize potential impacts to riparian corridor, wetlands, or the Chagrin River." - Lake County 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.