Overview

The NOACA Regional Lakefront Connectivity Study is a Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) planning effort focused on improving access to Lake Erie.

Study Area

The Lake Erie Connect study area includes all five NOACA counties (Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, and Geauga), with a focus on the three lakefront counties (Lorain, Cuyahoga, and Lake).

Nineteen cities and villages border Lake Erie’s shoreline, from Vermilion in the west to North Perry in the east. Also included in the study area are:

  • 4 townships
  • 8 metropark reservations
  • 6 rivers
  • 1 state park
  • a portion of the Lake Erie Coastal Trail

Goals

Lake Erie Connect aims to close regional access gaps to existing and future lakefront assets. This will be accomplished by enhancing regional connectivity, ensuring access for all users, and considering environmental conditions and impact.

Connected

Regional Connection

Making it easy to travel throughout our region benefits us all. The plan will evaluate both North/South and East/West connectivity.

Equitable

Access for All

The lakefront belongs to all of us. We must ensure equitable access for everyone in our region, no matter the starting point or mode of travel.

Sustainable

Environmentally Conscious

Lake Erie is a vital natural asset to our region. It is important that we protect and respect it while planning for development and strive to confront existing issues.

Approach

The project team’s approach revolves around three guiding principles, each equally important in the creation of a connected, equitable, and sustainable final plan.

  • Residents and business owners who call the region home know Lake Erie best.
  • By engaging the public early and often, we will build a complete understanding of the lakefront’s needs, priorities, and challenges.
  • Intentional environmental justice community engagement will be vital in addressing regional lakefront access gaps.
  • Understanding the region’s transportation users will lead to solutions that are authentic and grounded in local realities.
  • The study will focus on users’ experience and needs, creating connections to the lake that are comfortable, equitable, and engaging.
  • Multimodal access options will be included in the plan, opening up the lakefront to people of all transportation needs.
  • The Lake Erie shoreline is an asset for all communities in Northeast Ohio, and the Lake Erie Connect study will keep this truth at the forefront of its approach.
  • The study will align existing and in-progress plans from each community with regional goals, illustrating a full picture of existing conditions and resulting in a unified vision for our lakefront.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lake Erie Connect?

Lake Erie Connect is a collective and collaborative effort to study how our region can enhance its transportation network so all communities have access to Lake Erie’s shoreline. It will create a cohesive master plan for accessing the lakefront, bringing together past plans and existing conditions to inform an overall vision.

How will the plan be used?

Access plans are used to guide future decision-making in a collaborative and comprehensive way. They are meant to be consulted by community leaders when making decisions about policies, projects, and programs as they relate to land use, development, and transportation. This plan will include an implementation section outlining a recommended schedule and specified funding sources for communities and leaders to consult.

How long will the process take?

Completing the Lake Erie Connect study is estimated to take 1.5 years. The planning process is divided into six distinct phases, including four working group meetings and ongoing public engagement. The full planning schedule can be viewed and downloaded on the resources page.

Creation of a physical plan is just the beginning of a regional effort to connect, access, and improve the lakefront. Implementation of the plan will be an ongoing endeavor to provide economic, recreational, and environmental benefits for generations to come.

Who is involved?

The Public: Getting feedback from community experts – you! – on what works best in your community is essential to effective planning.

The Working Group: A group of community leaders with local expertise and a passion for the future of the lakefront.

The Planning Team: Consultants hired by NOACA who specialize in waterfront planning, multimodal connectivity, and community engagement.

How do I get involved?

There are several ways to get involved with Lake Erie Connect. At any point during the study you can use the Contact Us form to reach the planning team directly. We also encourage you to participate in the #makeittothelake campaign on social media. Throughout the study’s duration there will be opportunities to provide specific input on various aspects of the plan through surveys, meetings, and events. If you are interested in knowing when new opportunities to provide input become available, head over to the Get Involved page and sign up for notifications.

How is this being funded?

The study is funded by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI). You can learn more about NOACA, our region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and designated water quality management agency, here and about the TLCI program here. As an MPO, NOACA receives federal funds from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).