NOACA To Unveil Four-year Transportation Improvement Program for Public Review

On Monday, March 31, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) will unveil the State Fiscal Years 2004 - 2007 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to the public for review. The TIP identifies federal-aid highway, bridge, transit, bikeway and enhancement projects scheduled for implementation within the next four years in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. As Northeast Ohio’s metropolitan planning organization, NOACA is responsible for developing the TIP in cooperation with the region’s transportation agencies.

Between March 31 and April 11 the TIP, Statewide TIP and TIPs from other metropolitan planning organizations in Ohio will be available at the NOACA office, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 3 and District 12 offices, and in selected public libraries for review and comment. In addition NOACA, ODOT District 3 and ODOT District 12 will host open houses to gather public comment on the TIP and Statewide TIP.

An open house will be held at NOACA’s office, 1299 Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland on Thursday, April 3 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. A second open house will be held the following Wednesday, April 9, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at ODOT District 12’s office, 5500 Transportation Boulevard in Garfield Heights. ODOT District 3, who sponsors projects in Lorain and Medina counties, will also conduct an open house for the TIP and Statewide TIP on Wednesday, April 2 from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, at their office on 906 North Clark Street in Ashland.

During this two-week public involvement period NOACA will also present a draft of the Agency’s FY 2004 Overall Work Program for citizen review. The OWP describes the transportation, air quality and water quality planning activities and projects NOACA plans to undertake in the upcoming fiscal year.

NOACA will also place the TIP and OWP drafts on its web site, www.noaca.org. Comments on the TIP or OWP may be e-mailed to NOACA at publicinv@mpo.noaca.org or faxed, 216.621.3024. The public comment period for the TIP, STIP and OWP ends at 5:00 PM on Friday, April 11.