EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Board of Directors June 12, 2020 “recent grave injustices…must be viewed in light of the historical trauma inflicted on African American communities, including discrimination wrought by the planning profession itself. APA recognizes this reality and is working to center equity in all planning processes in keeping with our mission of creating great communities for all.” American Planning Association (APA) Consistent with NOACA’s guiding mission and values, we are committed to playing our part. Building an equitable future for our region within a framework that recognizes the ways we can facilitate change by connecting our neighborhoods, communities and assets to enhance the quality of life for all, continues to be our focus. This is the time to embrace our differences and become more inclusive. In our role as planners, we can help bridge the divide through the advancement of programs, policies and improvements that are inclusive, fair, and benefit everyone. We can use our existing work with urban core communities, workforce mobility, transit-oriented development, transportation for livable communities, land-use and general transportation access, as well as new initiatives, as a foundation to build a better and more equitable plan for Northeast Ohio. More to come as part of our eneo2050 LRP. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AGENDA PRIORITIES & STATUS • Long-Range Plan • Communications & Outreach • Legislative & Funding Issues • Overall Work Program (OWP) • Announcements Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increase Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achiev ncreased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving IncreasedLONG Mobility Achieving-RANGE Increased Mobility PLAN Achieving Increased Mobility Achievi ncreased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased LONG-RANGE PLAN NOACA’s Long-Range Plan, will offer a vision of Northeast Ohio’s transportation future by aiming to achieve equity for everyone— with mobility access to land use, housing, health, environment and economic development. An Equitable Future for Northeast Ohio LONG-RANGE PLAN Public Involvement Activities • Public Awareness Campaign • – How to get involved? • Public opinion survey – June 2020 • CrowdGauge interactive tool – July 2020 • Video Campaign: Soliciting video comments from the public describing their vision for an equitable NEO Virtual Town Hall and Roundtable meetings • eNEO2050 website at www.eneo2050.com LONG-RANGE PLAN • NOACA is asking local jurisdictions and regional agencies to submit transportation-related project needs envisioned over the next LRTP (2050) th st o June 15 – July 31 (letters sent next week with instructions) o Submit through online form: https://noaca.formstack.com/forms/lrtp_projects • Projects can include rehab of pavements and bridges, multimodal improvements, congestion management strategies, and safety improvements, amongst others • Projects already included in current LRTP or 2021-2024 TIP do not need to be resubmitted Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increase Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achiev ncreased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased MobilityCOMMUNICATIONS Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility & OUTREACH Achieving Increased Mobility Achievi ncreased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News Middlefield Transportation Study Mapped Out Geauga County Maple Leaf, March 18 • Middlefield Village is developing a transportation plan to improve safety & connectivity for motor vehicles, horse- drawn buggies, bicycles and foot traffic • Two surveys have been distributed for public input; three public meetings will be conducted this summer • NOACA approved $85,000 for the study under the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News NOACA launches regional discussion on merging Metropolitan Statistical Areas to boost NEO in national rankings cleveland.com, April 26 • NOACA is initiating discussion about merging NE Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Areas to raise profile and economic power o Coincides with 2020 Census, which could redefine the region o NOACA area MSA could merge with Akron and Canton MSAs • NE Ohio could become the 18th largest MSA in the nation with more than 3.1 million residents o Large MSAs have more influence in legislation and access to funding COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News Planning group wants Akron and Canton considered part of Greater Cleveland Akron Beacon Journal, May 19 • NOACA explores study to combine Akron and Canton’s MSAs with Cleveland-Elyria MSA; AMATS and Akron City Council proposed resolution to oppose consideration • NOACA: Combining MSAs would boost collaboration; unlock federal revenue streams and be more attractive to businesses • Summit county officials fear Akron and Canton would lose control of federal funding and planning grants • Another Source: Akron-Canton Adopt Metroplex Initiative to combine MSA – August 18, 2019; https://www.cantonrep.com/news/20190818/stark-summit-leaders-adopt-metroplex-label-to-market-region COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News NOACA recommends funding approval totaling $1.92 billion for major projects The Morning Journal, May 7 • NOACA’s Board of Directors approved: o SFY 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program prioritizing $1.9 billion in road, bridge, transit, safety, bicycle, pedestrian and rail projects o 2020 Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) with $2.02 million for seven implementation projects and three regionally focused planning studies • An interactive map and list of projects can be found on NOACA’s website COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News Bay Village launches Cahoon Memorial Park study, master plan Westlake Bay Village Observer, May 19 • City of Bay Village received an ODNR Coastal Management Assistance Grant for a public access study of Bay Point and adjacent shoreline and walking path areas, and circulation with and connectivity to the rest of Cahoon Park • Study will build on the results of two 2017 studies: one of which is NOACA’s Cahoon Park Area Connectivity Study • New study will create a master plan to enhance public lakefront access, increase recreational enjoyment of Cahoon Park, beautify the lakefront setting, and protect and manage existing natural habitat COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News Innovative Euclid project inspires lakefront trail planning in Cuyahoga, Lake and Lorain counties cleveland.com, May 25 • Project vision of Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish: create a 30-mile lakefront bicycle trail between Euclid in the east and Bay Village in the west • NOACA awarded the project a $250,000 TLCI planning grant for a lakefront trail study; study will include Lake & Lorain counties • Cuyahoga County Dept. of Public Works will Improve bike and pedestrian access on the 18 county roads that run from the southern edge of the county to the water, to improve lake access COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News Lorain scores $399K for Safe Routes to School improvements The Morning Journal, June 2 • State grants totaling almost $400,000 will pay for sidewalk and safety improvements in the City of Lorain’s Safe Routes to Schools program toward Infrastructure funding • Improved sidewalks, curb ramps and new crosswalks • Digital speed limit signs • School pavement markings and signage • Next year, Lorain will receive $179,500 in NOACA CMAQ funding for a Washington Avenue bikeway stretching from Lorain High School to West Erie Avenue COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA in the News NOACA repaving Ridge Road from Memphis to Denison avenues, starting in Brooklyn cleveland.com, June 10 • Ridge Road repaving underway between Memphis Ave. in Brooklyn and Denison Ave. in Cleveland • Ridge Road is most highly traveled road in Brooklyn • NOACA committed $2 M to the project; Cuyahoga County, $250,000; and cities of Cleveland & Brooklyn, $124,000 each • Ridge Road is an important regional asset for efficient movement of people and goods • Project is a good example of the NOACA goal to promote regional cohesion with multiple entities partnering to implement the improvement across city boundaries COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH NOACA Sponsored May Bike Month Challenge • Public health and awareness campaign event to encourage people to ride their bicycles for work commutes, short errands and recreation while logging their bike rides on the Gohio Commute platform • Co-sponsored by Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, uGO and Bike Cleveland Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increased Mobility Achieving Increase Mobility Achieving Increased