Cleveland: HealthLine/Euclid Corridor

[FerrariEnzo]

Finaly started construction!  Ill post anything that relates.

[zaceman]

In the 1980s they originally planned to build a subway system from downtown to university circle, but that fell through.

Which i find really unfortunate.  

Then they were going to bring back an interurban type system with trains in the center medium.  That fell through as well

Even more unfortunate.

Now theres a plan for hybrid extended busses from Downtown to University Circle.

Im mixed on this.

http://euclidtransit.org/bus_rapid_transit/images/busses.jpg">

While i think for busses these things are quite awesome since they're cutting edge... with regards to busses.  However the few cities that have these tend to have them in addition to massive transportation systems...

The one other plus is that they're redoing Euclid Avenue as in it wont look like a warzone anymore.  Bike lanes, brick walkways for pedestrians.  And if you've noticed Wade Lagoon in front of the art museum they're making it so that the waterway under Euclid Avenue is more visible.  Not to mention getting rid of the telephone wires at public square (putting them underground) and updating the lighting along the avenue.  So thats definately a plus.

[ColDayMan]

Great news!

[Frank V]

Cool they finally started construction.  But where have they begun?  I dn't recall seeing anything lately, except for the new construction at E. 6th & Euclid Ave.

[zaceman]

I noticed on Euclid today that it says construction started 6/28/04 and will go on for 270 days?  even during the winter?  

It looks like they have starting points in university circle, midtown, and downtown.  And things are down to 1 lane in each direction.

[JohnOSU99]

Have the picked the bus design yet?

[zaceman]

http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/transportation/images_trans/euclid_corridor_bus.jpg">

im pretty sure its this

they're going for the futuristic train-like vehicle.

to trick us into thinking its a train??  lol

[JohnOSU99]

Looks good to me!  

Will the BRT be run by GCRTA?  Can you transfer to the Euclid Corridor bus just like you would to a Rapid train or RTA bus without having to buy another pass?

[MayDay]

John, if they stick with the current system, the answer is yes. What happens is your ticket gets stamped with a time that reads 2 (or 3?) hours after you board. That essentially is your time that you have to use the ticket for transferring. Or, you can always buy an all-day pass. I've heard that they plan to do away with the ticket readers on the bus/trains and go to paying in the station before you board.

And yes, the BRT will be run by the GCRTA.

[the pope]

mayday, when is the last time you needed a transfer?

GCRTA doesn't use transfers anymore. 1.50 gets you one ride that's it. But 3.00 gets you an all day pass.

[JohnOSU99]

When I was in Cleveland last year, I just bought an all-day pass and that was a lot less hassle then dealing with transfers.

[MayDay]

"mayday, when is the last time you needed a transfer?"

Probably not for at least a year - thus my ignorance about the system :crazy:

[the pope]

its alright, i don't judge you.............too much.....

[the pope]

well aside from the tracks they are trains-ish with dedicated lanes and signal timing and stations......

[MayDay]

Well, in very Cleveland fashion - I'll say that the "experts" expected approx. 25,000 jobs to be created with the Gateway project and they fell well short of that goal. But, if the Euclid Corridor project manages to get half of their goal, I'd be happy. I'd also question that the project spurred the renovations of the Statler, Arcade, and the East 4th area but that's just me...

[zaceman]

^  exactly, i dont think those were spurred because of EC.  But to suburban joe whats the difference?  heh

However i do think it will do wonders to University Circle having that system going through it.

[zaceman]

http://www.euclidtransit.org/timelines/images/PublicArtMasterPlan.pdf

some more details as far as public art

[zaceman]

RTA Seeks Artists for Euclid Corridor Project
Tuesday September 14, 3:34 pm ET  
Four works will be commissioned


CLEVELAND, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) seek to commission four artists for independent artwork along Euclid Avenue, as part of the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project (ECTP) public art initiative.
This Call for Entries is open to all artists, architects, designers and students. RTA employees, and Euclid Corridor design team artists and consultants, are ineligible to apply.

Submissions must be postmarked by 3 p.m. Oct. 29.

Four artists or design professionals will be selected to develop their proposal from conceptualization and design to fabrication and installation of independent artwork. Four awards will be considered for these projects:

- Playhouse Square Project, $200,000
- East 55th St. Bridge Project, $300,000
- University Circle Medians, $250,000
- East Cleveland Public Space Improvement, $150,000

These sound like some really interesting places for public art.  esp E 55th (is it referring to the train bridge?).  Btw does anyone know whats going on near Chester Ave and E 55th?  It looks like they're decontaminating the soil, is something being built there on that open lot??

[MayDay]

zaceman, the bridge in question is indeed the train bridge - I imagine they'll want to brighten the undersides so it isn't so foreboding to pedestrians.

The lot at Chester and East 55th is the site of the now-demolished Schwebel bakery - it stood vacant for a long time until the city demolished it a few years ago. It's currently being used by Rysar Properties as a marshalling yard for their equipment.

[the pope]

somebody call koolhaas, i heard he does wonders with ugly train bridges

[zaceman]

well gee they should really do something with the one at the E120th rapid station too

[FerrariEnzo]

The E55th bridge is UGLY.  Needs help, Im super excited to see proposals.  I hope the budget grows.

[Oldmanladyluck]

Great thing these art projects will happen.  They'll add new life to the area, ESPECIALLY the E.55th bridge.

[zaceman]

yea E55th and Euclid has all those amazing old buildings around it, i really wish that area gets better, theres so much potential for residential/storefronts right there

however, if you've ever been to University Circle and checked out the E120th Rapid station by going under the train bridge youd know what i mean.  Its not only darker underneath, but probably 3 times wider than the E55th bridge.  Its like walking into a cave.

[MayDay]

zaceman, I'll confirm with some of the people at CPA, but I'm pretty sure the East 120th overpass is another "hot spot". At least that's what the ECTP master plan says. Since all of Euclid will be getting a 'building-face to building-face' makeover, I doubt they'd let such a crucial point go unchanged.

[FerrariEnzo]

Bridge in question:

[zaceman]

damn you really got everything being discussed lately.  how is euclid ave now, is it really torn up yet??  i only drive on Chester ave now cuz of all the construction stuff i've been seeing

[FerrariEnzo]

Not much is happening for the most part but I do see prep work going on.  Its driveable but not ideal.  Stick with Chester.

[Oldmanladyluck]

Here's a link to the site with the video with highlights the ECP project.

http://www.euclidtransit.org/euclid_corridor_project/video.asp

[the pope]

thanks for the link, too bad i'm at work now and can't watch