Im 95% positive that is the case.

 

Sure looks like it.

Work on the Little Italy station may be slightly off the scheduled pace, but a ton of progress has been made:

 

Overview from adjacent parking deck:

 

 

That parking lot would look great with housing and retail on it.

That parking lot would look great with housing and retail on it.

 

Agreed. An office building is planned, but I don't think the office market supports it right now.

Really bad camera phone picture, but east bound rails have been re-installed at the future Little Italy-University Circle Rapid station. No catenaries when the photo was taken. Also significant superstructure work appears near complete.

 

EDIT: Dammit the picture didn't attach? I'll figure this out...

 

EDIT 2: Sorry for the late fix, but there was a concert today at the new student center.

^You may need to resize it - I believe the limit is 200k per picture.

^You may need to resize it - I believe the limit is 200k per picture.

 

Yep, that was it. Whoops. 5 years of engineering education and I can't computer.

Greater Cleve RTA ‏@GCRTA  2m

Mayor Jackson congratulates RTA on another successful construction project at Cedar-University grand opening

 

Greater Cleve RTA ‏@GCRTA  2m

"FTA is helping RTA invest in more infrastructure projects like these"- Acting FTA Administrator Therese McMillan

 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

New station for Cleveland Red Line

Written by  Douglas John Bowen

 

Representatives of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and the Federal Transit Administration, along with Cleveland city officials, gathered Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to herald the opening of a new Cedar-University rail station, located on GCRTA's Red Line rapid transit route.

 

GCRTA opened the revamped, ADA-accessible rail station onWednesday, Aug. 27. The new station, costing $18.5 million, allows GCRTA to close an older station.

 

FTA said the project epitomized the agency's goal of "reliable, desirable and safe" transportation. Besides federal funding, fiscal support also came from a partnership of University Circle-area institutions, including Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, and the Cleveland Foundation, according to local media.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/rapid-transit/new-station-for-cleveland-red-line.html?channel=62

^ Somebody ought to warn Chris Ronayne about the dangerous avalanche behind him!

lillian kuri ‏@lilliankuri  1m

Thank you @GCRTA for the amazing opening the cedar-university rapid station @inthecircle @CleveFoundation @NOACA_MPO

 

^ Somebody ought to warn Chris Ronayne about the dangerous avalanche behind him!

 

You know, loose rocks were similarly embedded this way under the old Woodhill-Buckeye-Shaker bridge at the Woodhill station until the storm washed them away a few weeks ago closing the Blue & Green lines for more than a day.  Obviously the rocks here appear decorative and not (and least don't seem to be) in any structural support function as they were at Woodhill, but let's hope they are stable... We certainly wouldn't want to loose Chris (or anybody else) due to a rock avalanche. 

The rocks there appear to be used in a green technology form to collect water runoff from the slope and direct it off-site through a drain at the bottom.  The drain is probably also a filter fabric backfilled with stone. 

Chalk that up as another $18.5 million in development spurred by the Healthline!

Chalk that up as another $18.5 million in development spurred by the Healthline!

 

Nah, it was the Opportunity Corridor which spurred it!

Chalk that up as another $18.5 million in development spurred by the Healthline!

 

Nah, it was the Opportunity Corridor which spurred it!

 

Really?  How is that?  I thought the OC was supposed to terminate at E. 105 & Quincy... for now, that is.

Sorry, I guess I should have included a ;)

I thought the OC was supposed to terminate at E. 105 & Quincy... for now, that is.

 

Where do people think it will extend to? Cleveland Heights, Little Italy, and University Circle kind of act as a wall and block it in.

Chalk that up as another $18.5 million in development spurred by the Healthline!

 

Nah, it was the Opportunity Corridor which spurred it!

 

It was clearly LeBron...

Are they going to do any work on the actual platform? Or atleast clean it up a bit and make it look shiny?

 

Edit: Also will the be demolishing the western entrance? Seems like it would be a good idea to at least keep the stairwell, even if you temporarily close it off.

 

As I found out at the board meeting, yes the other side will be demolished, but I dunno about keeping the stairwell. The original plan is to turn the old bus loop back into the park it was originally.

 

Also, RTA is trying to work with the railroads to paint the bridges they do not own, but everyone can see. Small thing, but it'll help immensely.

what an improvement in both siting and design. very nice. how is the brookpark station rebuild coming along?

 

^^Those non-Rapid side RR bridges are hideous looking; rusted out and ugly.  Somebody needs to get some funding for a paint job, even perhaps via UCI, because they totally detract from this high-quality neighborhood.

^^Those non-Rapid side RR bridges are hideous looking; rusted out and ugly.  Somebody needs to get some funding for a paint job, even perhaps via UCI, because they totally detract from this high-quality neighborhood.

 

I've heard this discussed for years.  I've also heard that CSX and Norfolk Southern (the bridge owners) are almost impossible to deal with.

^^Those non-Rapid side RR bridges are hideous looking; rusted out and ugly.  Somebody needs to get some funding for a paint job, even perhaps via UCI, because they totally detract from this high-quality neighborhood.

 

I've heard this discussed for years.  I've also heard that CSX and Norfolk Southern (the bridge owners) are almost impossible to deal with.

 

That's why local leaders need to step up.  It's not really in the interest of the railroads -- as long as the span safety carries their freight loads across the spans, they really don't care how it looks (I'm sure).  It's the community that's damaged by those eyesore bridges.  I'd think that there should be some right or law, parallel to eminent domain, that would allow local government to demand the railroads paint those bridges in the community interest.

 

The contractor was asking for a change order to just that when I was at the meeting. There's still a small amount of money left now that construction is complete, and they want to use it to paint, increase greenery, and add more lighting.

The new Cedar-University station is such a drastic improvement over the old one! However, there is one extremely cringe worthy design element - chain link fencing on all the stairs and pedestrian paths leading out of the station! I'm surprised that would even be used in modern public spaces. It really looks out of place with everything else at the station. I wonder if this would be updated in the future?

Good questions. I tried to get a photo of the Cedar-University station yesterday as I went by on an eastbound train. But the sun glinting off the dirt on the last-car's rear window made a photo impossible. However the train was at a different angle for the Little Italy station so I fired off some pictures and then walked down to Little Italy to take some street-level pics. There's more from yesterday posted in the Random Cleveland photo thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,27241.msg727557.html#msg727557

 

 

View from the last car on an eastbound Red Line train, passing through University Circle, Cleveland.

 

 

View of Little Italy station from the train:

 

 

Station-area development ($500K townhouses) along @GCRTA Red Line -- seen from the Euclid-East 120th station that will be replaced by the nearby Little Italy station:

 

 

New @GCRTA Mayfield Road Red Line station, under construction in Little Italy, Cleveland.

 

 

Little Italy station construction. My college friend Markymark48 who lives in Chicago hams it up in front the construction sign.

 

 

Rebuilding "the vault" below the Van Swerigens' rapid transit line they began building in 1928 to funnel electric interurbans from outlying cities into Cleveland on a faster route than sharing streetcar tracks. But by the 1930s the interurbans were all gone as was the funding to finish the Rapid. When construction started again in 1953, Cleveland Transit System decided to build the station at Euclid Avenue. It's finally being put back where it belongs.

The new Cedar-University station is such a drastic improvement over the old one! However, there is one extremely cringe worthy design element - chain link fencing on all the stairs and pedestrian paths leading out of the station! I'm surprised that would even be used in modern public spaces. It really looks out of place with everything else at the station. I wonder if this would be updated in the future?

 

I had asked the project manager that very question just after the station opened. He assured me that what you are seeing is NOT the final fencing. It was put in place to allow the station to receive an occupancy permit and begin public operation. The permanent pieces are being fabricated, and, at the time I asked, had about a six week lead time on delivery. I'll touch base with him to see if that delivery date still holds true.

^ :clap: good to hear

The new Cedar-University station is such a drastic improvement over the old one! However, there is one extremely cringe worthy design element - chain link fencing on all the stairs and pedestrian paths leading out of the station! I'm surprised that would even be used in modern public spaces. It really looks out of place with everything else at the station. I wonder if this would be updated in the future?

 

I had asked the project manager that very question just after the station opened. He assured me that what you are seeing is NOT the final fencing. It was put in place to allow the station to receive an occupancy permit and begin public operation. The permanent pieces are being fabricated, and, at the time I asked, had about a six week lead time on delivery. I'll touch base with him to see if that delivery date still holds true.

 

PM's response -- "First fencing is due to arrive next week.  Should all be installed by end of October."

I smell ODOT.....

 

http://www.riderta.com/service-alerts/all-rail-riders-shuttle-buses-replace-east-side-rail-service-1

 

Oct. 4-5: Buses replace all rail service east of the Tower City Station

West Side Red Line service unaffected, Waterfront Line goes to 30-minute frequency

 

It may be fall, but construction will continue as long as Mother Nature allows. This weekend, buses replace trains for all Red, Blue and Green line rail service east of the Tower City Station. On Public Square, the buses will be parked in front of Tower City and the Horseshoe Casino. Look for bus stop signs for 66R and 67R. The Waterfront Line operates on a 30-minute frequency. The West Side Red Line is not affected.

The new fencing is going up at the Cedar University station, replacing the temporary chain link that was there before.

 

Does anyone know if the continued work at the south end of the platform is for reopening pedestrian traffic to the south side of Cedar or to block off that old entryway?

 

 

The new fencing is going up at the Cedar University station, replacing the temporary chain link that was there before.

 

Does anyone know if the continued work at the south end of the platform is for reopening pedestrian traffic to the south side of Cedar or to block off that old entryway?

 

 

 

 

I believe they're completely removing the old point of entry.

The new fencing is going up at the Cedar University station, replacing the temporary chain link that was there before.

 

Does anyone know if the continued work at the south end of the platform is for reopening pedestrian traffic to the south side of Cedar or to block off that old entryway?

 

 

 

 

I believe they're completely removing the old point of entry.

 

It's gone.

The new fencing is going up at the Cedar University station, replacing the temporary chain link that was there before.

 

Does anyone know if the continued work at the south end of the platform is for reopening pedestrian traffic to the south side of Cedar or to block off that old entryway?

 

 

 

 

I believe they're completely removing the old point of entry.

 

It's gone.

 

As of this week, it looks like all signs of construction at the Cedar-University station are gone. Final fencing is up and the southwest side of the platform where the old exit used to be looks completed.

 

I really wish RTA had kept a station exit at both sides of the platform at this station to help alleviate congestion. For the volume of riders that use this stop, the new station seems incredibly under built. Perhaps the new Little Italy station will help take some of the ridership, but for now, especially in winter, the new station just can't hold the volumes of riders that wish to wait in the warmth until a train arrives. It's definitely an improvement over the old, but I feel if rail ridership grows anymore, this station will need to be redone soon.

The signs of construction are about to start at Lee-Van Aken......

 

http://www.shakeronline.com/news-and-events/construction-zone/lee-road-at-van-aken-boulevard-lane-closure

 

Lee Road at Van Aken Boulevard - Lane Closure

Begins Mid-March

Improvement Project: New RTA Station at Lee and Van Aken

 

The curb lane on southbound Lee Road will be closed from the southern-most driveway into City Hall to just south of Van Aken eastbound.

 

As the weather improves, the specific date of the lane closure will be posted. This closure is expected to last through the end of the project, later this year or early next year.

 

For questions or comments call Deputy Chief Michael Schwarber, Shaker Heights Police Department, at 216-491-1245.

When will the UC-Little Italy station open?

^ June, according to a buddy of mine doing inspection work at the Little Italy station.

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency recently amended its 2014-17 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which guides transportation spending in the five-county region of Greater Cleveland (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina). In it are lots of intercity passenger rail and urban rail transit projects. Some are new to the TIP with this amendments. Others merely had their amounts adjusted to reflect new commitments of funding. All told, there's nearly $83 million in the TIP for rail projects that involve moving people.

 

SOURCE DATA:

http://www.noaca.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=6714

 

++ $39.4 million -- East 105th Street expansion, railroad bridge and Red Line station expansion

++ $938,300 -- Toledo-Cleveland passenger rail study

++ $9.9 million -- Elyria Amtrak station platforms & pedestrian bridge at Lorain County Transportation & Community Center

++ $32.5 million -- Greater Cleveland RTA rail infrastructure station (reconstructed stations, new substation & state of good repair).

 

A little more detail of the above summary:

 

++ OK, this first project is mostly a road project -- the $39.4 million replacement and widening of the East 105th overpass of GCRTA/NS tracks for the Opportunity Corridor. However, All Aboard Ohio successfully advocated included an expansion of the existing Red Line heavy rail station below this bridge. The East 105th-Quincy Red Line station would be expanded with a longer platform and a second entrance, this one off East 105th to tap in planned station-area real estate developments south of the Cleveland Clinic. The station expansion is probably only about 10 percent of the overall bridge project cost, but its expansion is being sponsored by ODOT and its construction will occur simultaneously and integrally with the new bridge, so it's difficult to separate the rail/non-rail elements of this project.

 

++ The Cleveland-Toledo passenger rail study now has a Project Identification (PID) number which means it's now an official project -- and the $938,300 federal Kaptur earmark now has a home. Better still, the Federal Highway Administration has added this project to its Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) which means ODOT has to acknowledge it. ODOT is acknowledging, but wants the funding spent on construction (a crossover, trackwork, a station, etc). NOACA is holding firm that it needs to at least have a Service Development Plan before determining passenger rail construction priorities.

 

++ Elyria's Amtrak station platforms and pedestrian bridge at the Lorain County Transportation & Community Center were also amended in the TIP with a variety of funding awards identified for the estimated $9.9 million project. More information and a rendering for this project was posted last week in our blog at allaboardohio.org. While not in NOACA's TIP, Toledo's Greyhound station will move to the MLK Plaza with construction starting as early as May and feature a bus loading area at the front/lower level entrance and a new ticket office on the other side of the waiting room from the Amtrak ticket counter. This also is illustrated at the blog at allboardohio.org.

 

++ Lastly, GCRTA submitted a revised TIP of rail infrastructure improvements totaling $32.5 million that will start in the next fiscal year or so. Projects include track and station upgrades (Tower City Center is the biggest project), station reconstruction projects, new electrical substation, and state of good repair projects. A summary of projects, starting with their Project ID#s, is below:

 

90114 CUY GCRTA Rail State of Good Repair $462,405

90149 CUY GCRTA Rail Preventive Maintenance Capital $7,500,000

90163 CUY GCRTA Rail Infrastructure Program Capital $952,771

90177 CUY GCRTA East 116th Street Station Rehabilitation $5,280,000

97608 CUY GCRTA East 34th Street Station ADA Rehabilitation $3,410,886

95017 CUY GCRTA Rail Enhanced ADA Access Capital $288,783

99325 CUY GCRTA Farnesleigh Station ADA Rehabilitation $224,580

90149 CUY GCRTA On-Call Rail Engineering Services Rail Preventative Maintenance $200,000

90149 CUY GCRTA On-Call Rail Preventative Maintenance Capital $500,000

99682 GCRTA Westpark Diamond Crossover Rail Rehab/Renovation $38,273

99685 CUY GCRTA Rail Red Line Greenway Boundary Survey Capital $100,000

90149 CUY GCRTA Rail Preventive Maintenance $5,599,880

99692 CUY GCRTA Fairhill Substation Replacement $2,584,209

90149 CUY GCRTA Rail Preventive Maintenance $3,128,690

90175 CUY GCRTA Tower City Escalator Replacements $11,095

92670 CUY GCRTA Airport Tunnel Rehabilitation $1,485,631

94416 CUY GCRTA Central Rail Lift Replacement $725,000

94455 CUY GCRTA Waterfront Line Station Rehabilitations $3,282

 

###

KJP[/member] Is the $83 million more, less, or on par with the amounts we have been spending on rail in recent years past?

It's more -- even the GCRTA projects appear to be an increase compared to last year -- but not compared to two years ago when the Red Line S-curve, the airport tunnel and UC-Cedar station projects were at full tilt.

 

There are five significant GCRTA station projects getting underway: Lee-Van Aken (in the current FY), East 34th, East 105th, East 116th and Farnsleigh.

 

The new stuff is the intercity rail projects. And the intermodal hub (still in feasibility study phase) isn't advanced enough yet to appear on the TIP.

^ June, according to a buddy of mine doing inspection work at the Little Italy station.

 

Thanks!

99325 CUY GCRTA Farnesleigh Station ADA Rehabilitation $224,580

 

I'm curious about this one... Is it because Farsnsleigh's a busy station or is it because RTA intends to terminate the Blue Line there, now, because of the Van Aken shopping center reconfiguration?

99325 CUY GCRTA Farnesleigh Station ADA Rehabilitation $224,580

 

I'm curious about this one... Is it because Farsnsleigh's a busy station or is it because RTA intends to terminate the Blue Line there, now, because of the Van Aken shopping center reconfiguration?

 

Probably a little bit of both -- and that Farnsleigh is going get busier because of the Van Aken District development. The platform was redone recently however.

This was sent out by e-mail....

 

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3a103b73242a42a334298bd43&id=2f9aecb627&e=07adb033c3

 

IN THE CAMPUS DISTRICT

February 24, 2015

Victory! New East 34th St. RTA Rapid Transit Station for the Campus District!

 

Following nearly a year-long campaign by Campus District stakeholders for a new Rapid Transit station at East 34th Street, the RTA Board of Trustees last week passed a resolution that it will design and build a new East 34th St. Rapid Transit Station.  RTA had engaged the firm Parsons Brinkerhoff to conduct a study of the East 34th Street station and two at East 79th Street. RTA and its consultant, actively sought input from the community on this study and received a great deal of it from stakeholders of the Campus District and people who depend on the station to get to work and school. Campus District Inc. provided information on the large amount of investment underway and planned for 2015-2019.

 

Representatives from Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Sisters of Charity Health System, Cleveland City Planning, Judge Nancy McDonnell Center/Oriana House, the Women's Reintegration Center, and the Main Post Office all attended planning and public meetings throughout the study period and most were in attendance at the RTA Board meeting.

 

At last week's RTA board meeting, Ed Rybka, the City of Cleveland's Chief of Regional Development, spoke on behalf of Mayor Jackson, "We view these stations to be of the utmost importance to the city and Cleveland and its residents."  Citing the recent developments in the Campus District along with the potential around Opportunity Corridor, Chief Rybka compared the emerging locations to Detroit Shoreway, West 6th and Euclid Ave. The Executive Directors from Campus District, Inc., Opportunity Coordinator and Burten Bell Carr Community Development Corporation advocated for building the new stations. Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland of Ward 5 summed up the issue, "I support the East 34th Campus District/Central and 79th street Kinsman stations as they are central to our neighborhood plans and for having an equitable community for the future."

 

In prior months there was concern by the Board that the station's ridership was low. Joseph Calabrese, RTA Chief Executive Officer & General Manager, addressed the RTA Board members, "There is no doubt that ridership will go up if we give them a more pleasant experience at these stations."  "You have provided the additional information and bigger picture of what is happening in these areas," stated board member Leo Serrano, as he voted to pass the resolution.

Long-planned reconstruction of RTA's Brookpark Station will begin next month

 

The busiest RTA rail station outside of Tower City is about to be torn down and rebuilt.

 

RTA trustees on Tuesday approved spending $11.4 million to reconstruct the Brookpark Station, adding new east and west entrance buildings, a new tunnel under the existing freight railroad tracks, from the parking lot to station, and other features.

 

"We cobbled together the money to do this," RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese said, noting that the plan had been in the works for years. The Cleveland-based architecture firm Bialosky + Partners completed the project design in 2008. Two years ago, RTA found money to repave the parking lot east of the station.

 

Built in 1969 on the border of Cleveland and Brook Park, the station will be 46 years old in April.

 

^ I guess they wanted to show appreciation for the architecture back then and stick with that design.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/long-planned_reconstruction_of_rtas_brookpark_station_will_begin_next_month.html#incart_river

Lousy cell phone pic of the lousy westbound track #8 at Tower City Center station, which will be rebuilt for $25 million when all of the tracks, slabs and drainage are rebuilt....

 

 

Authorization to start engineering & design work:

http://www.riderta.com/news/march-24-board-meeting-and-annual-meeting

2015-22 – Authorizing Contract No. 2014-194 with Transystems Corporation of Ohio (link is external)for Project 52F – Engineering Services for the reconstruction of Track 8 and the Track 7 auxiliary platform at the Tower City Station in an amount not to exceed $797,937.00 (RTA Development Fund, Engineering & Project Development Department budget)

 

Tower City station tracks presentation to March 3 Planning and Development Committee:

http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/pdf/presentations/2015-03-03TCtracks.pdf

 

Two of the most important takeaways from the above presentation.....

 

1st, the proposed timetable:

 

2nd, the Tower City track layout (note: click on the top to enlarge image to read details):

From Shaker Height construction news updates sent via e-mail:

 

Lee Road southbound narrows to one lane from City Hall to south of Van Aken during construction of the Blue Line Lee Road Rapid station (pictured at left). Expect the lane closure through late 2015-early 2016.  Station information: http://www.riderta.com/facilities/vanakenlee

^Construction is moving rather rapidly (sorry) on this station.  It should be impressive when finished. ...

 

... i hope UC-Little Italy will open on time this summer as well.

Transit leaders tour aging Tower City track, then on to station groundbreaking (photos)

by Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on April 09, 2015 at 3:32 PM, updated April 09, 2015 at 5:36 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Asphalt-patched, unstable track beds were the star exhibit Thursday when transit leaders gathered at RTA's Tower City train station to urge Congress to pass long-term transportation funding.

 

Since 2009, Congress has passed short-term transportation bills 10 times, leaving local planners to grapple with uncertainties in paying for multi-year projects, said Valarie McCall, chief of government affairs for the city of Cleveland.

 

"We need a minimum of six years," said McCall, also vice chair of the American Public Transportation Association, which designated April 9 "Stand Up for Transportation Day" in cities nationwide. The current transportation bill is set to expire May 31.

 

From Tower City, McCall and other transit and political leaders took the Red Line to the Brookpark Station for the groundbreaking on a $16.5 million station reconstruction.

 

The last stop on the Red Line before Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is RTA's busiest rail operation west of Tower City, with about 1,400 customers boarding daily.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/04/transit_leaders_tour_aging_tow.html#incart_related_stories

Cleveland RTA busily replacing rail stations

kjprendergast on April 12, 2015

 

Cleveland has $90 million worth of active station projects along its 50-mile rapid transit system (37 miles rail, 13 miles Bus Rapid Transit or BRT). In fact, there are more station projects moving forward simultaneously now than perhaps at any time in the 40-year history of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA).

 

Of the 52 rail stations in the GCRTA rail system, replacing or relocating 11 of them are in various stages of project development (ie: design, funding procurement, bidding, construction). This doesn’t include the $18.5 million reconstruction of the Cedar-University Circle station which re-opened Aug. 28, 2014.

 

MORE (including lots of photos and links):

http://allaboardohio.org/2015/04/12/cleveland-rta-busily-replacing-rail-stations/