Solon Connects Project Will Define 2021, Mayor Says

SOLON, OH — This year will be defined by the Solon Connects project, Mayor Ed Kraus said during his state of the city address.

"We are going to enhance mobility, expand mobility and educate about mobility. We’re going to fill gaps and improve safety," the mayor said of plans to improve sidewalks and bike paths throughout Solon.

The Solon Connect planning process began in January 2020. The city received grant funding to aid in its research and analysis phase. After looking at previous surveys, conducting surveys of their own and leading group meetings, county planners found that the majority of Solon residents would like "more trails" through the city.

Nearly 75 percent of Solon residents said they wanted more multi-use paths and trails in the city, while 63 percent said they wanted new or improved sidewalks. More than 50 percent of residents also said they wanted more bike lanes on streets and pedestrian-friendly developments.

County planners discovered that residents did not walk much in Solon because they felt unsafe and believed the infrastructure was unsafe. Kraus understands the need for improvement.

"There are areas where people go where there is no room to run, no room to walk, no room to bike," he said during his speech.

To illustrate his commitment to the city's pedestrian pathways, Kraus jogged through the city during his speech (it was pre-recorded) and highlighted new businesses coming to town. He also noted that Solon has one of the most popular RTA routes in Greater Cleveland.

To better accommodate residents and visitors, the city is working with RTA to possibly realign its routes. It's all part of Kraus' plan to improve multi-modal transportation throughout Solon.

"This is our future," he said.

Cuyahoga County has a dedicated page for the Solon Connects project and shares documents and information on the website.