Final Plan Complete!

Lake Erie Connect, the NOACA Regional Lakefront Study is here! The plan explores the Lake Erie lakefront and introduces possible strategies and projects to increase accessibility for Northeast Ohioans and visitors!

Welcome!

Welcome to the official website of Lake Erie Connect, NOACA’s Regional Lakefront Transportation Connectivity Study. This website will be used to explain the study’s purpose, share updates and materials, and request community input and feedback. We invite you to explore the site and become familiar with the project – if you have questions or concerns at any point in the planning process, use the Contact Us page to message the project team directly.

About NOACA

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is the transportation and environmental planning agency that represents state, county, city, village, and township officials in Greater Cleveland. NOACA addresses the transportation, air quality, and water quality needs of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. The agency and its partners cooperatively develop and implement plans to ensure that travel throughout the region is safe, cost-effective and environmentally sound.

NOACA has also been designated as an Areawide Water Quality Management Agency by the Governor of Ohio under section 208 of the federal Clean Water Act to perform areawide planning.

#MakeItToTheLake

What would you do with a day at the lake? Relax and watch the waves, or fish for local walleye? Enjoy a sunset dinner, or a day-long lounge on the beach?

We believe the lakefront belongs to all of us, but know it’s not always easy to get there. That’s where Lake Erie Connect comes in. Our goal is to have everyone #MakeItToTheLake—whether by road, rail, bikeway, waterway, or another way. And once you’re there, we want you to have the spaces and amenities to enjoy Lake Erie to its fullest.

Share your ideas for lakefront access and amenities with the hashtag #MakeItToTheLake on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Your vision fuels the future of the lakefront—and we’re ready to help build it.

The Lake Erie Connect study includes a plan for connecting the Chagrin River in Lake County to its surrounding communities and the lakefront.

The Chagrin Connect plan will ultimately tie into the overall Lake Erie Connect study, but some planning and community engagement efforts may occur separately.

If you live in or near a Chagrin River community, visit often, or are curious about what the river has to offer, be sure to check out the Chagrin Connect page of this website.

Recent Posts

Summer Engagement Events Complete

The Lake Erie Connect project team traveled to 3 events around NEO this summer to ask communities how they felt about their current access to Lake Erie and the region's many lakefront parks. Events included Lakeview Park's Sunset Concert, Lakewood Park's Summer...

Understanding Today’s Lakefront

The project team has prepared two Existing Conditions Reports which capture the challenges and opportunities along the lakefront today. The first report focuses on the entire Region while the other zooms in on Lake County. These reports highlight key considerations...

Second Strategy Committee Meeting Held

The project team held the second Strategy Committee Meeting on June 30th to review the results of the Existing Conditions reports, outline the project’s next steps and gain feedback from representatives of each shoreline community. View the presentation here. The...

First Strategy Committee Meeting Held

The project team held its first Strategy Committee Meeting yesterday to review the project’s goals and gain feedback from representatives of each shoreline community. View the presentation here. Focus groups will be scheduled this spring, followed by a public workshop...

Regional Lakefront Connectivity Study Launches!

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) kicked off their Regional Lakefront Connectivity Study in August 2021. The study, titled "Lake Erie Connect", seeks to accomplish the following: Create a unified regional vision for lakefront access and...