If you’re interested in what the future holds for transportation in the Greater Akron area, then mark Monday, March 30 on your calendar. That’s the day that AMATS will unveil the area’s Draft Transportation Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2021Through 2024 (TIP) for online comments.
The latest TIP is the most expensive and possibly most comprehensive since AMATS’ beginnings as a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) in 1962. The Draft TIP encompasses more than $993 million in highway, public transit, bike and pedestrian projects throughout the Greater Akron area. The program includes more than $642.7 million for highway projects, $338.7 million for public transit needs, and slightly less than $12 million for bike and pedestrian projects. These projects are scheduled to receive federal funds for fiscal years 2021 through 2024.
AMATS is reaching out to the public for their thoughts on the newest program. TIP Coordinator David Pulay says that a number of significant improvements are included in the new program which should be of interest to anyone living, travelling or doing business in the region.
“The $164 million project to repave portions of state Route 8 and Interstates 76 and 77 and the $146 million state Route 8 bridge replacement over the Cuyahoga River Valley are some of the major improvements planned for the next four years,” Pulay says.
Other major projects planned throughout the region include a more than $9 million reconstruction of Tallmadge Road in Brimfield Township and the more than $12 million widening of Cleveland-Massillon Road in Fairlawn.
The Draft TIP is available for public comment from March 30 through April 29 by clicking here and the AMATS Twitter and Facebook pages. We invite you to share your comments regarding our new program with our online TIP Comment Form. You may also submit comments via email to AMATS TIP Coordinator David Pulay at dpulay@akronohio.gov. (Please note that AMATS will not be accepting in-person public comments due to the COVID-19 outbreak.)
AMATS hosted a virtual public meeting on April 2 on its Facebook page. You may view this presentation in its entirety by clicking here.
Because the AMATS TIP is one of 17 such programs from metropolitan planning organizations across Ohio that will comprise the four-year state TIP, you may view and comment on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Draft state TIP by clicking here.