Initiatives

If you would like more information about biking in the AMATS area, switching-gears.org can be very helpful. Looking to save money or the environment? Check out gohiocommute.com. If you are interested in what other Northeast Ohio communities are doing to make our region sustainable, Vibrant NEO is the place.

Switching Gears

The purpose of Switching-gears.org is to educate people on ways to take advantage of the greater Akron area’s trails and inform them on ways to utilize cycling as a means of transportation. Cycling is fun, great exercise, and a great way to enjoy our region. Plus, biking can help reduce pollution emissions if used for trips in place of a car. Obviously not everyone can bike everywhere all the time, but we hope you use this site to learn about how to “switch gears” and try something different. Contact information here.

Gohio Commute

Gohio Commute is a cooperative service offered by the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS), the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments (Eastgate), Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), Area Agency on Aging 3 (AAA3), Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI), Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) . Gohio Commute helps residents from all over Ohio explore their commute options. You control the personal information that is shown to other carpoolers. Contact possible carpoolers by email to discuss what your needs and expectations are and you’re on your way! You may also enjoy other features such as mileage tracking and interactive mapping functions. Carpooling Advantages:

Saves money by splitting commuting costs for fuel, tolls and parking
Lowers stress
Reduces pollution
Gives riders time for other activities such as reading, sleeping, working, and socializing
Reduces traffic congestion
Reduces need for parking spaces

Visit GohioCommute for more information!

Vibrant NEO

vibrantneo.org

The Board of Directors of the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium (NEOSCC) in December voted to release the Vibrant NEO 2040 Vision, Products and Framework documents to NEOSCC member organizations for review, consideration and potential vote of approval. The NEOSCC Board will take a final vote on approval of the Vision at its February 25, 2014 meeting. Based on input and feedback from residents and leaders, the overarching objectives of the Vibrant NEO 2040 Regional Vision seeks to pursue are:

Promote investment in Northeast Ohio’s established communities;
Protect our soil, water, air, and ecologically sensitive areas;
Improve our regional fiscal health;
Develop our regional economy with accessible employment opportunities;
Enhance our regional transportation network;
Cultivate and celebrate our local assets and places of public value;
Expand our parks and open-space network; and
Preserve and value our prime farmland as a regional economic asset.

This past fall, NEOSCC and the Vibrant NEO 2040 team presented the objectives and potential recommendations during a series of public meetings, seven subject matter caucuses and to its board. Utilizing the feedback received, nine recommendations and 41 initiatives emerged as the foundation for the Vibrant NEO 2040 Vision and Framework. You can view the presentation of the Vision at vibrantneo.org. NEOSCC can be found both on Facebook and on Twitter at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/VibrantNEO Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VibrantNEO

Better Block Information

Copley Road Better Block – May 24-25, 2019

The Summit County Think Tank Coalition and Progressive Alliance CDC have partnered with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to bring a Better Block initiative to West Akron on May 24-25, 2019. The project will focus on Copley Road between Frederick Boulevard and South Hawkins Avenue.

The Better Block has implemented projects in and around the Cleveland/Akron area, including the North Hill, Middlebury, Kenmore, Cuyahoga Falls, Barberton, Euclid, and Slavic Village neighborhoods. The organization also owns and operates the Exchange House, a community center in the North Hill neighborhood.

For more information about this event, check out the Better Block website.

Past Better Block events

On May 15, 16, and 17 of 2015, Akron’s North Hill neighborhood held a Better Block event at Temple Square to demonstrate what the intersection and vacant buildings could become. The result was a 3 day event that brought out hundreds of people and transformed a once quiet spot into a vibrant gathering place for people of all ages. The success of the event has excited many people in the Akron area to consider what other locations should be “Better Block-ed”. AMATS has created this page to provide anyone interested in taking on this type of community event with information and to share the knowledge of lessons learned from this initial event. Better Block website Akron Better Block website Better Block facebook and twitter Escalys Retrospect Escalys Recommendations North Hill Better Block Short Term Outcomes On July 30 and 31, 2016, Akron hosted its second Better Block at the location of Akron’s first settlement: Middlebury. The Middlebury Better Block included food trucks, a stage, a wading pool and jungle gym for kids, and, among many other things, bike lanes. The bike lanes were permanently installed as a result of the demonstration. Although it rained for much of the weekend, the Middlebury Better Block was another success for the community.