Connecting Communities Planning Grant
AMATS
Safe Alternatives: Less Traffic
(SALT)
Submitted by:
Mayor Joseph Bica, Jr.
210 Park Way
Ravenna OH 44266
330-296-3864 (p)
330-297-2164 (f)
jbica@ci.ravenna.oh.us
10/14/1143. Safe Alternatives: Less Traffie (SALT) isthe proposed "Connecting Communities”
study that will fous onthe cond formerly known as Ohio State Rout 44, which traverses
through central Portage County. About 40 years ago, the State Route 44 Bypass was bil, which
rected semi-truck traffic around rather than through the City of Ravenna, ‘This coridor
‘remains the main connector route forthe city of Ravenna tothe neighboring townships of
Ravenna and Rootstown and it is used by trucks, cars, motoreyetes, bicyclists and pedestrians
‘This extremely busy corridor serves thousands of folks traveling to daily destination
Points necessary for quality of fe: housing, employment, retail, recreation, government services
and education, As demand continues to increase, so do sfity concers. Because this shor, five
rile heavily trafficked coridorinchudes two high-crash roadway sections itis evident a trafic
study tha eviews options for, multi-modal transportation for people of ll bilitis and income
is desperately needed. The shoulders of this roadway show obvious signs of use: down trodden
sand worn from the foot waffic and bieyles because theres oly a partial sidewalk. We need
safe alternatives and less traffic or the pedestrians and bicycles that are sharing this corridor
withthe automobiles and trucks,
‘This study wil provide three communities with relevant dta and the tools necessary fora
coordinated approach to fture transportation planing. Dota collected will identify user
demographics, mode of tansporttion (private cr, public transportation, bieyle, ee), time of
day travelling, preference in alternative use of transportation, problems encountered, snd
suggestions for improvement, te
4. Project map: R2R Corridor (Attachment A)5. Planning Area: There ae two major problems facing this coridor: limited safe
alternatives inthe wba area for pedestrian and bieysist tfc and continually increasing
trafic demands. The nortem seton of this coridor locate i a densely populated urban area
that has predefined space limitations that may not accommodate bicycle lanes but des have
partial sidewalks. In contrast, te suburban areas inthe Townships of Ravenna and Rootstown
hhave adequate space and could accommodate bicycle and pedestrian paths, which would
generate less trate congestion
"The middle ofthis corridor is complicated by a severe “S” tur, in which limited sight
distance is causing difficulty for ears tuming. The “S” curve is under a railroad overpass and the
height clearance proves challenging for truck trafic. The Portage County Engineer's office has
identified the intersection of Prospect and Summit Streets in Ravenna Township for traffic signal
installation in order to alleviate these traffic challenges and to improve traffic low.
‘The southem end ofthe corridor serves the Roostown educational system and students have
‘created pathway alongside the high-traffic roadway. Rootstown community members have
attended the Township mostngs to express concera forthe safety and well-being ofthe childen,
\which supports the finding in the AMATS 2007-2009 Trafic-Crash Repor that identified tit
area. asa high erash roadway section. The faulty, staf, and students of Northeast Ohio Medic
University (NEOMED) are often burdened with long waits and traffic back-ups during rush hour
hile trying o aces State Route 44. The Portage Area Regional Transportation Autority
(PARTA) has recently implemented the Raven Route, an expanded fixed rout service that
serves the Ravenna town center and contains 17 bus stops along this coridor. With the
‘upcoming NEOMED expansion, PARTA may want fo extend the route tothe Rootstown area,