On December 11, 2009 the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2009-037 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2009-038 Plan and TIP Amendment Title: Urban Core Preliminary Engineering and Design Program: Resurface and Reconfigure Old Brooklyn from Wildlife Way to State Road Sponsor: City of Cleveland Estimated Total Cost: $2,000,000 Preliminary Engineering Request: $140,000 Background: Urban Core Preliminary Engineering and Design Program As part of an ongoing commitment to revitalize the region’s urban core, the NOACA Governing Board approved the development of an Urban Core Preliminary Engineering program. Once operational details are worked out using the pilot projects, urban core communities in NOACA’s region will be eligible to apply for assistance for preliminary engineering for their federally eligible transportation improvements. Preliminary engineering includes such steps as: Developing conceptual alternatives Developing feasible alternatives Developing a preferred alternative Preparing environmental clearance and developing stage 1 design Completing a right of way plan and beginning acquisition. Four completed TLCI projects were chosen as “pilot projects” for the urban core preliminary engineering program. After several informational meetings with project sponsors and ODOT, it was determined that pilot projects would be needed due to the complexity of various issues that arise with the preliminary engineering and design phase of project development The four pilot projects were chosen based on project readiness as well as type of project. The original projects selected included: City of Fairview Lorain Road Enhancement Project, City of Cleveland UCI/Little Italy Traffic, Roadway and Streetscape Improvements for Mayfield Road, City of Euclid Downtown Transportation Improvement Plan and City of Cleveland Old Brooklyn Reconfiguration Project. The City of Fairview Park and the City of Cleveland UCI/Little Italy withdrew their applications for various reasons. Project Information The purpose of the project is to enhance the economic viability of the Downtown Old Brooklyn area by increasing its walkability, bikability and all around historical feel. This can be done through shortening the roadway, widening sidewalks, burying utilities, adding bike lanes (if feasible) and adding a variety of streetscape amenities including but not limited to trees, benches, TWE enhancements and public art. Construction for this project has been divided into phases and the amount requested reflects preliminary engineering and design costs for phase one only. Staff Comments Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: Include bicycle lanes in the future reconstructed Pearl Road, as recommended in the TLCI study. This section of Pearl Road is on the NOACA Bicycle Facility Priority Plan (see page 15 of NOACA's Regional Bicycle Plan) which requires that when roadways on the plan are reconstructed using NOACA-attributable funds, they shall include bicycle facilities unless shown to be infeasible according to NOACA’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Policies (see page 23 of the Regional Transportation Investment Policy). This section of Pearl Road is categorized for experienced cyclists only on the Cuyahoga County Bike Transportation Map. It provides access to the multipurpose path in the Metroparks Zoo and Brookside Reservation. 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. Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC): Follow the TLCI recommendation to include bike lanes in the project.