On June 9, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-022 Project Planning Review. Title:  Reconstruction of Pettibone Road in Solon Sponsor:  City of Solon PID No. 80978 Estimated Total Cost: $9,870,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU and NOACA History/Background: Solon is the sponsor of a Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 – a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) earmark. The project is House High Priority Project Earmark No. 2390 (Reconstruction, widening, and bicycle improvements to Pettibone Road). The City of Solon completed an operational and functional evaluation of its state and county roadways. Pettibone Road ranked number one in priority based on deficiencies outlined in the evaluation. On June 11, 2003, Solon conducted a public meeting to discuss the proposed reconstruction of Pettibone Road. Additionally, the city has held coordination meetings with the Cuyahoga County Engineer, the Village of Glenwillow, ODOT and the Geauga County Engineer. The City of Solon approved Resolution No. 2004- 010 authorizing the Mayor to execute and file an application with NOACA for Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funding for the Pettibone Road reconstruction project. In 2003, Solon applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to complete the first phase of a two-phase bike lane/path project as part of a separate project. Phase I is designated as completing lanes/paths along Aurora Rd (SR-43) from the southeastern City limits to SR-91, and Liberty Road from the southern City limits to Pettibone Road. Phase II is designated as the Pettibone Road bike lane/path and is part of this road improvement project. The Pettibone Road project will connect to the SR-43 and Liberty Road lanes/paths. This connection will allow non-motorized access for pedestrians and bicyclists from the southern residential portion of the City to Solon Shopping Center in the central part of town, the hub of the business district at SR-91 and SR-43. The Pettibone Road project extends from the City limits on the west side of Solon to the City limits on the east side of Solon. Pettibone Road is an important west-east connector across the southern portion of the City. There are no other continuous west-east connectors in this area. It is logical that the project limits extend the entire length of the road, to the City's corporate boundaries. At the west corporate boundary, Pettibone Road continues through the Village of Glenwillow. At the east corporate boundary, also Cuyahoga County's boundary, Pettibone Road continues into Geauga County and Bainbridge Township. Current Conditions: Pettibone Road is functionally classified as an urban major arterial. It connects SR-91 (SOM Center Road) and SR-43 (Aurora Road). Pettibone Road is a two-lane road with lanes ten feet (10”) wide and sidewalks five feet (5’) wide on one side along 2,530 feet of the north side. The width of the existing right-of-way (RW) is sixty feet (60’). The average daily traffic (ADT) on Pettibone Road is 5,400 with two percent (2%) trucks (2002 count). The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. The road serves several industrial parks to the west, as well Geauga Lake Park and a shopping area to the east. According to the sponsor, the road does not provide safe conditions for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Road lanes are narrow, sight distances are poor, there are no shoulders, and there are deep roadside ditches adjacent to the road in several areas. There are currently no designated bike lanes in the southern portion of the City that connect to Solon's commercial district, or to provide recreation and transportation opportunities for residents in that area. Current road conditions include asphalt pavement ranging from .18' to 20' in width, or 9' to 10' for each lane, for a total of two lanes with no shoulders. The right-of-way width ranges from 60' to 75', varying along the alignment; and the pavement centerline does not necessarily follow the right-of-way centerline. Currently the existing horizontal and vertical alignments create less than desirable driving conditions for vehicles traveling within the posted speed limit. There are several crests and sags in the road between Hillside Drive and Liberty Road that create poor sight distances, and there is a horizontal curve that is too tight. According to the sponsor, a traffic study was completed in 2003 to determine where lanes are needed within the project corridor. A traffic increase of 5% per year was assumed to determine future traffic levels. The Pettibone Road and Aurora Road intersections need additional lanes in order to maintain an acceptable level of service C for design year 2025. The Pettibone Road and Liberty Road intersections need additional lanes to operate at a level of service B for design year 2025. The existing storm sewer system is a combination of storm sewers, deep roadside ditches, and culvert pipes. Deep roadside ditches contribute to unsafe driving, walking, and bicycling conditions because of the narrowness of the lanes and the closeness of the ditches to the pavement edge. In addition, there are undersized and deteriorated storm sewer pipes that will have inadequate capacity for storm runoff from the proposed increased pavement areas. The sponsor reports that current roadside conditions include no means for pedestrians or bicyclists to utilize Pettibone Road safely. Pedestrians must walk between the pavement edge and deep roadside ditches. While Pettibone Road is marked with signage indicating there are bike lanes, bicyclists must ride within the narrow road lanes. These conditions, as well as poor sight distances for motorists, create unsafe conditions for those walking or bicycling along Pettibone Road. Liberty Road, from the southern City limits to Pettibone Road Phase II is designated as the Pettibone Road bike lane/path, and is part of this road improvement project. The Pettibone Road project will then connect to the SR 43 and Liberty Road lanes/paths. This connection will allow non-motorized access for pedestrians and bicyclists from the southern residential portion of the City to Solar Shopping Center in the central part of town, the hub of the business district at SR 91 and SR 43. West of the City of Solon, the Village of Glenwillow's Master Plan discusses creating a future link to the City of Solon's bicycle network. This link will provide recreational and transportation opportunities for their residents by being able to access to a larger bicycle path system. As a result of the roadway improvements, especially in areas where the road profile is being lowered, the existing waterline will be lowered to maintain standard coverage. Bike lanes and bike paths adjacent to Pettibone Road will be installed as part of the road improvement project. Solon's Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan identifies the Pettibone Road bike lanes/paths as a high priority. Proposed Project:  The proposed project involves reconstructing approximately 3.5 miles of Pettibone Road, from the Solon west corporation line (WCL) to the east corporation line (ECL) in the City of Solon. New asphalt pavement, curb and gutter, and sidewalks will be included. Sidewalks will be on both sides of the road from the west corporation limit to Liberty Road and on the north side, only, between Liberty Road and Aurora Road. Storm sewers on Pettibone Road from approximately Station 113+00 to Liberty Road and from Aurora Road to the east corporation limit will be replaced. The sponsor reports storm sewer replacement is necessary due to the road reconstruction. Waterlines on Pettibone Road, from SOM Center Road to Liberty Road, as well as isolated waterline lowerings on Pettibone Road where there is utility interference and vertical alignment necessities, will be replaced. Waterline replacement, with the exception of 19' due to storm sewer crossings, is necessary due to the road reconstruction. Hydrants will be replaced on Pettibone Road from the west corporation limit to Aurora Road. All intersections within the project limits will be improved, including turn lanes and signalization. Bike lanes will be provided as part of the pavement reconstruction on both sides of Pettibone Road from the west corporation limit to Liberty Road. A multi-purpose path will be constructed on the south side of Pettibone Road outside of the pavement from Liberty Road to the east corporation limit. Liberty Road will be provided with a multi-purpose path on the east side of Liberty in an easement. Existing trees will be removed along the project limits due to proposed grading limits. There are no retaining walls proposed for this project. The estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $9,870,000. The total earmark (No. 2390) is $2,400,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($2,184,000) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, a total of $2,184,000 in earmark funding is available to the sponsor. Anything over $2,184,000 is the responsibility of the project sponsor. The sponsor must provide a twenty percent match for this amount ($546,000). The sponsor is requesting the use of NOACA attributable Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ), Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Enhancement STP (E/STP-M) funds. Eighty percent of the total estimated project cost ($7,896,000) may be eligible for Federal-aid highway funds. The federal-aid eligible share less the SAFETEA-LU obligation amount is $5,712,000. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: At its March 17, 2006 meeting, the RTIS authorized staff to inform applicants that it is unlikely that any new application requesting federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for 2006-2009 would be approved due to the funding shortfall. Because circumstances may change, we recommend that successful applications requesting funds for 2006-2009 be placed on the Transportation Plan (2010 and beyond). If funding becomes available, proposed projects can be considered for funding on a case-by-case basis. Criteria used by the RTIS for programming a project will include the status of other reservoir projects, project readiness, county targets, type of project, project cost and Board priorities. At its March 17, 2006 meeting, the RTIS authorized staff to inform applicants requesting federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds (CMAQ) for 2006-2009 that recommendations from the draft State Implementation Plan (SIP) will be considered prior to programming CMAQ funds. The strategic use of CMAQ funds may be needed to achieve SIP goals. At its March 17, 2006 meeting, the RTIS authorized staff to inform applicants that it is highly unlikely that any new application requesting Transportation Enhancement funds (TE) would be processed at this time due a severe funding shortfall. A Transportation Enhancement Task Force has been formed to provide recommendations on how to process any new TE applications. This project promotes NOACA’s Connections 2030 Plan Goal 3 (Preserve and Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System). This is a costly preservation project with bicycle and pedestrian accommodation that will provide some mode choice. The proposed bicycle facilities, (plus the 13’ lanes where there are none) would serve almost all potential users, from casual users (teenagers to adults) to experienced riders. There are also sidewalks and/or multipurpose paths proposed for the entire length of the project. This project is not located in an Urban Core Community. Advance to committee and public review with the understanding that the sponsor will make a good faith effort to address questions and comments. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: There are six pavement segments ranging from PCR of 67 (fair) to 95 (very good). From the multimodal standpoint, it is a major east-west route in which bike facility in part fulfills Solon Bicycle Plan. Plan/Forecast Team: Current NOACA policies restrict NOACA financial participation for widening projects to not greater than 50-percent. Additionally projects with a total cost greater than $5 million must have a financial plan that is to be reviewed by the RTIS. While this project may not be viewed as a capacity project by some, it is a high cost project in a non-urban core community that may potentially use significant NOACA financial resources. The allocation of financial resources to this project may divert NOACA funds from urban core projects. As such, the project (and similar projects) may contribute to unsustainable economic development which is contrary to the Board's Plan Goal number 1. The primary impact of doing the project may be to improve transportation problems that exist in the corridor. However, the secondary, but just as important, impacts to the region (potential economic unsustainability) must be discussed and addressed. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): The BAC supports this project. It is part of Solon's bicycle plan. To the east, Glenwillow has applied for an ODNR grant for a bike facility on Pettibone. This would connect with the path on Richmond Road in Oakwood that connects to the Metroparks' all-purpose path along the Hawthorn Parkway. To the west it could be used to get most of the way to Geauga Lake Park. It is also part of an existing bikeway system in Solon and connects to a path on Liberty Road. Members discussed what drainage grates are actually "bike safe" and decided more research is needed to make more specific recommendations about grates. Transportation Water Quality Council (TransWac): It is suggested that project planning carefully consider direct and indirect impacts on nearby wetlands. There is a concern about how the direct impacts from storm water runoff will be managed. Where does storm water from existing roadway discharge? Comments following its May 16, 2006 meeting: The questionnaire was completed by the project sponsor. The project sponsor is requested to clarify if Phase II compliant storm water management ordinances have been implemented by the City of Solon. The project sponsor is requested to clarify if road construction will eliminate any open drainage swales and replace them with enclosed storm sewers. If so this would cause a loss in the existing storm water quality management function. Has this been estimated and, if so, what are the plans for mitigation? Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): Accept the Project Planning Review but defer any action on amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and TIP. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "Walton Hills has no comment on this project. Thank you." - Village of Walton Hills 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.