Preliminary Engineering for an Interchange on IR-71 at Boston Road in Strongsville and Brunswick

Sponsor: Strongsville

Project Name: Traffic Study (PID to be determined)

Estimated Total Cost: $625,000

Proposed Source of Federal Funds: ODOT

History/Background:

Section 755.20(A) of Ohio House Bill (HB) 110 requires the Director of Transportation, in consultation with the chief executive officers and legislative authorities of the municipal corporations of Strongsville, North Royalton, and Brunswick to conduct a traffic safety study for the roads and highways in Strongsville and Brunswick, per HB110.

On April 4, 2022, the City of Strongsville adopted Ordinance No. 2022-053 authorizing the Mayor to enter into a traffic study project agreement (LPA Federal Non-let Agreement) with the Ohio Department of Transportation to provide funding in connection with the Boston Road interchange project (CUY/MED Traffic Study; PID No. 116069 Agreement No. 37276), and declaring an emergency.
The traffic safety study (CUY/MED Traffic Study PID No. 116069) shall examine how to improve those highways in ways that increase the safety and convenience of the traveling public through those municipal corporations, per HB 110.  Part 1A consists of the planning phase of the project and will include purpose and need, feasibility study and certified traffic.  Part 1A is funded with HB 110 ($100,000) and local funds ($25,000).

Part 1B will include the following:

• Perform Environmental Field Studies and determine environmental impacts. Include Section 106 Scope Request, Regulated Materials Review Screening (RMR), and Level 1 Ecological Survey.
• Develop a Public Involvement Plan.
• Prepare for and manage Public Involvement and Coordination. Expect to include a Stakeholder Meeting and a Public Meeting at the minimum.
• Develop an Alternative Evaluation Report (AER) if a preferred alternative is not determined in the Feasibility Study.
• Develop an Interchange Justification Study (IJS) for the Preferred Alternative determined from the FS or AER.

The estimated cost of Part 1B, provided by the sponsor, is $625,000. Part 1B will be funded locally.

Staff Comment (Summary):

CONDITION:

• As per the NOACA New or Modified Highway Interchange Projects Policy, the sponsor must provide the Feasibility Study, Alternatives Evaluation Report (AER) and the Interchange Justification Study (IJS) to NOACA for review and concurrence upon completion.

• This project planning review (PPR) request is limited to the scope and costs indicated in Part 1B. The project will need to come back to the NOACA Board of Directors for the phases contained in Part 2. Also for eventual Right of Way (RW) and Construction.  

• Future scope phases PE, EE, DD, and future RE and Construction phases will be subject to Regional Air Quality Conformity determination concurrent to amendment to the Plan and TIP.  It would be ideal for these to occur with development of the new 2024-2027 TIP in spring 2023. 

RECOMMEDATION:

• Staff recommends that environmental considerations be included in this study.  Staff recommends that the Project Sponsor plan to limit impervious surfaces and for a no net increase in stormwater runoff.  The project sponsor is encouraged to cost out design/implement of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans that severely limits or avoids any additional contribution of stormwater runoff and/or sediment/silt to local waterways.     

INFORMATION:

• I-71 is on Level 4 of the NOACA Freight Network, the most important from a trucking perspective due to high volumes.
  
  
• The corridor met the FHWA and ODOT performance measure for Truck Travel Time Reliability in 2021 and 2020, meaning it was not congested from a freight perspective. In 2019 and 2016, the corridor did not meet the metric from the State Route 82 interchange north to Bagley Road. In 2018, 2017, 2015, and 2014, the corridor met the metric in southbound lanes but not in northbound lanes, again from SR-82 north to Bagley Road. The corridor extending from SR-82 south to SR-303 in Brunswick has always met the metric in both directions.

Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC):

• Columbia Township
  • Short Comment - I support the referenced project(s) as proposed.

• Medina County Engineer
  •  Short Comment - I do not support the referenced project(s) as proposed.
  • Additional Comment - The City of Brunswick relayed to me that they have significant concerns regarding the impact to their existing roadway system if this project progresses. Director Gallucci attended a Brunswick City Council meeting to discuss the project. At this meeting, Brunswick stated their objections and voted not to support the project. I ask that if the project moves forward, the concerns of Brunswick be adequately addressed and mitigated so that any negative impacts are not solely burdened by the City.

• Brunswick
  • Short Comment - I do not support the referenced project(s) as proposed.
  • Additional Comment - The City of Brunswick Council has expressed on many occasions over many years that Brunswick is not in favor of an interchange at I-71 and Boston Road and has stated that they will not support it. The installation of an interchange at this location will dramatically increase traffic on Boston Road which is not designed to handle the traffic. The additional truck traffic is not desirable in residential neighborhood. This would be a very negative impact to the residents in the area.

• Strongsville
  • On behalf of the City of Strongsville, as the local project sponsor, I want to express my wholehearted support for the Boston Road & I-71 Interchange. This is a long-anticipated and much-needed project for Strongsville and the region that the city pursued for over 30 years.
    
    To alleviate traffic congestion on SR 82, SR 303 & I-71 the first phase will identify improvements with the intention of not to generate additional traffic in the study area, just redistribute it. By improving the traffic flow in the study area, overall safety will be realized, not just for the residents and visitors of Strongsville, but for the entire I-71 corridor at a regional level. The Interchange on IR-71 at Boston Road, in whatever form it ultimately takes, is vital to the community.
    
    Over the past couple decades under my leadership, the city funded several studies and implemented low-cost interim safety improvements to ease congestion on I-71 & SR 82. An adaptive-responsive signal system was installed along SR 82 and at the SR 82 & I-71 interchange. ODOT added an auxiliary lane from the Ohio Turnpike to SR 82 on Southbound I- 71 and also added a lane on the Eastbound loop ramp from SR 82 to I-71. All these projects helped, but did not solve, the serious traffic safety problem we experience daily.
    
    It is time to take a more serious look at potential solutions at Boston Road & I-71. We will build upon past studies and models. Various options will be explored along with their impacts and a preferred alternative developed for consideration and next steps. Please look favorably upon this project and allow it to proceed for the benefit of the region and the safety and convenience of the public.
    

Public Involvement:

Committee Review:

Transportation Subcommittee

• No comments; recommended for Planning and Programming Committee review.

Planning and Programming Committee

• The Planning and Programming Committee recommended to table Part 1B.