Transportation provides mobility and access for the citizens of Northeast Ohio. It is an important link around which we develop our region and live our lives. NOACA serves Northeast Ohio by helping plan transportation projects and programs that get you to work, shopping, entertainment and other places you need to be. NOACA’s transportation responsibilities are defined in federal surface transportation law. The current law is the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005-a Legacy for Users or SAFETEA-LU. Under SAFETEA-LU, NOACA, as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), carries out continuous, comprehensive, cooperative (“3C”) transportation planning for Northeast Ohio. NOACA fulfills this requirement by:

• Developing and updating a long-range Transportation Plan (Connections 2030: A Framework for the 2030 Transportation System) that addresses the region's transportation needs 25 years into the future;
• Prioritizing highway, bikeway and transit improvements through a four-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and
• Implementing an Overall Work Program (OWP) that outlines the work and products of the Agency over one fiscal year. The OWP includes studies and projects aimed at reducing congestion, improving mobility and air quality, and coordinating many modes of transportation. The OWP also describes ongoing planning for bikeways, low-income workers and the elderly and physically disabled, and transportation services for communities and individuals alike.