National magazine recognizes RTA's Calabrese as a top public official for 2015
Congratulations to RTA CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese,  selected by Governing Magazine as one of the nation's most outstanding public officials for 2015. The publication annually honors elected and appointed officials for their public service, remarkable leadership and innovation.
The magazine's profile of Calabrese highlights his commitment to bringing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service to the City of Cleveland in the form of the HealthLine. This nine-mile BRT route, connecting downtown Cleveland and University Circle, has been operating for eight years. During this time, ridership along the HealthLine's Euclid Avenue route has increased by 60 percent and the transit service is credited with spurring $6 billion in economic development on Cleveland's east side. One year ago, a second BRT project-the Clifton Boulevard Transit Enhancement-opened, serving west-side commuters as well as Cleveland State University students. NOACA committed federal funding to both of these successful BRT projects.
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Transit Tech Ohio project awarded TIGER grant
The Ohio Department of Transportation has received a $6.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for its Transit Tech Ohio project. The project aims to standardize scheduling and dispatching services for rural transit operators and eliminate  base-to-vehicle communication gaps. Geauga County Transit, the demand-response transit service provider in Geauga County, will benefit from $156,000 from the project.
TIGER discretionary grants help fund capital investments in road, rail, port and transit infrastructure that will have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area. This year, $500 million was awarded to 39 projects nationwide.
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Port of Cleveland purchases construction cranes
Thanks to $4.9 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has purchased two Manitowoc construction cranes for loading and unloading heavy cargo and shipping containers at the Port of Cleveland. The new cranes, featuring highly efficient clean diesel engines,
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will reduce emissions at the port and facilitate more productive freight service.
By upgrading infrastructure and services at the port, Midwest shippers and manufacturers will be able to distribute and receive their goods using the marine highway instead of highways and railroads to U.S. ports on the east coast, reducing road congestion, conserving fuel and improving air quality. The all-water shipping route from Cleveland to northern Europe is shorter and faster than any combined truck/rail and water route, and provides jobs and economic development for Northeast Ohio.
CMAQ funding is allocated to projects that alleviate congestion and improve air quality in large urban areas, and in Ohio, is awarded through a competitive statewide program. The port's crane project, recommended by NOACA for funding, was selected during the 2014 statewide CMAQ process.
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CycleHop-Social Bikes to install bike share system in Cleveland
Plans are moving forward for implementing a formal bike share system in the City of Cleveland. The Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, in partnership with Bike Cleveland, has announced that the team of CycleHop-Social Bikes has been selected to install a bike share system in the city prior to the 2016 Republican National Convention. Users of the system will be able to reserve a bike from any of the stations located throughout the city, ride to various destinations and then return the bike to any bike share station. This will be a convenient and healthy transportation option for people attending the convention or other event that can potentially increase traffic congestion in Cleveland's central business district.
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Two NOACA-region counties rank high in the state for deer-vehicle collisions
Imagine that you're driving over the river and through the woods to join family for Thanksgiving dinner when a deer suddenly leaps directly into your vehicle's path. This scenario would not be uncommon: statistics show that deer-vehicle crashes spike in October and November. This can  be attributed to an increased number of deer on the move in the fall during mating and hunting seasons.
A recent safety study published by the Ohio Department of Transportation reports that two counties in the NOACA region rank among the top 10 in the state for deer-vehicle collisions. Lorain County ranks second among all Ohio counties, with 510 crashes recorded in 2014, and Medina County is ninth on the overall list, with 386 crashes. When driving at night, be aware of the potential for deer jumping out, especially in rural areas or where deer crossing signs are posted. Check out ODOT's report for more information about deer-vehicle collisions elsewhere in the state.
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NOACA publishes Intermodal Connectors technical memorandum
 Roads identified as "intermodal connectors" serve a vital role in transporting people to jobs and delivering goods to their destinations. Intermodal connectors link different modes of transportation, allowing motorists and shippers to get to the airport, commuters to access public transit stations and truck operators to carry freight to ports and rail facilities.
The NOACA region boasts 14 intermodal connectors that serve freight needs and 18 intermodal connectors that serve transit needs. NOACA recently analyzed these intermodal connectors, identifying pavement and bridge conditions, congestion levels, crash statistics, demographics from the surrounding community and other factors. The resulting memorandum compiles road conditions and identifies deficiencies that impact the efficient movement of people and goods. Local governments can use the data from this analysis to help prioritize their repair and maintenance projects.
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NOACA Board of Directors meets December 11
NOACA's Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting on Friday, December 11, 2015, at 9 a.m. At the meeting, members will consider approving:
- Changes in the functional classification of 14 roadways in the NOACA region.
- Nineteen projects for NOACA Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) implementation grants.
- Two projects totaling $33.8 million that are proposed for inclusion in the long-range transportation plan and/or Transportation Improvement Program.
- Revisions to the Facility Planning Area (FPA) boundaries for wastewater treatment at two locations, and updates to the FPA boundaries and prescriptions for wastewater treatment for all FPAs in Lake County.
- Formation of a Rural Council.
All of NOACA's Board of Directors, committee and council meetings are open to the public.
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