Northeast Ohio projects get $78m in funds from NOACA

CLEVELAND - Friday, NOACA’s  (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency) Governing Board approved committing nearly $78 million to transportation projects for the next two construction seasons.

The 45 projects that were approved include audible traffic signals in Lyndhurst, repaving Triskett Road in Cleveland, reconstructing parts of Ridge Road in Brooklyn and replacing the Vrooman Road Bridge over the Grand River in Lake County.

Another big ticket item, the reconstruction of Route 57 in Grafton, will add turn lanes to the Lorain county road.

One Cleveland project receiving NOACA funds is the Lakefront West project, commonly known as the West 73rd/Shoreway underpass.

The on-again, off-again project, championed by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson to connect the rejuvenated Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood top the lakefront, got a kickstart with NOACA funding.

"With today's Governing Board approval, $204 million in transportation projects will secure federal funding and be locked down for the 2013 and 2014 construction seasons," said Grace Gallucci, NOACA executive director.

According to Gallucci, more than half of the projects on the priority list are for road and bridge preservation, and bus replacements.

Laketran and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority are receiving funds for buses.

Nearly $9 million has been set aside for 10 pedestrian paths and bike trails.