Euclid Corridor Transportation: Press Release 09.11.00

Monday, Sept.11, 2000

Two Public Meetings Set

RTA Seeks Input On Environmental Issues Along The Euclid Corridor Transportation Project

Contact:

Jerry Masek
Media Relations Manager
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
1240 West Sixth Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1331
216-566-5211, office
216-566-5240, fax
216-422-2160, pager 2164222160@myairmail.com, pager e-mail
jmasek@gcrta.org
www.riderta.com

CLEVELAND - The $292-million Euclid Corridor Transportation Project will change the face of Cleveland for decades to come. The project stretches from Public Square to the Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland.

Officials of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), who are now planning the project, want to be sure that all environmental issues are properly addressed.

Two public meetings have been set to gather feedback from residents and groups on environmental issues. The meetings are:

Monday, Oct. 2: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., in the Auditorium of the Louis Stokes Wing, Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Ave.
Tuesday, Oct. 3: 5:30-8 p.m., East Cleveland Public Library, 14101 Euclid Ave.

Residents can comment on the Environmental Assessment by attending one of these meetings, or in writing by Oct. 17. Comments may be sent to the:

ECTP Project Director
55 Public Square
Suite 600
Cleveland 44113.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a federally mandated requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. This part of the transportation planning process allows consideration of the design, costs and benefits of transportation alternatives, while addressing the potential social, transportation, environmental, and economic impacts of the transportation improvements.

Copies of the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Environmental Assessment are available for viewing at:

RTA Customer Service Center, 315 Euclid Ave.
RTA Main Office, 1240 W. Sixth St.
Euclid Corridor Project Office, 55 Public Square, Suite 600
All branches of the Cleveland Public Library
Selected Cuyahoga County Public Library branches: Beachwood, Chagrin Falls, Garfield Heights, Gates Mills, Maple Heights (Regional), Mayfield Village (Regional), Richmond, Solon, South Euclid-Lyndhurst, Southeast in Bedford, Warrensville Heights.

Copies may be obtained by writing to:

Jeri Chaikin
Euclid Corridor Project Office
55 Public Square
Suite 600
Cleveland, OH 44113

Project Background

The Euclid Corridor Transportation Project includes:

Reconstruction of Euclid Avenue to include a bus rapid transit system. Electric trolley buses will operate in exclusive or shared lanes along Euclid Avenue, from Public Square to University Circle.
A transit zone to provide user-friendly service to riders. The zone will be along St. Clair and Superior avenues, between West Third and East 17th streets.
A zone for electric buses only on Euclid Avenue, from East 17th Street to Public Square.
Enhancements, such as sidewalks, streetscape improvements, pedestrian and street lighting and new bus station shelters to encourage transit use.
Two transit centers downtown to provide riders with easy pedestrian access, protection from weather, other amenities and a convenient waiting area during bus layovers.

In addition, Red Line rail stations at East 55th Street, University/Cedar Avenue and East 105th Street will be renovated to meet ADA standards.

RTA Background

The mission of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) mission is to enhance the quality of life in Greater Cleveland by providing outstanding, cost-effective public transportation services.

RTA is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. RTA has been serving Cuyahoga County's 1.4 million residents since 1975. RTA's 3,000 employees operate 754 buses on 1,100 route miles, and 108 rail cars on 34 miles of track. Bus operators drive more than 92,000 route miles every day.

In 1999, more than 59 million passengers rode RTA's trains, buses, Community Circulators and paratransit vehicles. RTA works closely with other area agencies: Brunswick Area Transit, Medina County Transit, Lorain County Transit, Laketran in Lake County and the METRO Regional Transit Authority in Summit County.

For specific schedule information, call the RTAnswerline, 216-621-9500, from 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. Persons who are hearing impaired can call 216-781-4271. Commuters can visit RTA's Customer Service Center, 315 Euclid Ave., from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Service information can be accessed at gcrta.org.