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Hope for the City series explores transportation needs of livable cities
NOACA Executive Director Grace Gallucci will present  Transportation Planning in a Changing Region at Old Stone Church this Wednesday, March 16, as part of the church's 8th annual Hope for the City Lenten leadership series. The series, titled Mobility Matters, focuses on the evolving transportation needs of livable cities and making the most of available transportation assets. The program begins at noon and includes lunch by donation. Register for the program at OldStoneChurch.org.
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Search for transportation improvement projects online with interactive TIP tool
You can now easily search online for any road, bridge, transit or bicycle project on the region's State Fiscal Years 2016 - 2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) using NOACA's new interactive TIP tool. The TIP tool allows you to search for projects by name, Ohio Department of Transportation project identification number (PID) or from a user-friendly map. Each project listing includes numerous details, including project description, location, length, termini, sponsor, total cost, funding source and implementation year, among others. The TIP tool will soon allow users to leave comments about proposed projects that are going through Project Planning Review. Try the tool and give NOACA your feedback.
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NOACA Board of Directors approves fiscal year 2017 Overall Work Program
At its meeting on March 11, the NOACA Board of Directors approved the agency's fiscal year 2017 Overall Work Program (OWP), which outlines the transportation and  environmental planning work of NOACA staff from July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017. Programs and activities in the OWP include:
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Participate in long-range transportation development
NOACA is beginning to develop the region's next long-range transportation plan, which will identify strategies, programs and projects for meeting Northeast Ohio's transportation needs through the year 2040. This will be the first long-range transportation plan prepared since the adoption of the agency's Regional Strategic Plan and vision statement, so it could take a distinctively different direction from previous plans.
You're invited to be involved with the plan's development, and stay informed when NOACA holds public and stakeholder meetings. NOACA will soon post public engagement materials on its website to help you learn about the long-range transportation plan and provide input. Stay tuned! We welcome your feedback and participation.
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Save the date for focus on freight
Mark your calendars and save the date for the 2016 Ohio Conference on Freight, to be held at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown on August 22-24. NOACA is partnering with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) and JobsOhio to organize this year's event. The Ohio Conference on Freight supports freight-related economic opportunity within Ohio, the surrounding states, and the wider binational/mid-continental region. Details about the conference, including breakout session topics, speakers, local tours and cost will soon be  available at www.ohiofreight.org. Professional engineers can earn professional development hours, and American Institute of Certified Planners members can earn certification maintenance credits for attending the conference.
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Can your employer meet the Commuter Choice Challenge?
As part of Mayor Frank G. Jackson's Sustainable Cleveland 2019 initiative, the City of Cleveland's Office of Sustainability has designated 2016 the "Year of Sustainable Transportation." With this designation, city officials encourage a more transit-oriented, walkable and bikeable city for both commuters and the business community. This year, to support the City, NOACA is partnering with the Office of Sustainability to conduct the Commuter Choice Challenge.
 For the Commuter Choice Challenge, NOACA urges the region's employers to encourage their employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work to reduce congestion, improve air quality and support a more sustainable environment. Employers can show support for alternative transportation modes-including transit, bicycling, carpooling and walking-by providing facilities and educational programs that persuade employees to leave their cars at home. Employers can earn a Commuter Choice Challenge gold, silver or bronze rating, and be eligible for a grand prize based on the organization's incentives, programs and investments that encourage commute alternatives, as well as office location.
To apply for an award, employers must submit a Commuter Choice Challenge Tracking Sheet. Access this link for instructions on completing the tracking sheet. Winners of this year's Commuter Choice Challenge will be recognized at the City of Cleveland's annual Sustainability Summit in September 2016.
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NOACA updates Rocky River Drive Plan
NOACA recently updated the Rocky River Drive Plan, which in 2002 recommended property and land-use improvements on Rocky River Drive between Brookpark Road and Lorain Avenue to guide redevelopment and improve the visual character of the corridor. For the plan update, staff evaluated trends in property values, demographic changes and traffic conditions on Rocky River Drive, and recommended multimodal transportation and gateway improvements to help revitalize the corridor.
As a result of this analysis, the plan's recommendations include reducing vehicle lanes on Rocky River Drive from four to three to calm traffic and allow for adding bicycle lanes and median islands. To make walking in the neighborhood safer and more inviting, the plan recommends upgrading pedestrian facilities, including crosswalks, curb ramps and pedestrian signals. The plan also mentions redeveloping vacant properties that front Rocky River Drive and adding landscaping, planters and streetscape improvements in areas where mixed uses are possible, to improve aesthetics. Strategically placed gateway and wayfinding signage would welcome and guide visitors, especially those arriving from the airport, to local destinations.
NOACA updated this plan for the City of Cleveland as part of the agency's Technical Assistance program, which offers communities NOACA staff expertise for planning and implementing low-cost and multimodal transportation improvements.
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Rocky River Drive looking north toward Puritas Avenue
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RTA to host public meetings on proposed transit fare increase and service cuts
The Greater Cleveland RTA has announced potential service  modifications to several bus routes as well as a transit fare increase prior to the adoption of the agency's 2016 operating budget this April. Beginning March 21, RTA will be holding public meetings to discuss these changes and answer questions from the public. If you ride transit, this is your opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes.
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