On September 8, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-035 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-036 Plan and TIP Amendment Title:  Reconstruct and Widen SR-611 in Sheffield Village Sponsor:  Lorain County Engineer PID No. 22080 Estimated Total Cost: $4,480,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: NOACA History/Background: In the early 1990s, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) widened Colorado Avenue (SR-611), from I-90 to Abbe Road in Sheffield and Avon. Lorain County, ODOT and the City of Lorain also widened a section of SR-611, from Henderson Drive to the Lorain east corporation line (ECL). LOR SR-611-5.66: PID No. 22080 is listed in NOACA’s state fiscal year (SFY) 2006 – 2009 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), dated May 13, 2005 (Resolution 2005-024). The work involves reconstructing and widening (to three lanes) 2.86 miles of SR-611 (Colorado Avenue), from the Sheffield Village west corporation line (WCL) to Abbe Road in Sheffield Village. Sheffield Village, the City of Lorain and the Lorain County Commissioners agreed to jointly fund the project’s engineering, including the local portion. A public meeting was held on August 13, 2003 and the sponsor reports they mainly received comments regarding adding a bikeway. Current Conditions: SR-611 is functionally classified as an urban principal arterial. SR-611 is a two-lane facility, with a pavement width of 22 feet and shoulders four feet wide. The sponsor reports the average daily traffic (ADT) is 19,500 vehicles per day with 11 percent trucks (2005). The posted speed limit is 50 miles per hour (mph). The sponsor reports the road is heavily traveled and has Brookside Schools at Harris Road and the Sheffield Village Hall at East River Road. Proposed Project:  The project still involves reconstructing SR-611 and adding a left turn lane, and improving the intersections at Lake Breeze Road, East River Road and Harris Road, from the Sheffield Village WCL to Abbe Road. However, the project’s revised scope also includes a section of bikeway that will connect into the Lorain County Metroparks. The project is currently portrayed in the TIP with a right-of-way cost of $250,000 listed in SFY 2008, and a construction cost of $3,333,330 listed in SFY 2009. A total of $2,408,800 of NOACA-administered Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds) is currently programmed for the project ($100,000 for right-of-way and $2,308,800 for construction). The sponsor has provided a revised project cost. The sponsor has chosen to proceed with right-of-way using other sources. The project’s revised total construction cost is estimated at $4,840,000. In accordance with NOACA’s Regional Transportation Investment Policy (September 2003), “projects already on the Plan or TIP that request a change in scope or significant cost increase (greater than 20%) must go through PPR again”. The sponsor has requested that 80 percent of the revised total construction cost ($3,872,000) be funded with NOACA Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds. Twenty percent ($968,000) of the revised total construction cost will be funded by Sheffield Village. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project is currently listed in the NOACA Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) with right-of-way listed in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2008 and construction listed SFY 2009. 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. Recommend this project to the Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee and Transportation Advisory Committee for consideration. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: This section of SR-611 is not congested. It is desirable to add 1-2' more to the 4' paved shoulder due to high ADT, high truck traffic and high speed of 50 miles per hour. Plan/Forecast Team: The sponsor should provide the level of service (LOS) for existing and future conditions with and without the additional lane. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): Due to the following factors: This section of road provides access to two Lorain County parks, The speed is 50mph, The average daily traffic (ADT) is high, Truck traffic is high, and This section of SR-611 is categorized as “not suitable for cyclists but there may be no alternate route” on the Lorain County Bike Transportation Map, the BAC recommends either 6’ paved shoulders, to meet the guidelines stated above, or a 10’ multi-purpose path on the south side of the road. Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "Dear Committee members: The State Route 611 project includes a bike lane addition that is critical to our countywide bikeway plan. We have worked closely with the County Engineer to integrate the trail with the road." - Lorain County Metro Parks "Supports: addition of safe bikeway to the project as it encourages physical activity while promoting natural links to parkway access for citizens use." - Cuyahoga County District Board of Health 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.