On March 13, 2009 the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2009-0005 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2009-0006 Plan and TIP Amendment Title: Construct Shared Use Path along SR-91 in Willoughby and Willoughby Hills Sponsor: City of Willoughby (Lead agency) Estimated Total Cost: $1,105,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: NOACA History/Background: On December 2, 2008 the Council of the City of Willoughby adopted Resolution No. 2008-164 authorizing the mayor to make an application to NOACA for the purpose of acquiring federal-aid funds necessary to construct a shared use path along SOM Center Road (SR-91), and declaring an emergency. On November 13, 2008, the City of Willoughby Hills passed Resolution No. 2008-13 to support and endorse an application for Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Funds to NOACA for the construction of a shared use path along SOM Center Road (SR-91), and declaring an emergency. SR-91 is identified in the NOACA 2008 Regional Bicycle Transportation Plan as a priority roadway in Lake County. Current Conditions: SR-91 is functionally classified as an urban principal arterial. In Mayfield Village (Cuyahoga County), there is a ten-foot wide, shared use path along SR-91, beginning at Wilson Mills Road and ending at the Willoughby Hills south corporation line (White Road). The path does not resume until the Eastlake south corporation line (SCL). There is no path from the Willoughby Hills SCL to the Willoughby north corporation line. Proposed Project: The Willoughby/Willoughby Hills SOM Center Road shared use path project involves constructing a ten-foot wide asphalt paved path along the east side of SR-91. According to the sponsor, the majority of the new asphalt path would be constructed within the existing right-of-way (RW). In areas where the path could not be constructed within the existing RW, new RW would be obtained or appropriate design considerations would be provided. The sponsor reports that the project will follow the ODOT project development process to identify the exact location of the path and potential impacts. The sponsor proposes two separate ten foot wide shared use path projects with logical termini and independent utility along SR-91 to link the existing shared use paths in Mayfield Village (to the south) and the City of Eastlake (to the north): The first project, identified as the Willoughby/Willoughby Hills SOM Center Road shared use path, involves constructing a ten-foot wide, asphalt path along the east side of SR-91, from the Willoughby Hills SCL (White Road) to US-20 (Euclid Avenue) in the Cities of Willoughby Hills and Willoughby. The second project, identified as the Willoughby/Eastlake SOM Center Road shared use path, has more complicating factors and will be developed as a stand alone project with logical termini and independent utility. The estimated total cost of the Willoughby/Willoughby Hills SOM Center Road shared use path, provided by the sponsor, is $1,105,000. The estimated cost of right-of-way is $5,000, to be funded locally. The construction cost is estimated to be $1,100,000. The sponsor requests NOACA-attributable Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to fund eighty percent ($880,000) of the construction cost. The sponsor will provide the remaining share ($220,000). Staff Comment (Summary): Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project is consistent with NOACA’s Connections 2030 Plan Goal #3 (Preserve and Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System) and ODOT’s Access Ohio 2004 - 2030 Goal #2 (Economic Development and Quality of Life). Eligibility for CMAQ funding will require an analysis from the sponsor demonstrating pollutant emission reduction as a result of the project. This project will reduce fuel consumption and increase air quality and safety. The request for CMAQ funds will need to be processed consistent with Governing Board policy that was approved on April 13, 2007. The proposed project is eligible for NOACA-attributable Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Enhancement STP (E/STP-M) funds. Recommend committee and public review in order to obtain comments. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: The volume/capacity (V/C) ratio is 1.158 level of service (LOS) F between the Willoughby SCL and US-20 (2006 data). This section of SR-91 is categorized for expert cyclists only from the Willoughby Hills SCL to ~ Aspenwood and not suitable for bicyclists, but there may not be another route on the Lake County Bike Transportation Map. This path will link up with the existing path on SR-91 in Mayfield Village. It is the first section of a planned path that would also link to the existing path in Eastlake that terminates at Curtis Boulevard. The path would provide access for the surrounding residential areas to businesses, workplaces, schools, and the North Chagrin Metropark. When the entire path is completed, it will also provide access to the industrial areas between SR-2 and US-20, as well as north of SR-2. In addition to the local access, when completed, this path would provide a link between Cuyahoga County and the Lakeshore Boulevard bike lanes. This project would implement both the NOACA Bicycle Facility Priority Plan and the Willoughby Hills Master Plan and will further NOACA’s goal to promote multimodalism: SR-91 is on NOACA’s priority plan for bicycle accommodation and is listed as the highest priority for a shared use path in the 2003 Willoughby Hills Master Plan. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): If you are a representative of a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please email us. "SOM is the primary roadway that bisects Ward 4, connecting two of the busiest intersections in Lake County. The SOM/RT 20 intersection and SOM/RT 84 intersections both have significant retail and a recent traffic study indicates about 27000 daily vehicles along this section of roadway. For many years the residents of Ward 4 (2000 registered voters) have expressed a desire to make this area more accessible to both walking and biking since we have very limited sidewalks. Completing this shared use path would be of tremendous benefit to our residents and those of our surrounding communities. This project and a future proposed, Phase 2 would effectively link the shared use paths at the North Chagrin Reservation to the bikepaths in Eastlake and along Lakeshore Blvd. Locally, in Ward 4, the residents will now be able to walk or ride to the shopping centers as well as recreationally gain access to the Lakeshore and North Chagrin Reservation. I have a resident who does not drive and takes the Laketran bus to work less than a quarter mile away because she cannot walk without sidewalks. Another, wheelchair bound resident cannot get to his dentist without arranging transportation. Again, due to a lack of sidewalks. Please approveof this project as it will increase the quality of life and provide access for so many of the residents on the western edge of Willoughby. Thank you for your continued support." - Willoughby Ward 4 Council 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. "I feel this is a worthy project and would be a good amenity to Rt. 91. In this climate of belt-tightening and cutbacks, however, I would be surprised if it is passed." - Martha Marsh Willoughby "This is very worthwhile for residents. as it stands now rt. 91 is almost like a border crossing. it actually separates the area into divisions of accessibility. hope you go forward this project soon." - Anonymous "I am a resident on the west side of Willoughby and have longed for a sidewide to 'connect' the various neighborhoods along SR91 to other residential areas, shopping areas. Looking to the future, it is in all our long term vision to promote more 'green' modes of transportation, and consider the positive community effect we create by 'connecting' the various sections of our city/cities together." - Robert Beenken "As a cyclist who lives off of Rte 91 in Willoughby, I am all in favor of a bike path which would allow a safe way to reach the North Chagrin Metropark in Willoughby Hills. Currently, I do ride my bike on Rte 91, but realize the dangers of doing so. I am an experienced cyclist, and as such, use my rear-view mirror to view the traffic behind me. At times, I have been forced off the road when cars or trucks got too close or seemed to have no regard for cyclists. What a pleasure it would be to get to my destination without worrying about the traffic. At other times, I have chosen to take a walk along Rte 91. Of course, since there is no sidewalk on most of the area, so I must walk on the grassy area off the road. It would be great to have a path to walk on. Thanks for asking for public comments." Kathy Heydorn "I am surprised and very pleased to see this project getting the energy it deserves. A previous comment alluded to the barrier Rt. 91 creates, and it is both latitudinal and longitudinal - hard to cross (no median mitigation), and also hard to travel along from the Metropark all the way to the Rt. 20 where so many people are heading. I live 2 blocks west of 91, just north of 84, and I have twisted many an ankle on the lawns along the road on both sides. I believe this bike path would get consistently high use." - Andy Sparks "This is so needed in Willoughby Hills. We do not have sidewalks but cyclists and walkers still use the side of the road to exercise. It is so dangerous. This would really be such an asset and may encourage more residents to walk or bike and enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle!" - Anonymous Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and TIP. Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): The BAC agrees with the comments of the RTS Team stated above.