On March 9, 2007, the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2007-006 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2007-007 Plan Amendment Title:  Taylor Road Rehabilitation in Cleveland Heights Sponsor: City of Cleveland Heights Estimated Total Cost: $7,256,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: NOACA History/Background: On November 20, 2006 the City Board of Cleveland Heights approved Resolution No. 134-2006, applying for federal funding to rehabilitate Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights. Current Conditions: Taylor Road is functionally classified as an urban collector. The pavement width on Taylor Road varies between a minimum of 40 feet and maximum of 87 feet. The width of the existing right-of-way varies between 60 and 110 feet. The number of lanes also varies, depending on segment, between 4 lanes (each 10 feet wide) and 7 lanes (12 to 13 feet wide). The sidewalks are 5 feet wide. The average daily traffic on Taylor Road is 12,650 vehicles per day with 2 percent trucks (2002). The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour (mph). The sponsor reports that several characteristics of Taylor Road are deficient. Street and sidewalk and drainage features are not functioning as designed, the asphalt surface is deteriorated, utility and pothole repairs are needed throughout the project limits, broken, uneven driveways, aprons and sidewalks, curb ramps don’t meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, deteriorated curbing along major portions of the project and severe joint deterioration on concrete sections of road. Proposed Project:  This project involves rehabilitating 1.47 miles of Taylor Road, from Euclid Heights Boulevard to the Cleveland Heights north corporation line (NCL) in Cleveland Heights. The sponsor proposes the project be implemented in two phases: Phase 1 involves partial reconstruction of pavement from Euclid Heights Boulevard to Mayfield Road (the sponsor intends to reduce the pavement width along this segment); Phase 2 involves rehabilitation of the asphalt pavement from Mayfield Road to the Cleveland Heights NCL. The estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $7,256,000. The estimated construction cost for Phase 1 is $2,690,308, and for Phase 2, $4,565,691. The sponsor requests that eighty percent ($5,804,800) of the construction (C) cost be funded with NOACA-administered Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds (i.e. Phase 1 - $2,152,246 and Phase 2 - $3,652,553). Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project serves NOACA’s System Preservation Goals. 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. Advance to committee and public review with the understanding that the sponsor will make a good-faith effort to address questions and comments. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: The 2004 pavement condition ratings (PCRs) in this project area are between 67-74 (within the fair range), without any maintenance done on this section in 2009 (the proposed year of construction) the Regional Pavement Management System (RPMS) software degrades the PCRs in this area to between 46-52 (in the poor range). Additional RTS Team comments since January 19, 2007: Phase 1 of this project would remove two lanes of Taylor Rd. that would reduce it from 7 lanes to 5 lanes, and the current pavement width would be reduced from 87’ to 61’ The proposed lane widths are 13’ outer lanes, 12’ inner lanes, and an 11’ center turn lane. The current pavement width is 87’ and is proposed to be reduced to 61’. There would be a 34’ green space next to the pavement on the east side (bordering Severance Center) which would include a 10’ multipurpose path. On the west side would be a 15’ area of tree lawn and sidewalk; however, the project sponsor is thinking of leaving the pavement on this side as it is, leaving the current sidewalk and tree lawn at 8’. Then, there would be 7’ left which the sponsor is considering adding to the 34’ green space on the east side for a total of ~41’ of greenspace. Team recommends that the project be modified to include bike lanes for the following reasons: Taylor Road is a major north/south arterial that links residences with many uses. It can be expected that cyclists would use the road if it was made safe for them. There is a bike lane on the access point to Severance Center across from Euclid Heights Boulevard that circles Severance Center, and bike lanes on Taylor could connect with the existing bike lane. The sponsor is investigating whether there could be bike lanes on Taylor Road north of Mayfield to the north corporation line (the section that is Phase 2 of this project). If this is feasible, bike lanes on Phase 1 of the project would connect to bike lanes on Phase 2. The current proposed configuration of lanes is 13’,12’, 11’, 12’, 13’ which equals 61’. A suggestion would be to leave the curb line where it is on the west side but not add it to the east side. This would leave 68’ of pavement which could be configured in numerous ways, for example, 6’, 12,’ 12’, 12’, 12’, 14’. The 14’ outside lane on the west side would allow for parking and a bike lane to exist, and is more width than AASHTO calls for (which is 13’) for a shared parking-bike lane. Currently, the sponsor has a 10’ multipurpose path proposed for the east side of the project, with the idea of it connecting into the bike lane into Severance Center. This would serve very few cyclists. None of the cyclists who would enter Severance Center from Euclid Heights Boulevard would need it. Cyclists going south on Taylor Road would enter using the access across from Euclid Heights Boulevard, and not use the path at all. Any cyclist who is going to Severance Center from Mayfield Road would probably enter on Mayfield. The path is too short to be for recreational riding. The path could remain in the plans as a design feature because there is room for it as well as bike lanes. Plan Forecast Team: Current Board policy permits eligible project sponsors to submit project applications for federal-aid routes on an as-needed basis, and funding targets are set for each of the five counties. The Board’s Principles and Transportation Plan Goals regarding sustainable economic development, compact land use and environmental justice need to be more integrated into the Regional Transportation Investment Policy. This is especially true given the current state of federal finances, the uneven fiscal capacity among communities, and the number of fiscally distressed communities in the region. To develop a more sustainable economy and improve regional planning, the TAC should revisit these policies (or refine them) in the near future. Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "Appreciate the accommodations for existing bike way access and inclusion of the green space provisions." - Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) If you are a representative of a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please email us. If you have any questions regarding the Intergovernmental Review and Consultation process please contact staff at (216) 241-2414, Ext. 322. 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.