April 8, 2016                                                                          Volume 6, Issue 3
Reminder: Take NOACA's water quality survey today

NOACA is completing a strategic water quality plan for Northeast Ohio and needs your input. NOACA planners want to know what water quality issues are important to you, what concerns you have about the region's water and how you feel the NOACA staff should focus their planning efforts over the next five years to address water-related issues and protect regional water resources. Take NOACA's water quality survey and share your thoughts. There are 15 questions in the survey  and it should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Before starting the survey, it may be helpful to view the presentation that was given at public meetings as well as the Water Quality Strategic Plan: Draft Mission, Goals and Objectives brochure.   

Valarie J. McCall named one of the top ten Women to Watch in Transportation

Valarie J. McCall, the City of Cleveland's Chief of Government and International Affairs and member of the NOACA Board of Directors, has been named as one of the top ten Women to Watch in Transportation by ENO Transportation Weekly. McCall previously served as president Valarie McCall of NOACA's Board and currently serves as Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), whose mission is to strengthen, improve and advance transportation services in North America.

"Chief McCall has been an enthusiastic and energetic advocate for transportation projects and economic development in Northeast Ohio," says NOACA Executive Director Grace Gallucci. "She is a proven leader and an asset to our region, so it is fitting that she has been recognized for her work." McCall is also the most recent recipient of NOACA's annual leadership award, the 2015 Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution.

Board Resource Guide summarizes NOACA planning work and responsibilities   
  
If you'd like a better understanding of the transportation, air quality and water quality work that NOACA does, the services the agency provides, and the composition of the agency's Board of Directors, check out Navigate NOACA: A Resource for the Board of Directors. This guide can help you get better acquainted with NOACA's plans, programs and products, Board members and staff. Each page of the guide links to a companion Web page where additional details can be found about that page's topic.

Air quality awareness is for everyone

Show that you care about the air during Air Quality Awareness Week, May 2 - 6, 2016. During this week, NOACA encourages all Northeast Ohio residents to personally commit to improved air quality, public health, and quality of life. You can help improve the region's air by reducing the number of trips you take alone in your car. Try using public transit, carpooling, telecommuting, bicycling or walking instead. Choosing an alternative to driving helps reduce the amount of vehicle emissions that degrade air quality and harm everyone's health. Bicycling and walking also directly benefit your health.
If you must use your car, combine errands, avoid unnecessary idling and refuel your vehicle after sunset. Follow the region's air quality daily on airnow.gov.

In other news, ozone monitoring has returned as of April 1. Though still early, spring will begin to usher in warmer weather conditions conducive for harmful ground-level ozone. Sign up to receive air quality alerts from NOACA and we will inform you when ozone concentrations reach harmful levels. Ozone Action Days are even more critical times to use an alternative form of transportation and to refrain from using other gasoline-powered equipment. 

2016 EarthFest theme is the Year of Clean Transportation
 
The Earth Day Coalition will host its annual celebration of EarthFest on Sunday, April 17, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea. This year's EarthFest theme is the "Year of Clean Transportation," which is similar to the City of Cleveland's Sustainable Cleveland 2019 theme for the year. EarthFest exhibits will showcase how clean fuels and technology can help individuals and organizations reduce gasoline consumption and motor vehicle emissions. Additional exhibits will focus on clean water, environmental and energy science, local and sustainable food, health and wellness, and green home and garden. NOACA supports EarthFest as a Community Partner.

Consider taking an alternate form of transportation-bus, bicycle or walking-to the fairgrounds, and you will receive free admission to EarthFest. Transit users should take the Greater Cleveland RTA's Red Line rapid to the Brookpark station, where shuttle buses will complete the trip to the fairgrounds. Check out the Earth Day Coalition website for additional details.
 
Share your thoughts about bicycle safety on the Detroit-Superior Bridge
 
The City of Cleveland is undertaking a study to determine strategies for improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety on the Detroit-Superior Bridge. The focus of this study is improvements for the top level of the bridge. NOACA is hosting a public meeting and workshop concerning the study on Tuesday, April 26, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Malachi Parish, 2459 Washington Avenue in Cleveland. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can still voice your opinion by completing an online survey.

The villages of Gates Mills, Hunting Valley and Moreland Hills are studying ways to increase multimodal connectivity in the Chagrin River Valley. You can provide input to the Chagrin Valley Connectors Study via a survey that gauges current and potential use of path and trail facilities in and around the valley.

NOACA committed funding to these studies through its Technical Assistance Program (Detroit-Superior Bridge study) and Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (Chagrin Valley Connectors study).
Detroit-Superior Bridge over the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland 
 
Attend 2016 Greater Cleveland Trails & Greenways Conference
 
Trails and greenways are often seen as gateways to thriving and successful communities-areas people want to live around and enjoy. On June 2, 2016, local decision makers, planners and trail advocates from around Northeast Ohio will gather at the 4th biennial Greater Cleveland Trails & Greenways Conference to share ideas, discover new tools and set the stage to transform trail plans and concepts into successfully completed projects. The conference will take place at the Brecksville Human Services Center and feature award-winning writer and lecturer Jay Walljasper as keynote speaker.

The conference also features an awards program that recognizes outstanding trail projects and creative trail programming. The program showcases recent trail, path and bike lane projects in the region and the unique ways people are using these facilities. The awards serve to inspire the development and implementation of more trail and bike projects. You can submit a nomination and recognize your community for implementing an awesome trail or bikeway project. Nominations for projects are due on May 6, 2016.

  
Contact:
Grace Gallucci, Executive Director
1299 Superior Avenue | 216.241.2414, ext. 100

Website: www.noaca.org

NOACA | 1299 Superior Avenue | Cleveland | OH | 44114