Ravenna seeks to widen road

The City of Ravenna applies to AMATS grant program

By: Jasmine Pace

In recent months, the City of Ravenna has sought to widen W. Main St., along with repairing 6 other roads in the area.

Recently, the city has applied for a grant with the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) to help with the project.

The projected completion date is 2018 or 2019.

Diane Smith, reporter for Record-Courier, reported a list of other road repairs around Ravenna that need to be done:

• “East Riddle Avenue between Liberty Street and New Milford Road, $340,900.
• East Highland Avenue between Chestnut and Freedom streets, $97,900.
• South Diamond Street between Main and Summit streets, $260,300.
• Mill Road between Diamond and Sycamore streets, $136,800.
• Riddle Avenue between Sycamore and Liberty streets, $180,700.”

Ravenna is seeking over 2 million in grant money to complete these projects.

AMATS

Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study is apart of the Metropolitan Transportation Organization that seeks to help the Akron area.

Some of the thing AMATS is responsible for are “developing a regional transportation plan, serving as a forum for elected officials to discuss regional transportation policy, overseeing the expenditure of federal transportation funds” among other things which are available on AMATS website.

Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study has programs that help communities around the area.  There are three programs that AMATS offers.  The list includes:

• OhioRideshare, which allows residents from 13 counties to seek carpool partners online, this can help those who are seeking cost efficient transportation.  Also, it helps with traffic because fewer cars are on the road, and also helps air quality.

• Connecting Communities is a program that helps better use of land for transportation purposes.  “The intent and initiative is to create more vibrant livable communities through coordinating resources, partners, and stakeholders to integrate transportation and land use planning and decisions.”  This can be seen on AMATS website.

•  Connecting Communities Planning Grant allows communities to apply for grant money to enhance transportation “livability” (link here).

In 2012, Ravenna became apart of “Ravenna and Rootstown Corridor Study.”

[pullquote]“The City of Ravenna sought and received a Connecting Communities Planning Grant to focus on the Old State Route 44 corridor from State Route 14 south to Tallmadge Road (County Road 16) in Rootstown Township to advance transportation planning in this corridor” according to the study.[/pullquote]

This study was an extensive study that looks at many elements regarding the Ravenna area. There were also recommendations made for Ravenna.

The study recommended that Ravenna “paint the pavement,” “development of a Ride & Park System, and “transit stop enhancement and rider surveys.”

There were many other recommendations, but these were just some of them. 

Where does Ravenna stand?

Being that Ravenna has previously been a part of AMATS, there could be a good chance that Ravenna will receive funding for them.

Nevertheless, because there are other communities seeking funding, there is still a high chance that they will not.  Competition is high, but since Ravenna has already had a relationship with Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study that is a plus.

Widening the roads will hopefully ease traffic, increase safety, and create a better transportation for all public’s.