February 5, 2016                                                                     Volume 6, Issue 1
Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy elected president of NOACA Board of Directors
 
At its January 22 meeting, the NOACA Board of Directors elected Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy president of the Board for calendar year 2016. Commissioner Troy, a 16-year member of the Board, previously served as its president in 2004. "Our region is not growing and resources are finite, so we have to concentrate on fixing what we
2016 NOACA Board President Daniel P. Troy
have rather than building more infrastructure-unless there's a proven demand for it," says
Commissioner Troy. "NOACA is the closest thing we have to a regional council of governments in Northeast Ohio, where elected officials from throughout the region can share best practices and engage in an open dialogue about how we can cooperate more on a regional basis."
 
At the meeting, the NOACA Board also elected other officers including vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. The new officers, as well as the roster of 2016 board members, are posted on the agency's website.

Attend a NOACA Water Quality Strategic Plan public meeting

Last year, the NOACA Board of Directors adopted a Regional Strategic Plan that identifies a vision, goals and strategies to guide the board in allocating the region's resources and prioritizing future transportation investments. Following the success of this plan, NOACA is developing a Strategic Water Quality Plan to help guide the work of NOACA's water quality planning staff over the next five years. The draft plan will include a mission statement, goals, objectives and strategies to ensure NOACA's water quality program aligns with the agency's vision.
 
NOACA invites the public to provide input on the Water Quality Strategic Plan through public meetings. NOACA is hosting four meetings in February to gather input and comment:
 
Tuesday, February 16, 5-7 p.m.
Kirtland Public Library
9267 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, OH 44094
 
Wednesday, February 17, noon-1:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Burke Lakefront Airport
1501 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, OH 44114
 
Wednesday, February 24, 5-7 p.m.
Columbia Station fire station
25540 Royalton Road, Columbia Station, OH 44028
 
People who are unable to attend the meetings are encouraged to view the public presentation materials and take an online survey before offering comments.
 
NOACA selected to participate in transportation planning academy  

NOACA is one of seven metropolitan areas nationwide selected to participate in a yearlong transportation planning academy focused on performance measurement. The program, created by Transportation for America in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, will help local officials and transportation professionals better assess the impacts of the region's transportation spending and ensure the greatest possible return on transportation investments.
 
Performance measurement is a strategic approach that uses system information to make investment and policy decisions to achieve national performance goals. It provides key information to help decision makers understand the consequences of investment decisions across multiple markets. NOACA's Executive Committee, made up of current board officers, will participate in on-premises workshops and regular online training sessions.
 

RTA introduces new trolleys
 
As the City of Cleveland gears up to host thousands of delegates and visitors for the Republican National Convention (RNC) this July, the Greater Cleveland RTA is preparing to meet guests'
travel needs by adding 12 new vehicles to its downtown trolley fleet. The free RTA trolleys shuttle riders around Cleveland's central business district and, during the convention, will provide efficient service from downtown hotels to Quicken Loans Arena. Trolleys help reduce congestion and offer users a convenient and cost-effective alternative to driving.
 
NOACA committed $754,500 toward the purchase of the new trolleys, which are longer and accommodate more riders than the original trolleys. The RNC site selection committee cited RTA's public transit network as a strength that helped solidify Cleveland as the top choice for hosting the 2016 convention.

Hope for the City leadership series focuses on mobility   

Old Stone Church, located on Cleveland's Public Square, is hosting its 8th Annual Hope for the City leadership series on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. during Lent. This year's theme, Mobility Matters, will focus on the evolving transportation needs of livable cities. Trends show that younger generations are choosing to live close to where they work, use public transit, walk and bike to destinations and rely less on driving than their parents did.

The Hope for the City leadership series begins on February 24 with Connecting the Dots, a presentation by Joseph Calabrese, RTA's CEO/General Manager and NOACA board member. NOACA Executive Director Grace Gallucci will present Transportation Planning for a Changing Region on March 16. Seating for each session is limited. For more information or to register, visit the Old Stone Church website.
 
Vibrant NEO 2040 county reports available  

In February 2014, NOACA, in partnership with 32 other organizations that formed the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium (NEOSCC), produced Vibrant NEO 2040: A Vision, Framework and Action Products for our Future, a report that offers a framework for addressing regional challenges such as strengthening established communities, accelerating job growth, creating more affordable housing and reversing urban core abandonment in a 12-county region of Northeast Ohio. The recommendations and initiatives presented in Vibrant NEO 2040 are tools for helping local governments move forward and implement the plan's vision.
 
Over a three year period, each of the 12 counties involved in the NEOSCC effort collected extensive amounts of data, prepared maps and conducted public engagement sessions. The data and input gathered from this effort was compiled in the Vibrant NEO 2040 report. To provide decision makers in each county with the data most relevant to them, NOACA recently published reports with NEOSCC findings specific to each county. Reports for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties are available on NOACA's website, and reports for all 12 counties can be found on the Vibrant NEO 2040 website.
  
NOACA to continue hosting active transportation webinars   

NOACA will continue to host monthly webinars during 2016 focused on issues related to complete streets and active modes of transportation, including walking and bicycling. The public is welcome to attend these webinars, held at NOACA's office, 1299 Superior Avenue in Cleveland, at 3 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The viewings are free and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) training credits are available. The next webinar, Planning for Facility Maintenance and Management Costs, will be conducted on February 17. Contact NOACA Active Transportation Planner Melissa Thompson if you are interested in attending.
  
Take your best shot-enter a sustainable transportation selfie contest
 
Sustainable Cleveland 2019 has designated 2016 the "Year of Sustainable Transportation." Considering that theme, how do you travel around the region and commute to work? Do you typically take public transportation, carpool, ride your bike, walk or use a combination of these modes? Do you walk or use your bike to run short errands, or invite friends to carpool with you when you go shopping?
 
Sustainable Cleveland wants to see how you use sustainable transportation modes in your daily travels. It is sponsoring the "I Move CLE Selfie Contest" and invites you to submit digital self-portraits of yourself riding a bike, carpooling, using public transportation or other sustainable transportation mode. You could not only win prizes, but also achieve recognition as the face of sustainable transportation for Northeast Ohio on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 website or Facebook page for more details about the contest, including eligibility and rules.
 
Apply for ODOT and ODNR funding grants   

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is currently accepting applications for two funding programs:
  • Municipal Bridge Program, which provides federal funding for bridge replacement or rehabilitation. Applications are due Tuesday, March 1, 2016 and projects would be implemented during years 2019-2021.
  • Safe Routes to Schools Program, funding projects that encourage and enable students in grades K-8 to walk or ride their bicycles safely to school. Applications are due Friday, March 4, 2016.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is offering Clean Ohio Trails Fund and Recreational Trails Program grants to local governments and other non-profit organizations that wish to increase recreational trail opportunities in their communities. ODNR extended the application deadline for applications to April 1, 2016, to allow more communities to take advantage of funding for recreational trail facilities.
  
  
Contact:
Grace Gallucci, Executive Director
1299 Superior Avenue | 216.241.2414, ext. 100

Website: www.noaca.org