On December 8, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-047 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-048 Plan and TIP Amendment Title:  Provide Turn Lane on SR 608 to Kraftmaid in Middlefield Village Sponsor:  Middlefield Village PID No.: 80973 Estimated Total Cost: $372,643 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU History/Background: The Village of Middlefield 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. 1826 (Installation of road improvements on Old State Road (SR 608)). The Village of Middlefield approved Resolution No. 06-21, authorizing the Village administrator to submit an application for a proposed federal aid project through NOACA, to obtain partial funding for the SR-608 turn lane project. Current Conditions:SR-608 (Old State Road) is functionally classified as an rural major collector. SR-608 is a two-lane road with lanes twelve feet wide and shoulders two feet wide. The width of the existing right-of-way (RW) is sixty feet. The average daily traffic (ADT) on SR-608 is 1,650 vehicles per day with 26 percent trucks (2006 traffic count provided by sponsor). The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Kraftmaid, a major employer in Geauga County, currently operates a plant located on the east side of SR-608, between SR-528 (Madison Road) and Georgia Road, in Middlefield Village. Kraftmaid facility expansions of 60,000 square feet and 10,000 square feet have recently been completed. A 700-space parking lot area is currently under construction. There is a new office expansion planned for construction in 2007and an expansion of its truck parking lot in 2007. Proposed Project:  The proposed project involves providing a turn lane, fourteen and one half feet wide, along 1,500 feet of SR-608, to be located at the Kraftmaid plant’s main entrance, in Middlefield Village. According to the sponsor, some existing trees will be removed. The total construction cost of the project is estimated to be $372,644. The earmark total is $80,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($72,800) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, anything over $72,800 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 turn-lanes are not justified by the analysis and a signal warrant analysis was not included. Refer to Corridor Planning Team for review. for review. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: Move for committee and public review with consideration of comments. Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and TIP. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "Please be advised that the Geauga County Engineer's Office supports this project." - Geauga County Engineer's Office "Geauga County Transit supports this project..." - Geauga County Transit "No comment." - Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District "The turn lane sounds like a good idea." - Geauga Park 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.