NOACA Summit Addresses Northeast Ohio as a Livable Region

What makes a community livable? Most people would agree clean air and water are essential. But for many people, a livable community is also one where they can walk or bicycle to schools, work, stores, parks and other neighborhood amenities; take efficient mass transit; and drive on well-maintained roads with low levels of congestion.

These are just some of the livability issues that will be explored at the 6th Annual Transportation Summit, “Planning for a Livable Region,” sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). The Summit will be held on Friday, June 10, at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

“One of the purposes of transportation is to help make the region a better place to live,” noted NOACA Executive Director Howard R. Maier. “This year’s Summit focuses on how we can work together to strengthen our neighborhoods, communities, and the entire region. Reliable transportation, clean air and clean water are very important to the region’s economic redevelopment and quality of life.”

The luncheon speakers include Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, Ph. D., Founder and President of AmericaSpeaks, and David Abbott, Executive Director of the George Gund Foundation. Dr. Lukensmeyer will discuss a technique called “deliberative democracy,” in which people who are usually disengaged from governmental decision-making are encouraged and empowered to let elected officials know their opinions about education, economic development, the environment and an array of other fundamental public policy issues. Mr. Abbott will discuss the Fund for Our Economic Future, a Northeast Ohio collaboration of private, community and corporate foundations seeking to improve the region’s economy.

The Summit also features two morning sessions, with the following topics and speakers:

Session I: Transportation Projects for a Livable Region

• Creating a Transportation Plan: Findings and Strategies
Ronald Eckner, NOACA Director of Transportation Planning will discuss the research and findings that led to this year’s regional transportation goals, strategies and updated long-range transportation plan for Northeast Ohio.
• Towpath Trail Extension Tim Donovan, Director of the Ohio Canal Corridor, will talk about expanding the Towpath Trail, which currently stretches from the Cleveland Metroparks to south of Akron, to downtown Cleveland. Expanding the Towpath is expected to enhance neighborhood connections and help develop the economy in the neighborhoods through which it passes.
• Cudell Commons Transit-Oriented Development Paul Vernon, Co-Administrator of the Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio, will show how communities can implement transportation improvements to enhance pedestrian and bicycle traffic and connect neighborhoods, using the Cudell Commons area of Cleveland as an example.
• Community Bicycle Planning Allen Pennington, Civil/Traffic Engineer for the City of Mentor, will give tips on how communities can plan and implement successful bicycle lanes, paths and other facilities to become more bicycle-friendly.


Session II: Clean Air and Clean Water for a Livable Region


• Northeast Ohio’s Air Quality Challenge Robert E. Aufuldish, Lake County Commissioner and NOACA Board member, will discuss the challenges that Northeast Ohio faces in achieving the new, national health standards for ozone and small particulates.
• Clean Water & Highways Tom Denbow, a consultant with URS Inc., will explain how communities and the region can implement transportation projects while protecting water resources.