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ONE OF 39: Akron’s project to re-route and re-purpose state Route 59, between Exchange and Perkins streets, shown above, was among the 39 projects recently selected by AMATS to receive funding.

In its first meeting of 2014, the AMATS Policy Committee approved 39 projects totaling nearly $29 million in new project funding.  Committee approval caps off an exhaustive selection process that began last October when the agency began sifting through more than 133 applications from project sponsors throughout the Greater Akron area.

Those projects selected for funding reflect AMATS’ emphasis on preserving the area’s existing transportation system while pursuing new efficiency strategies as a means to stretch the area’s federal transportation funding, according to Victor Botosan, the agency’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) coordinator.

“The pot of government funds for transportation projects is not growing.  This latest round of funding continues the approach that we adopted several years ago of making the most of what we have now,” Botosan explains.

The committee approved nearly $18 million in federal Surface Transportation Program funds (STP) for a mix of 12 improvement projects to widen, reconstruct and re-route some of the area’s most vital roadways.  Some of the STP-funded projects incorporate such strategies as “road diets,” i.e., lane reductions and various bike and pedestrian improvements to achieve systemic improvements.

Area bike and pedestrian projects will also get a significant boost from the agency through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).  Nearly $4 million in TAP funds will go to 11 much-needed bike and pedestrian improvements throughout Portage and Summit counties.

The agency also approved nearly $7 million in Resurfacing Program funds for 16 projects throughout the region.  Among the notable projects to land funding were Phases 1 and 2 of the Village of Boston Heights’ planned resurfacing of Olde Eight Road which received a commitment of nearly $1.5 million from the agency.

Other noteworthy projects include:

• $5 million for the rerouting of state Route 59 in Akron.

• More than $3 million for the intersection improvement of Canton Road/state Route 91 in Springfield Township and the Village of Lakemore.

• $500,000 for Phase 2 of the Headwaters Trail – Hiram Extension in Hiram Township.

• $500,000 for Phase 3 of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County’s Freedom Trail in Akron.

• $360,000 for the resurfacing of Prospect Street in Rootstown and Ravenna townships.

A complete listing of projects is available for viewing by clicking here.  For additional details, please contact Botosan at 330-375-2436 or by email at VBotosan@AkronOhio.gov.