Officials seek input on traffic improvements

About 60 people attended the meeting.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- The public is being asked to determine which of four short-term traffic improvements near Eastwood Mall should be implemented first.
A comment sheet seeking input was distributed during Wednesday's public meeting at Howland Middle School. About 60 people from the Howland, Warren and Niles area attended.
Burgess & amp; Niple of Akron is the engineering firm working on the study on the area around state routes 82 and 46. Robert Shenal, project manager, explained the study during the two-hour meeting.
The projects residents are to choose from are:
URamp widening, turn lanes and traffic signal coordination at the state Route 46 and state Route 82 interchange.
U The realignment and additions of turn lanes at the East Market Street, Warren-Sharon Road and state Route 82 ramps.
UThe interconnection and coordination of state Route 46 traffic signals from Mines Road to Home Depot.
URestricting the traffic cut through on Johnnycake Road.
Many at the meeting said they were pleased that officials are seeking residents' comments.
"I think they are doing the right thing by asking and communicating with us," said Gordon McLean of Howland.
Anyone wishing to make a written comment concerning the study may e-mail reshenal@burnip.com, or send a letter to the attention of Robert Shenal at Burgess and Niple Inc., 50 S. Main St., Suite 600, Akron, Ohio 44308.
Route 82
Residents who attended the meeting said they were also pleased that traffic improvements will be made this summer on state Route 82. That project will realign the left turn lanes on state Route 82 at Howland-Wilson Road and add turn lanes on Howland Wilson Road at that intersection.
Officials from the township, Warren, Niles, Trumbull County engineer's office, Ohio Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been meeting for several months along with members of the public to work on traffic and safety problems.
Shenal also discussed several projects to improve traffic conditions along major routes within the area surrounding Eastwood Mall. The aim of the study is to develop a strategy to address capacity, congestion and safety concerns along roads and intersections.