Thirty-seven highway, resurfacing, and bike and pedestrian projects throughout the Greater Akron area will receive nearly $40 million in federal funds following the first meeting of the AMATS Policy Committee in 2022.
AMATS is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization serving the Greater Akron area of Portage and Summit counties and a portion of Wayne County. The agency oversees three key federal funding programs for projects within the region. The agency’s Policy Committee unanimously approved the slate of projects which will receive funding between now and 2028 during its Jan. 27 meeting.
At approximately $21 million for seven projects, the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program will provide the lion’s share of new project funding for the region. STBG funds provide a flexible funding source for communities seeking to improve highways and bridges on any public road. Major reconstruction projects on East Market Street in Akron, Wyoga Lake Road in Cuyahoga Falls, and Darrow Road in Stow are among the seven selected by AMATS to receive STBG funds in the coming years. These three projects alone will receive slightly more than $16.8 million in STBG funds.
The Resurfacing Program will provide nearly $14.9 million for 24 resurfacing projects, several of which are sponsored by county engineer’s offices throughout the region. Portage County will receive more than $614,000 to resurface a portion of Ravenna and Diagonal roads in Franklin Township and more than $321,000 for Cleveland Road in Ravenna Township. Summit County will receive $787,500 apiece for projects on South Main Street in Coventry Township and Valley View Road in Sagamore Hills Township. Wayne County will receive more than $508,000 for a project on Doylestown Road and Portage Street in Chippewa Township.
The area’s trail and sidewalk networks will continue to expand as six projects totaling nearly $4.2 million will receive funding from the federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) Program. The TASA Program provides funding for projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities that provide transportation alternatives to motor vehicles.
Phase 2 of the Rubber City Heritage Trail in Akron and pedestrian improvements along East Main Street (state Route 59) in Kent will each receive $700,000 in TASA funds. The Heartland Trail project in Wayne County, which will construct a new multi-purpose trail with berms wide enough to accommodate horse-drawn buggies, is also slated to receive nearly $659,000 in TASA funds.
Tables detailing projects that will receive STBG, Resurfacing and TASA funds are available.