dave68

The barriers should have never been placed into the design. Nor the center crosswalk when two perfectly designed ADA crosswalks were in the approved design. This is embarrassing.

The decorative grid panels have begun to be installed. I am interested to see how this will look.

This is embarrassing to see. It also makes me nervous to see LAND Studio's involvement with Shaker Square . They were instrumental with what we have now on Public Square. An idea of a park setting that did not take into any account the component being a major transportation hub. A good design would have resolved these unsightly additions prior to a rush to build

The empty lot between The Union Club and 1255 Sterling Bldg was the original atrium building featured with the tree. This was The Sterling- Welch Company building. 1255 was the original Higbee location on Euclid Ave before they moved to Public Square. This building is what remains but all original details were removed.

Someone should contact LAND Studio with regards to the lighting out on The Hope Memorial Bridge. They were the ones responsible for the lighting and should be able to maintain their investments

Great mage of Public Square. The only issue is that the new crosswalk configuration shows how little sense was made to the Field Operation's original layout. I hope this solution gets fine tuned . Also I am amazed how The Downtown Hilton disappears at night. It took me a while to see it's outline.

This is how buildings should be situated in urban settings. CSU needs to look at unnecessary setbacks along Euclid Ave.

I would love if they were to eye the parking lot space created after The Hippodrome was torn down . Filling the void along Euclid Ave would be nice

With the debate and success of programming on the revitalized Public Square I wish the Group Plan Commission would reinvest the completion of The original Mall enhancements discussed over the years. The extra monies that was left over from the sales tax increase to pay for The Convention Center ,Medical Mart, and Hotel should be used for these enhancemnets rather than repurposed to pay for The Q renovations There was an article last year that explained much of the improvements were put on hold because they wanted to see how the new hotels changed any use on The Malls. From what i have seen not much pedestrian usage was gained and focus was all on Public Square The activities and amenities on Public Square shows what could bring life to The Malls. Once a week movie nights, farmer's market events set along the promenades. Food trucks on West Mall Drive, a splash fountain on Mall A, permanent restroom facilities , further shaded area plantings, and added curated public art. Many of GGN's plans included all of what we now see on Public Square. Time to reactivate and finish the design to it's full potential

Wondering if Mayor Jackson will say this plan is unsafe and provides a clear path for terrorism! :-)

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2017/03092017/index.php 5. Case 17-012 Mall Historic District Key Plaza West Mall Drive Landscaping, Outdoor Patio, Lighting Ward 3 McCormack Jayme Schwartzberg DERU Landscape Arch. Ellis Katz PMC I'm not sure I like the casual landscape. l liked GGN's formal tree lined promenades extending all the way through Mall A. I remember the matured trees surrounding the fountain on Mall A prior to the underground parking structure addition for The Key Center. The lighting seems inappropriate and should be cohesive with the other fixtures.

RTA responded to an email and said The City of Cleveland s responsible for The K-Rails, new center crosswalk, and ADA ramps. They had nothing to do with the design. Interesting since Mayor Jackson has blamed them for all the safety design flaws during his entire debate.

Here is an aerial photograph that shows the new crossing layout and adjustments made to Public Square . Does anyone know the reason for all the circular concrete planters placed along the KeyBank Promenade pathways and the western and eastern sidewalk ends of Superior Avenue? I hadn't seen a mention of these safety concerns. It is also interesting to see the layout of he temporary ADA ramps through the center crosswalk. The person with a disability will have to weave through others to get to the opposite ramp. Another example of an inappropriate safety layout. Also note the throngs of people using the park! :wink:

absolutely

KJP Thanks for the insightful photos. I hope you don't mind that I have used one of your pics to demonstrate the newest hazards created by The City and RTA. The funneling of pedestrians to the center crosswalk from the southeast Keybank Promenade ramp is blocked once you get to the area where the K-rail meets the additional temporary ADA ramp. The path is too narrow for any safety standard. Also just look at the numerous unmarked height trip conditions. This includes the temporary ADA ramp's raised sides.

Check out this video and watch how many people go around the new implemented K-Rail system blocking the KeyBank Promenade crosswalks. Instead of going towards the new centralized crosswalk they walk around the further outer ends of the K-Rail. Great planning by Cleveland's Traffic Engineers and RTA. Love that they now have banned bicycles from Superior Ave going through Public Square http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/cleveland/last-minute-changes-mark-public-square-reopening/419607178

Deplorable! The terrorist's won IMHO. Mayor Jackson's paranoia led to all these aesthetic choices. The centralized crosswalk is a joke. KeyBank should ask for their name to be removed from the promenade sponsorship since it has been destroyed. Cleveland looks as if it is the next big terrorist target. Goodbye Public Square.

I just noticed none of the Healthline buses go through Public Square! The only stations are the two on the outer ring. Wasn't the FTA about Superior Avenue being open to the Healthline buses?

Construction of the new NEORSD pump station

The new crosswalk is not ADA compliant! How did The City Planning Commission and TPTB deem The KeyBank Promenade crosswalks unsafe? The Healthline crosswalks down Euclid Ave blend just as much with the street as these do. They could have easily striped the edges of the crosswalks with white paint. Better yet they could have realized all this during the initial design process. The new traffic striping indicates there was no need for Superior Ave to be as wide as it was designed. They reduce the lanes to one in each direction. Where did they find those old circular concrete planters ? I really would love to know whoat GCRTA and The CIty came up with this plan? The Mayor should be embarrassed that all of his safety/terrorist paranoia ruined a perfectly functional design. I have done an overlay showing the new crosswalk and street makings. How would one correct this plan?

I have read the K & J safety studies and am perplexed on this centralized crosswalk. There is absolutely no mention of this addition other than stating the 2 cobblestone crosswalks are "unusually long" ! Why kill the obvious crosswalks that make up the KeyBank Promenade's continuous loop? I have written to The City Traffic Engineers , GCRTA , and The Group Plan Commission. No response from any of them. The safety risk increase for current conditions at the large pedestrian crossing at mid-block along Superior Avenue is based on the following findings:  The redesign of Public Square did not have a safety assessment  The pedestrian crossing as designed is approximately 170 ft. long which is unusually long and triggered by the traffic signal at both ends of Superior Avenue. There is no pedestrian activated traffic control system even though the pedestrian signage and buttons exist at the crossing  The pedestrian crossings do not have adequate signage and traditional pedestrian road markings  The pedestrian crossings surface is the same material and color as the Public Square pathways and common areas which can cause confusion  The roadway lacks typical road markings through the pedestrian crossing zone  There is poor ADA tactile edge color contrast

I am confused on the pedestrian crosswalk striping down the center of Superior Ave. Aren't the crosswalk areas the two cobblestone paths with handicap accessible pavement? I also have to wonder if buses were allowed to use Superior Ave back in August would all of this be necessary.

i did a little photoshopping to an image of Public Square with what I believe RTA and The City are proposing. Hopefully the added signage and railings are tastefully done. I still hope pop up bollards can be installed at the east and west ends of Superior Ave instead of the orange and white barricades they have now. Lastly, I hope they can agree Public Square should be closed to transit on the weekends. I am also interested to see how they address Food Truck Tuesdays and The Farmer's Market setups. I also added a version B which replaces the concept of removable rails to address the safety crosswalks with additional raised planting beds with added concrete detail seating. I find this a better solution of greening Public Square further and separating the buses from the pedestrians using boy the north and south sections. It addresses the safety and terrorism risks . The plantings can be low so when a stage is set on Superior Ave for special events the sight lines remain open.

It will be interesting to see if The FTA says yes to a further extension to either repayment or reopening of Superior Avenue. In my opinion I would deny RTA's request. The City and RTA have had plenty of time from August 1,2016 to comply with FTA. RTA's wording ,along with The City, do not guarantee Superior will be reopened. "safety and traffic control physical changes that may need to be made if Public Square is to be opened. The "if" is not a definitive yes. Also what is the added cost for all these overlooked safety requirements on the initial design? Whom will incur these costs? Aesthetically how does it alter the existing design? Will removable bollards be added to either end of Superior Ave when special events are being held? Many questions remain.