The Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) invites you to participate in the development of two items key to the future of the Greater Akron area: Transportation Outlook 2035 and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Fiscal Years 2014 through 2017.
Transportation Outlook 2035 is the area’s draft long-range transportation plan of identified needs and recommendations. The plan includes highway, transit, bike and pedestrian project recommendations that are expected to be completed by 2035. Transportation Outlook 2035 recommends over $4.3 billion in highway infrastructure investments through 2035, which includes over $2.5 billion for preservation of the existing system. The draft plan includes investment of over $1.7 billion in the region’s public transportation system and recommends $30 million in bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
AMATS Planning Coordinator Krista Beniston says that the draft plan represents the agency’s focus on using the Greater Akron area’s shrinking funding resources wisely. “These recommendations reflect a “fix-it-first” approach to pursue needed investments in the area’s existing transportation system rather than costly expansions,” Beniston explains.
The TIP is the area’s four-year program of highway, public transit and bike and pedestrian projects scheduled to receive federal funding. The program includes more than $662 million in highway and public transportation projects for fiscal years 2014 through 2017, including nearly $9 million for bike and pedestrian projects. TIP Coordinator Victor Botosan says that the program – like Transportation Outlook 2035 – emphasizes maintenance of the area’s existing system.
The agency is hosting two public engagement meetings so that residents may share their insights on these items. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at the following dates and locations.
- April 9 @ Akron-Summit County Public Library – Main Library, 60 S. High St. in Akron.
- April 18 @ Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St. in Kent.
Drafts of both items are available for review and comment at the following locations:
- The agency web site – amatsplanning.org
- The AMATS office – 806 CitiCenter, 146 S. High Street in downtown Akron.
- PARTA office – 2000 Summit Road in Kent.
- Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 office – 2088 S. Arlington Road in Akron
- Twitter – @amatsplanning
- Facebook – facebook.com/amatsplanning
