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OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MEETING
Barberton Middle School Cafeteria
477 4th Street NW, Barberton, Ohio
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Proposed I-76 Widening and SR-619/State Street
Interchange Improvements
Cities of Barberton and Akron, Summit County, Ohio
ODOT Project: SUM-76-5.62; PID 96670
INFORMATIONAL HANDOUT
Ohio Department of Transportation
District 4
2088 South Arlington Road
Akron, Ohio 44306-4243
(330) 786-3100 or (800) 603-1054 (Ohio)
http://www.odotdistrict4.org
Proposed I-76 Widening and SR-619/State Street Interchange Improvements
Cities of Barberton and Akron, Summit County, Ohio
Purpose of this Public Involvement Meeting – the purpose of this open house public involvement meeting is to:
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Present and discuss the feasible alternatives under consideration for the Interstate 76 (I-76)/State Route
619 (SR 619)/State Street interchange improvements with the general public, residents, business and
property owners, and public officials.
Solicit public comments regarding the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the feasible
alternatives.
No formal presentation will be made. However, project representatives from the Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT) District 4, Carpenter Marty Transportation (project design consultant), and EMH&T (project
environmental consultant) are available to discuss the feasible alternatives, the right-of-way acquisition process,
environmental considerations, as well as address any questions or concerns you may have regarding this proposed
transportation project.
You are invited to comment regarding the project’s design and social, economic and environmental impacts on
residences, businesses and the community. In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
of 1966, as amended (codified as 36 CFR 800), ODOT also requests information regarding the presence of any
known cultural resources in the vicinity of the project. Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic
archaeological sites, historic bridges, historic buildings, sites and districts.
Project Description - The proposed project seeks to improve the I-76/SR 619 (Wooster Road/East Avenue)
interchange and the I-76/State Street interchange. Due to the traffic congestion on I-76, an additional lane is
needed on I-76 through the SR 619
interchange which will necessitate the
reconstruction of the interchange.
Multiple design alternatives were
investigated to identify transportation
facility improvements that would
improve the highway operation and
reduce traffic congestion along I-76.
Three design alternatives, Alternative 9,
Alternative 10a, and Alternative 10b,
have been determined to be feasible
for further development.
All of these feasible design alternatives
include the widening of I-76 for an
additional travel lane in each direction
and interchange ramp re-alignments. As
part of the proposed widening, the I-76
bridges over Central Avenue are
proposed to be removed and replaced
Figure 1 Project Study Area
with embankments. As such, Central
Avenue would be permanently closed to through traffic under I-76. An additional turn lane will be required on
State Street for eastbound traffic approaching SR 619 (Wooster Road).
Purpose and Need – The purpose and need for the alternatives under consideration is based on various
documented problems on I-76 and associated local roadways in the project area. The primary issue is existing
and future traffic congestion on I-76. Other existing issues include substandard interchange ramps, crashes at the
I-76 westbound ramp to SR 619 and insufficient interchange spacing on I-76.
I-76 Widening/SR-619/State Street Interchange Improvement Project; PID 96670
Public Involvement Meeting, November 18, 2014
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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
An Environmental Resource Study was conducted for the Project Study Area in November 2014. The purpose of
this review was to identify potential sensitive resources or areas of concern which may be affected by the proposed
interchange project. Impacts to these features must be assessed and mitigated in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and other pertinent federal, state, and local regulations. Below is a
summary of these studies:
Ecological Resources – including wetlands, streams, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and threatened and
endangered species. Based on a literature review and field reconnaissance for the proposed project, the project
lies within an urbanized area in the Cities of Barberton and Akron. One (1) stream (Mud Run) and two (2) potential
wetlands were found within the project study area. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) list of
Federally Listed Species by Ohio Counties (April 2014) includes the following species for Summit County: Indiana
bat - Endangered; Northern long-eared bat- Proposed as Endangered; Northern monkshood – Threatened; and
bald eagle – Species of Concern. During a cursory field review, no threatened or endangered species or critical
habitat were identified within the Project Study Area.
Cultural Resources – including historic sites, archaeological sites, and historic architecture. The information
gathered from a literature review indicates that the much of the study area has not been subject to cultural resource
investigations. As a result, the study area does not contain any known archaeological sites. There were twelve
inventoried bridges identified within the study area, all of which were constructed after 1961 and are recorded
as non-historic. There were no important historic architecture buildings or houses noted during the visual inspection
of the study area. The Ohio & Erie Canal (and Mud Run Culvert) is located southeast of the SR 619/State Street
intersection improvement portion of the study area and will not be impacted based on the current alternatives.
Hazardous Materials/Wastes – to identify suspect hazardous waste sites. Based on information recorded in
federal and state databases as well as a cursory field investigation, 16 sites of potential concern were determined
to be located on properties in or immediately adjacent to the Project Study Area, including six (6) former auto
stations and one (1) former dry cleaner.
Social and Economic/Community Impacts – including businesses, residences, emergency services, travel patterns,
schools, recreational activities, etc. There will be no substantial impacts to human health and educational facilities,
recreational facilities/activities, religious institutions, public transportation or pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Portage Elementary School will not be impacted as a result of this project. However, the school would be a
considered a Noise Sensitive Area. Eight (8) Metro Regional Transit Authority (Metro RTA) bus stops are located
within the Project Study Area. Coordination with Metro RTA will need to be conducted as the project progresses.
As part of the proposed widening, the I-76 bridges over Central Avenue are proposed to be removed and
replaced with embankments. As such, Central Avenue would be permanently closed to through traffic under I-76.
Coordination will be conducted with police/fire/emergency medical services in order to assess the impact of this
closure to response times.
Environmental Justice is defined as: the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of
race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies. There are three fundamental environmental justice principles:
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To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental
effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.
To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation
decision-making process.
I-76 Widening/SR-619/State Street Interchange Improvement Project; PID 96670
Public Involvement Meeting, November 18, 2014
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
To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and lowincome populations.
Based on the results of the USEPA Environmental Justice (EJ) View literature search, there are no EJ populations
within the Project Study Area that are above the 40% threshold as indicated in the ODOT-OES's Environmental
Justice guidance document.
Traffic Noise and Air Quality - Because the proposed project will utilize Federal Funding, a noise analysis will be
needed to comply with: Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 23, Part 772; FHWA Highway Traffic Noise
Analysis and Abatement - Policy and Guidance (FHWA, 1995); and ODOT Policy Concerning Analysis and
Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise (ODOT, 1997). As the project will add through lanes to the highway, will
result in changes to the existing horizontal and vertical profile, and because noise sensitive receptors (Harter Park,
Portage Elementary School, churches, and residential homes) are located within 500 feet of the Project Study Area,
a noise analysis will be warranted for the project.
Air quality is also an important consideration for highway projects that add capacity. The State of Ohio has
developed State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for targeted pollutants which define how the State will comply with
the Clean Air Act (CAA) and improve air quality. Because the proposed project will utilize Federal Funding,
conformity with the SIPs must be demonstrated with respect to carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), particulate
matter (PM 2.5/PM 10), and Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSATs).
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Right-of-Way Acquisition - ODOT operates under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Acquisition Policies Act
of 1970 and amendments of 1987. The main objective of this Act is to ensure that every effort is made to acquire
the needed right-of-way in a fair and equitable manner. This Act provides advice and financial assistance to
persons whose residence, business, farm, and/or non-profit organization may be acquired as part of the project.
Operated in accordance with Chapter 163 of the Ohio Revised Code and Public Laws 91-646 and 100-17, the
Relocation Assistance Program ensures fair and equitable treatment of each individual, family, business, farm, and
non-profit organization. Basic policies have been established in this effort by the Federal Highway Administration
and ODOT:
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
All property must be appraised before acquisition is started. This is done by qualified appraisers who are
familiar with real estate values in the area.
Upon determination of the fair market value, an ODOT Real Estate representative will contact the owner
for an appointment. At this time, the representative will explain the project to the owner and the effect of
the project on the property, and will present the offer based on the appraisal, both orally and in writing.
It is hoped that any needed right-of-way would be acquired through successful negotiations. However, if an
agreement cannot be reached, property owners have recourse through the local judicial system where
compensation will be determined by a jury, if necessary.
This is a basic overview of the right-of-way procedures. It is the intent of ODOT that every effort will be made to
obtain a mutual agreement with the owner and to see that the owner is justly compensated for the property. This
will be accomplished by consistent and fair treatment of all owners.
I-76 Widening/SR-619/State Street Interchange Improvement Project; PID 96670
Public Involvement Meeting, November 18, 2014
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Project Schedule - Upon consideration of public/stakeholder input and additional design efforts, one of these
feasible alternatives will be selected as the recommended alternative. Detailed environmental studies and
engineering plans will be completed on the recommended alternative. The recommended alternative will then be
presented to the public and stakeholders at a second public involvement meeting expected to be conducted during
fall 2015. While dependent on project development and funding, construction of the project is anticipated to begin
in late 2018.
Project Cost – The project estimate is $25 million. The cost of preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition
is funded 100% by the State of Ohio. Funding for construction of the project will be a 90/10 split between the
federal government and the State of Ohio.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Your comments are an important part of the planning process for this project. Please review all the exhibits
and materials on display, speak with the project team representatives and return the attached comment sheet
during this meeting or mail to ODOT by Friday, December 5, 2014.
Project information, including this meeting handout and the meeting displays, will be available on the ODOT District
4 website. Also, a summary of public comments received during the public comment period and responses to
comments will be prepared and they are expected to be posted on the ODOT District 4 website within 60 days
of the above public comment period closure date. To view the project information, a summary of public comments
received, and responses to comments, please visit the ODOT District 4 website home page,
www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/d04, scroll down, and select “Public Meetings in District 4” under the “Services”
heading.
I-76 Widening/SR-619/State Street Interchange Improvement Project; PID 96670
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Figure 2 Alternative 9
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Figure 3 Alternative 10a
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Figure 4 Alternative 10b
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Figure 5 State Street/Wooster Road Intersection
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