On March 10, 2006, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2006-009 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2006-010 Plan and TIP Amendment Title:  Stearns Road/Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad Grade Separation in Olmsted Township Sponsor:  Cuyahoga County Engineer PID No. 80729 Estimated Total Cost: $7,500,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: SAFETEA-LU History/Background: A Grade Separation Location Study was performed in February 2001 by the Cuyahoga County Engineer’s office to study the advantages and disadvantages of building a grade separation at Mapleway Drive (in Olmsted Falls), Fitch Road (in Olmsted Township) and Stearns Road (Olmsted Township). Olmsted Township Board of Trustees passed resolution No. 4-04 on January 22, 2004 stating their interest in securing funding for a railroad grade separation project on Fitch Road and encouraging the Cuyahoga County Engineers office to facilitate railroad grade separations at Fitch Road (obtained through a Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century TEA-21 appropriation) and Stearns Road over the Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad. The Cuyahoga County Engineer is the sponsor of a Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 – a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) House High Priority Projects (HHPP) Earmark No. 1679 (Construct Stearns Road Grade Separation, Olmsted Township). Current Conditions:  Stearns Road is 2-lane road with a pavement width of twenty-one feet. Stearns Road is functionally classified as an urban minor arterial. The average daily traffic (ADT) is 9,719 vehicles per day (Cuyahoga County Engineer count). The speed limit on Stearns Road is 35 miles per hour (mph). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) provides limited express service during AM and PM peak travel periods along this segment of Stearns Road (Route #263). According to the project sponsor, due to increased train traffic along NS RR tracks, safety forces may be blocked in Olmsted Township. According to information compiled by HNTB, Corporation for the Fitch Road Grade Separation Project PID No. 78074 (July 2005), the Fitch Road/NS railroad crossing currently carries 74 per day (70 freight/4 passenger). The Stearns Road/NS railroad crossing is approximately 1.1 mile west of Fitch Road. Proposed Project:  The proposed project involves the construction of a railroad grade separation on Stearns Road at the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, in Olmsted Township. The proposed grade separation will help alleviate crossing safety concerns. The proposed project will remain two lanes, but with pavement width of twenty-six. The proposed structure width is forty feet. The county engineer will request to administer the project following local standards. The total project cost is currently estimated at $7,500,000. The earmark total is $3,600,000. An obligation limit of 91% ($3,276,000) has been applied to the earmark total. Therefore, anything over $3,276,000 is the responsibility of the project sponsor. The sponsor has indicated the earmark total of $3,276,000 is to be broken down as follows: $800,000 for engineering (PE); $1,000,000 for right-of-way (RW); and $1,476,000 for construction. The sponsor estimates the project can be awarded in SFY 2011. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project addresses goal # 4 (Transportation Safety) of Access Ohio through policy statement B1 initiative (Systematically reduce the number of at-grade rail-highway crossings). This project indirectly serves Urban Core and Environmental Justice (EJ) populations by more safely and efficiently accommodating redirected rail freight as a result of the railroad merger. The reconstruction and lane addition on Stearns Road (from IR-480 to Lorain Road) and new alignment on Crocker Road (from Lorain Road to Center Ridge Road), to the north, in North Olmsted and Westlake (CUY CROCKER RD/STEARNS RD EXTENSION: PID No. 8517) is programmed for construction in SFY 2007. The Fitch Road railroad grade separation project 1.1 mile to the east, in Olmsted Township (CUY FITCH RD: PID No. 78074) is programmed for construction in SFY 2008. The sponsor is responsible for all costs over the obligation limit. Advance to Committee and public review with the understanding that the sponsor will make a good-faith effort to address questions and comments. Plan Forecast Team: What did the environmental study reveal about the impacts of this project? Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: Details of the design of this project are not known at this time. Due to the ADT and speed characteristics, FHWA guidelines call for 14’ wide curb lanes for experienced cyclists, (or 15’, if truck traffic exceeds 30 per peak hour) and a 5’ bike lane (or 6’ with high truck volume) for less than experienced cyclists. It is recommended that 28’ of pavement be provided. Lanes can be striped to meet width of current lanes if necessary. Minimum 4’ sidewalks should be provided. Committee Review: Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) The BAC recommends a 10’ asphalt path on the east side of the road. This would be consistent with earlier recommendations made for the Stearns Rd. project south of Cook Rd. to I-480 and the Crocker/Stearns Road construction to the north. There is an existing bike path along I-480 which a path along the east side of Stearns could tie into. 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): 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.