Governing Board Action: May 9, 2003

At today’s Governing Board meeting, members adopted the State Fiscal Years 2004 – 2007 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), thereby approving $2.25 billion in federal aid for transportation projects in Northeast Ohio. The TIP schedules transportation improvements for implementation over the next four fiscal years and paves the way for project sponsors to receive federal funding. Projects typically contained in the TIP include roadway reconstruction and resurfacing, bridge repair, traffic signal upgrades, rail/road grade separations, bus replacements, road intersection and ramp improvements, transit service improvements, bicycle facilities, and streetscaping projects.

The TIP was available to the public during an extensive public involvement period in April, during which three Open Houses for review and comment were conducted in the region.

Board members also approved the NOACA Fiscal Year 2004 Overall Work Program (OWP), which describes the planning work of NOACA over one state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The OWP lists activities and products resulting from NOACA staff work, such as Transportation Plan implementation, TIP monitoring and management, traffic and major investment studies, database and transportation model maintenance, environmental studies, work access outreach, agency assistance, and communication activities, among other projects. Both the TIP and OWP may be accessed on NOACA’s web site once they are finalized.

In addition to the two major documents, the Board also authorized NOACA’s annual self-certification. This certification verifies that NOACA, as the region’s metropolitan planning organization (MPO), is conducting urban transportation planning in accordance with federal requirements, including provisions of the Clean Air Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and involvement of disadvantaged business enterprises in federally-funded projects.