Connecting Communities Planning Grant & Planning Tools

Curtis Baker, Planning AdministratorKrista Beniston, Planning Coordinator October 12, 2012

@amatsplanning

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Connecting Communities Initiative

• Initiative to integrate land use and transportation planning

• Aid AMATS in targeting investment

• Promote transit, bicycle and pedestrian uses in the region

• Recommendations & strategies for implementation

Why is it important?

• Disconnect between transportation and land use planning

• Area lacks direction for bike and sidewalk investments that complement highways

• Low-density development is straining infrastructure and community services

• Improve collaboration between agencies

• A number of our local communities don’t have planning capacity

• Help deter haphazard development in high growth areas & re-envision areas in decline

• Small investment to help leverage other funds • Opportunity for collaboration • Transportation improvements as a means to

strengthen neighborhoods, promote economic development & increase accessibility

Planning Grant - PurposeConnecting Communities

Planning Grant – What is it? Connecting Communities

• Partnership between AMATS & local communities

• Provides funding for developing plans that integrate land use and transportation – Increase transportation choices– Enhance economic competitiveness– Support existing communities

• Two $50,000 grants annually • Next round: Fall 2012

Planning Tools

• Bike Plan • Pedestrian Plan• Transit Plan• Fright Plan• Safety (Traffic Crash Report)• Congestion (Congestion Management Plan)• Preservation (Highway Preservation Needs)

Bike Plan

Bike User Map & Switching-Gears

Pedestrian Plan

Transit Plan

FreightPlan

Safety

Congestion2012 Congestion Management Process (CMP)

Planning Grant ProcessConnecting Communities

• Partnership with AMATS• AMATS hires a consultant selected by the

community and AMATS • $100,000 available for two $50,000 grants • 100% funding (no local match required) • Goals– Increase transportation choices– Enhance economic competitiveness– Support existing communities

Planning Grant ProcessConnecting Communities

• Eligibility– Promote multi-modal transportation options – Must be consistent with Connecting Communities – Does not include preliminary engineering, ROW, construction

or environmental documentation • Scoring– Description of area & issues – Purpose of study & expected outcomes– How it addresses Connecting Communities – Public involvement component– Implementation strategy

Downtown Akron Connectivity StudyCit of Akron/METRO RTA

• Improve connectivity, accessibility and mobility between the districts in Downtown Akron

• Emphasis on non-auto modes of transportation

Streetscape WalkabilityDowntown Akron Connectivity Study

Crossroad District PlanVillage of Richfield

• 550 acres, bound by I-271 & I-77 • Pro-actively plan for future development

along prime land with good interstate development

• Encourage existing and new development focuses on multi-modal transportation, community character & economic development

Stakeholder Meetings Crossroad District Plan

Comprehensive Land Use & Transportation Plan Village of Boston Heights

• Completion of Rt 8 project creates a prime area for development

• Currently the village have very few tools to control development

• Develop a plan to connect areas of the village & promote balanced growth

Safe Alternatives: Less Traffic City of Ravenna

• High traffic corridor connecting 3 communities– 2 high crash locations– Worn foot/bike paths

• Major investments happening in the area

• Identify safe alternate modes & increase connections to capitalize on existing & fututure assets

Planning Grant

• Schedule– Notice of Funding Availability: November 1, 2012– Application: November 30, 2012– Applications Due: January 15, 2013– Award Announcement: March 2013

• Application Tips– Use planning tools & focus on land use &

transportation connection– Discuss project/ideas with AMATS

• Resources – Connecting Communities Report– amatsplanning.org– switching-gears.org

• Staff Contacts– Curtis Baker, Planning Administrator

cbaker@akronohio.gov– Krista Beniston, Planning Coordinator

kbeniston@akronohio.gov– 330.375.2436

@amatsplanning

Facebook.com/amatsplanning