Officials seeking NOACA funding

Money will be used to conduct study concerning new Carvana location

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners will seek funding to conduct a planning study around the future location of the Carvana distribution facility in Elyria Township.

Commissioners are seeking $100,000 from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency from its Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative to look at ways to improve connectivity in the area.

The proposed study would examine connecting Amherst Township Park to Carvana along with connecting with various assets in Elyria and Sheffield Townships in addition to the Lorain County Metro Park’s Black River Reservation.

Carvana purchased the property that once was Spiegelberg Orchards at 6161 Middle Ridge Road.

The plan would aim to improve overall connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians along the North Ridge Road corridor.

Commissioner Matt Lundy said in pursuing NOACA funding, the county wants to make sure it is

safe for both pedestrians and bicyclists to travel as the area gets more economic development.

“I think this is a very good project, a very strong project, and I know we’re going to continue to advocate,” Lundy said. “It’s a nice cherry on top.”

The commissioners recently announced Carvana would expand to Lorain County with a 200,000-square-foot facility that is expected to create at least 400 jobs in a $23 million investment.

Commissioner Sharon Sweda concurred, adding that Lorain County transportation needs are not always axle-related, and accommodating walking and biking in the county remains a high priority.

As the county has been preparing, the commissioners and municipalities have worked on ways to improve the surrounding infrastructure including expanding water and sewer service and traffic improvements.

Lundy added that the community should look no farther than the city of Lorain’s downtown streetscape, which was planned and designed through NOACA in re-imagining the city’s transportation needs.