http://www.riderta.com/nu_notices-community.asp

 

News & Updates: Critical Updates

Community Meetings

Feb. 21: Public meeting regarding University Circle – Little Italy Station

 

The public is invited to attend an RTA-sponsored meeting to discuss the Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed University Circle – Little Italy Rapid Station. The EA, prepared by RTA and Michael Baker, Jr., Inc., in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration, compares the Build Alternatives to a No Build Alternative, and identifies potential social, economic, environmental and transportation impacts of the alternatives.

 

The meeting will take place at 6:00pm Thursday, February 21, 2013 at Holy Rosary Church Hall, 12021 Mayfield Road, Cleveland. The meeting site is served by the #9 - Mayfield bus route.

Construction of LIttle Italy-University Circle rapid station could be just months away

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

on August 23, 2013 at 2:30 PM, updated August 23, 2013 at 2:33 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Groundbreaking on a new rapid station in University Circle’s vibrant Triangle District could come within months, now that the final chunk of land for the project is lined up.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority last week completed purchase of a 1.2-acre parcel needed to begin construction of what will be called the Little Italy-University Circle Rapid Station.

 

The sleek, bright station at Mayfield Rd. and East 119th St. will replace a dark and underused station about three blocks to the north, at East 120th St. and Euclid Ave.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/08/land_purchase_clears_way_for_c.html

^Excellent!

 

Jerry (or anyone else who knows), does the rendering on the RTA project page accurately depict the final design (more or less)?

http://www.riderta.com/majorprojects/littleitalyuc

 

Does the project include a pedestrian path over the unused rail viaduct over Mayfield southeast of the RTA right of way? What improvements to the pedestrian underpass are planned?

The rendering on the project page was provided to me by Paul Volpe within the past 2-3 weeks. It is as complete as possible. I cannot answer your queston precisely, but I know that RTA wants to make the area as inviting as possible, as the station will serve mostly foot traffic.

^Thanks!  I'm guessing City Architecture will have to show more detailed stuff to get through design review, so hopefully we'll see more soon.

 

Here's some recent from the Cedar-University Circle station

 

 

about a 4 - 6 weeks ago

 

 

 

a few days ago

 

 

 

Awesome!  I was just wondering how the construction was progressing.

Thank you for posting those

This station should be nice, although as unsightly as the bus loop became, I thought it served a valuable purpose; I'm a little iffy about collecting all passengers and bus transferring on the east side of Cedar... Also, didn't RTA just build an ADA elevator at U. Circle just a few years ago?  If so, talk about waste...

Good info about the design (and schedule) of the new Mayfield/LI Rapid Station with several renderings:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/08/city_architectures_new_little.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2#incart_m-rpt-2

 

One important highlight: The RTA board recently voted to spend $1 million on improving the city-owned sidewalk, curb and railing on the north side of Mayfield that extends west from the new station to the University Circle side of the railroad bridges.

 

Though it's not clear there will be money for the sidewalk on the south side of Mayfield.

 

Also, the disused rail overpass (the southernmost) will be demoed instead of turned into a pedestrian viaduct.  It's described as a way to improve the pedestrian experience below, but I'm still slightly disappointed.

 

Otherwise, the design is pretty meh, heavily confined by the budget and tight site.  Will be so awesome to have a station right there, though.

^ great news, that will bring the station right to where the people are. i dk what to think about that overpass, wait and see i guess.

 

while its a shame they cannot currently expand the rapid, i am very impressed by rta's dedication to station improvements and hope that continues.

 

 

 

What is with the new renderings? Look terrible compared to the older ones.

 

New: Daytime

 

Old: Daytime

 

New: Nighttime  (What is with the Yellow and the ugly graffiti wall?)

 

Old: Nighttime

^ I think the "graffiti wall" is just the loud, purple-ish artwork similar to W117 station.

I may be missing something, but I thought the closest bridge, with the 12' 6" on it, is the industrial siding track that is to be removed... Otherwise, I think the drawings are pretty much the same: just concept art. I think the new one's are just spiced up for effect.

^ I think the "graffiti wall" is just the loud, purple-ish artwork similar to W117 station.

 

It reminds me of the art that cities started adding in the 80's/90's? I hate 90's urban art!

 

Someone can probably put an actual name to this style of art but it popped up in a lot of public projects such as train stations.

 

Not the best example, but one in gateway

http://goo.gl/maps/vqKBw

 

Edit: A lot of wall murals in cities are also this style.

 

Again not perfect example

 

Or just look at the first floor of the new library wing downtown.

^ I think the "graffiti wall" is just the loud, purple-ish artwork similar to W117 station.

 

It reminds me of the art that cities started adding in the 80's/90's? I hate 90's urban art!

 

Someone can probably put an actual name to this style of art but it popped up in a lot of public projects such as train stations.

 

Not the best example, but one in gateway

http://goo.gl/maps/vqKBw

 

Edit: A lot of wall murals in cities are also this style.

 

Again not perfect example

 

Or just look at the first floor of the new library wing downtown.

 

Look below the West 117th Rapid station. There's a nice mural under there that's even lit up at night.

^ I think the "graffiti wall" is just the loud, purple-ish artwork similar to W117 station.

 

It reminds me of the art that cities started adding in the 80's/90's? I hate 90's urban art!

 

Someone can probably put an actual name to this style of art but it popped up in a lot of public projects such as train stations.

 

Not the best example, but one in gateway

http://goo.gl/maps/vqKBw

 

Edit: A lot of wall murals in cities are also this style.

 

Again not perfect example

 

Or just look at the first floor of the new library wing downtown.

 

Look below the West 117th Rapid station. There's a nice mural under there that's even lit up at night.

 

Have any pictures?

 

This is sort of a perfect picture for what I was trying to explain. I believe it is in East Cleveland. (Im not saying it is terrible, and do not want to offend the artist, it is just not my particular style)

 

 

Here's some recent from the Cedar-University Circle station

 

 

about a 4 - 6 weeks ago

 

 

 

a few days ago

 

 

 

Im just hoping the upkeep is much better this time the old one constantly smelled of pool water mixed with urine.

Have any pictures?

 

 

This is part of it, from Google images.......

 

Not the best example, but one in gateway

http://goo.gl/maps/vqKBw

 

 

Hey, don't be knocking the Angelica Pozo ceramic homage to the old Central Market! I really like that piece and in any case don't see how it relates to abstract or stylized wall treatments you're complaining about.

 

I'm happy you raised the topic though.  Given the site constraints, the station structure itself will be pretty understated here.  The treatment of the walkway and the landscape design on that leftover slope land will be pretty important, though, so I hope we end up with good, durable stuff.

"@GCRTA: RTA Board awarded $11.1mil contract to McTech Corp to build new Rapid Sta @ Little Italy. Look for a ground-breaking ceremony in October."

"@GCRTA: RTA Board awarded $11.1mil contract to McTech Corp to build new Rapid Sta @ Little Italy. Look for a ground-breaking ceremony in October."

 

Very excited about this station...I'm in Little Italy/UC all the time. The only "bad" news is that it's still 18-24 months from completion :clap:

KJP--re that RTA/Lakewood photo above: is that at 117 & Madison? The Rapid on the west side is wholly in the City and doesn't touch Lakewood right?

[

KJP--re that RTA/Lakewood photo above: is that at 117 & Madison? The Rapid on the west side is wholly in the City and doesn't touch Lakewood right?

 

Google satellite indicates that the head house is fully in Cleveland, whereby the platform, which spans the bridge over W. 117, lies in BOTH cities.  Likewise, the westbound tracks from W. 117 pass through a corner of Lakewood.  They also pass through a corner of Brook Park, as well, though that station is wholly in Cleveland.

 

KJP--re that RTA/Lakewood photo above: is that at 117 & Madison? The Rapid on the west side is wholly in the City and doesn't touch Lakewood right?

 

Yes, that's photo is at West 117th-Madison. Clvndr is correct that the west end of the West 117th station platform is in Lakewood. The Rapid goes into Lakewood as soon as crosses over to the west side of West 117th  and stays in Lakewood until it crosses below Lakewood Heights Boulevard. The Rapid stays north of the Lakewood-Cleveland line which runs down the middle of Berea Road, from West 117th to Lakewood Heights Blvd.

 

BTW, Brookpark's east pedestrian entrance and parking lot is in the City of Brook Park. The station's west pedestrian entrance, parking lot, headhouse and platform is in Cleveland. The border runs north along the freight railroad tracks and then east along I-480.

Just an FYI on the Brookpark Station.  They are completely re-doing the Parking lot, which is massive.  They are also replacing the sewer infrastructure as well.  Right now they are doing the far east parking lot, next to the gas station.  I am sure that they will be moving west once that portion is done, and it can't be done soon enough.  That parking lot is the epitome of a lunar landscape.

^clvldr, KJP--thanks for the clarifications.

 

Google satellite indicates that...

 

Google maps and/or Google earth shows municipal boundaries? I couldn't see them in either application.

^clvldr, KJP--thanks for the clarifications.

 

Google satellite indicates that...

 

Google maps and/or Google earth shows municipal boundaries? I couldn't see them in either application.

 

From a higher altitude and in map form they do, especially if you use a city name in your Google map search.

BTW, I'm getting word from folks at GCRTA that there is some serious concern about the infrastructure of some parts of the rail system. RTA does not have enough money to rebuild the infrastructure at Tower City (track bed, portals, retaining walls and supports for the street grid above it) let alone replace the existing 33 year old Breda fleet of Blue/Green line railcars. The Shaker rapid cars were 33 years old when the Breda cars replaced them. The replacement cost of the rail fleet needed for revenue service (70 cars) in 2013 dollars is approximately $210 million. To replace all 108 cars would be in excess of $324 million. The Shaker Rapid needs to be rebuilt again as the tracks, station platforms and signals are at the end of their useful life. Imagine if RTA decided to take the tack that Philadelphia did with a doomsday scenario of converting the Shaker Rapid to a Euclid Corridor BRT operation!

BTW, I'm getting word from folks at GCRTA that there is some serious concern about the infrastructure of some parts of the rail system. RTA does not have enough money to rebuild the infrastructure at Tower City (track bed, portals, retaining walls and supports for the street grid above it) let alone replace the existing 33 year old Breda fleet of Blue/Green line railcars. The Shaker rapid cars were 33 years old when the Breda cars replaced them. The replacement cost of the rail fleet needed for revenue service (70 cars) in 2013 dollars is approximately $210 million. To replace all 108 cars would be in excess of $324 million. The Shaker Rapid needs to be rebuilt again as the tracks, station platforms and signals are at the end of their useful life. Imagine if RTA decided to take the tack that Philadelphia did with a doomsday scenario of converting the Shaker Rapid to a Euclid Corridor BRT operation!

 

I feel like they wouldn't be designing a new Van Aken station or doing the blue line extension study if they expected to just abandon the line though.... Unless the station can be converted to BRT stops... I've barely ridden blue or green so I don't know them well. Must be some options?

BTW, I'm getting word from folks at GCRTA that there is some serious concern about the infrastructure of some parts of the rail system. RTA does not have enough money to rebuild the infrastructure at Tower City (track bed, portals, retaining walls and supports for the street grid above it) let alone replace the existing 33 year old Breda fleet of Blue/Green line railcars. The Shaker rapid cars were 33 years old when the Breda cars replaced them. The replacement cost of the rail fleet needed for revenue service (70 cars) in 2013 dollars is approximately $210 million. To replace all 108 cars would be in excess of $324 million. The Shaker Rapid needs to be rebuilt again as the tracks, station platforms and signals are at the end of their useful life. Imagine if RTA decided to take the tack that Philadelphia did with a doomsday scenario of converting the Shaker Rapid to a Euclid Corridor BRT operation!

 

That is scary. Especially since RTA is drinking the BRT kool-aid.

BTW, I'm getting word from folks at GCRTA that there is some serious concern about the infrastructure of some parts of the rail system. RTA does not have enough money to rebuild the infrastructure at Tower City (track bed, portals, retaining walls and supports for the street grid above it) let alone replace the existing 33 year old Breda fleet of Blue/Green line railcars. The Shaker rapid cars were 33 years old when the Breda cars replaced them. The replacement cost of the rail fleet needed for revenue service (70 cars) in 2013 dollars is approximately $210 million. To replace all 108 cars would be in excess of $324 million. The Shaker Rapid needs to be rebuilt again as the tracks, station platforms and signals are at the end of their useful life. Imagine if RTA decided to take the tack that Philadelphia did with a doomsday scenario of converting the Shaker Rapid to a Euclid Corridor BRT operation!

 

That is scary. Especially since RTA is drinking the BRT kool-aid.

 

I'm just going to play devil's advocate here. Disregard the perception issue for a moment (that rail is somehow more 'upscale' than bus), the biggest issue with the Healthline is the timing of the busses / bunching up / overcrowding due to late arrival, etc., correct? (not the only issue, but the biggest, from what I've read here). A tremendous amount of blame for those issues seems to arise from the signal priortization, or lack thereof, IMO.

 

If, in a doomsday scenario, RTA were to tear out the rail and put in BRT, what would change from an operations standpoint. The busses would ride on the same ROW as the Green and Red Lines currently do. I presume the signal prioritzation would be exactly the same as it is for the Rapid. And frankly, after 116th st., the rail lines have no interaction with street traffic so the BRT could go as fast or as slow as it needed to.

 

Ultimately, I think from a pure people transporting standpoint it would be a wash. Ok, now go ahead and tell me why I'm wrong  :lol:

I'm just going to play devil's advocate here. Disregard the perception issue for a moment (that rail is somehow more 'upscale' than bus), the biggest issue with the Healthline is the timing of the busses / bunching up / overcrowding due to late arrival, etc., correct? (not the only issue, but the biggest, from what I've read here). A tremendous amount of blame for those issues seems to arise from the signal priortization, or lack thereof, IMO.

 

If, in a doomsday scenario, RTA were to tear out the rail and put in BRT, what would change from an operations standpoint. The busses would ride on the same ROW as the Green and Red Lines currently do. I presume the signal prioritzation would be exactly the same as it is for the Rapid. And frankly, after 116th st., the rail lines have no interaction with street traffic so the BRT could go as fast or as slow as it needed to.

 

Ultimately, I think from a pure people transporting standpoint it would be a wash. Ok, now go ahead and tell me why I'm wrong  :lol:

 

^^^yeah, except Shaker Boulevard would suddenly go from a beautiful tree-lined boulevard to a highway with 6 lanes of pavement.  It would be a tragedy.

 

Are aesthetics worth $300 million?  Well, that's debatable... 

^ Technically yes, but again, the traffic on the BRT lanes would be no more than what is currently occurring on the rapid. And, I might even venture that the BRT might be quieter since it's operating on rubber tires on concrete, vs. steel wheels on rail. (again, just my own guess, others more knowledgable please correct me where I'm wrong)

 

In any case, I'm not in favor of replacing the rail with BRT by any stretch of the imagination. The Rapid is one of the gems of the region. I'm just saying in the 'doomsday scenario', it could work.

The healthline vehicles don't hold up as well. The exteriors are starting to look bad, as well as the interiors. Several light bulbs need replacing as well.

^ Technically yes, but again, the traffic on the BRT lanes would be no more than what is currently occurring on the rapid. And, I might even venture that the BRT might be quieter since it's operating on rubber tires on concrete, vs. steel wheels on rail. (again, just my own guess, others more knowledgable please correct me where I'm wrong)

 

In any case, I'm not in favor of replacing the rail with BRT by any stretch of the imagination. The Rapid is one of the gems of the region. I'm just saying in the 'doomsday scenario', it could work.

 

Such a 'doomsday scenario' would be doomsday for Calabrese and the Board.  Shaker Heights may not be (in some folks' mind) as prestigious and powerful as it once was, and fewer Shaker blue bloods ride the Rapid as they did in decades past, largely because of heavy downtown corporate contraction, but the suburb is still very powerful and the Rapid is so intertwined with Shaker's history that it is considered foundational by most residents who would surely send RTA leadership packing.  (which, btw, makes me kinda hope they do propose this)...

 

... and even though (too) many leaders here are indifferent to transit, I think you would see a firestorm from many quarters outside Shaker Heights as well.  The opposition would be 100-times the muted opposition to the Opportunity Corridor.

 

... hold it, why am I even engaging in such a ridiculous discussion????

 

All Aboard Ohio ‏@AllAboardOhio 2h

Congrats @GCRTA on breaking ground today on its 1st all-new rail station (Little Italy-Mayfield) in nearly 20 years! http://www.riderta.com/majorprojects/littleitalyuc

Little Italy-University Circle station seen as transit-oriented development spark

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

on October 22, 2013 at 5:30 PM, updated October 22, 2013 at 5:32 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA broke ground Tuesday on a rapid station that planners say will boost the vibrancy of University Circle while helping knit the cultural and jobs hub to its surrounding neighborhoods.

 

The $17.5 million Little Italy-University Circle station replaces what RTA says is a functionally obsolete station at Euclid Avenue and East 120th Street.

 

The new transit facility will rise several blocks south, near the intersection of Mayfield Road and East 119th Street, a short walk from the Uptown residential-retail complex and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Construction is expected to start next week and last 18 to 24 months.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/10/little_italy-university_circle.html#incart_river_default

I can't think of any single rail project RTA has executed in recent years that has the potential to be a game changer as does this one.

I see RTA is backing the Sky Lift project... Let's see: there's been BRT, the Opportunity Corridor and now SkyLift.  Seems RTA's pumping every form of transportation in this town EXCEPT the one it should be: rail transit -- as in the Rapid, commuter rail or CVSR (extended), where Joe C's RTA suddenly develops laryngitis.

 

Read more: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,28519.140.html#ixzz2k4uda9FT

Maybe it’s just me, but I wish for the new Red Line Little Italy-UC station, RTA would have decided for a tunnel/indoor connection for a west side entry, in addition to the east side entry, under the RR embankment.  It doesn’t seem to make sense for such an important new station to have Univ-Circle and Uptown passengers walking under a long underpass beneath a set of 4 railroad tracks (really 5 counting an abandoned ROW near the center.  Even if spruced up over current conditions, and made considerably better than the dank-horrible conditions at the current Euclid-E. 120 station, it will still be an underpass under several freight RR tracks – still noisy, enclosed/unsettling and non-temperature controlled – as would an under-the-tracks indoor connection be.  The indoor connections would make so much more sense, if RTA really wants to make the station attractive to commuters – eve more so if/when the huge Intesa development rises just beyond the west side of the embankment.  It just once again seems like RTA is being penny-wise and pound foolish … even considering the $17M it plans to spend on the new station.

Maybe it’s just me, but I wish for the new Red Line Little Italy-UC station, RTA would have decided for a tunnel/indoor connection for a west side entry, in addition to the east side entry, under the RR embankment.  It doesn’t seem to make sense for such an important new station to have Univ-Circle and Uptown passengers walking under a long underpass beneath a set of 4 railroad tracks (really 5 counting an abandoned ROW near the center.  Even if spruced up over current conditions, and made considerably better than the dank-horrible conditions at the current Euclid-E. 120 station, it will still be an underpass under several freight RR tracks – still noisy, enclosed/unsettling and non-temperature controlled – as would an under-the-tracks indoor connection be.  The indoor connections would make so much more sense, if RTA really wants to make the station attractive to commuters – eve more so if/when the huge Intesa development rises just beyond the west side of the embankment.  It just once again seems like RTA is being penny-wise and pound foolish … even considering the $17M it plans to spend on the new station.

 

I agree that would be nice to have, but for those of us impatient on seeing construction start on this project, tunneling under two active freight railroad mainlines would have incurred unimaginable delays. GCRTA already had incurred lengthy delays in dealing with NS to acquire property between its tracks and the west side of the rail corridor. And that was for an abandoned industrial rail spur, not busy mainlines belonging to two different railroad companies who don't have to deal with GCRTA if they don't want to. I think GCRTA was interested in seeing a station get built here in the lifetimes of its existing staff.

 

EDIT: you may recall there was a proposal of adding an overhead walkway from the new Little Italy station to Intesa. But until Intesa is built, there isn't much sense in adding it -- especially at GCRTA expense.

Is there any plan to improve the conditions of the walkway under the bridges and the bridges themselves. They are in terrible shape.

^ Yep:

 

From http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/08/city_architectures_new_little.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2#incart_m-rpt-2

 

The RTA board recently voted to spend $1 million on improving the city-owned sidewalk, curb and railing on the north side of Mayfield that extends west from the new station to the University Circle side of the railroad bridges.

 

Though it's not clear there will be money for the sidewalk on the south side of Mayfield.

 

 

If the existing sidewalk is properly improved (and $1M is a pretty good budget to do so), I don't really understand why a new entrance tunnel dug under the tracks would be much better.

Is there any plan to improve the conditions of the walkway under the bridges and the bridges themselves. They are in terrible shape.

 

I seem to recall this is part of the station project.

 

Is there any plan to improve the conditions of the walkway under the bridges and the bridges themselves. They are in terrible shape.

 

I seem to recall this is part of the station project.

 

Right. IIRC they're doing bridge work before building the station and new sidewalks and improved lighting are also in the works.

Guys, there's no reason to recall anything, the answers are all in the article I linked to:

 

It gets even better, though. The RTA board recently voted to spend $1 million on improving the city-owned sidewalk, curb and railing on the north side of Mayfield that extends west from the new station to the University Circle side of the railroad bridges.

 

The RTA also spent $880,000 to acquire the easternmost of the five bridges over Mayfield Road from Little Italy Development LLC, a real estate group that includes Terry Coyne of the Newmark Grubb Knight Frank brokerage, and the Geis and Asher families, according to a story by my colleague, Alison Grant.

 

The plan, Volpe said, is to remove the easternmost bridge, which will shorten the 200 feet of darkness between Little Italy and University Circle. The architect said he’s exploring new lighting for the underside of the bridges in ways that could be installed without triggering a veto by the railroads.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/08/city_architectures_new_little.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2#incart_m-rpt-2

That's what I get for not clicking on your link!

 

Guys, there's no reason to recall anything, the answers are all in the article I linked to:

 

It gets even better, though. The RTA board recently voted to spend $1 million on improving the city-owned sidewalk, curb and railing on the north side of Mayfield that extends west from the new station to the University Circle side of the railroad bridges.

 

The RTA also spent $880,000 to acquire the easternmost of the five bridges over Mayfield Road from Little Italy Development LLC, a real estate group that includes Terry Coyne of the Newmark Grubb Knight Frank brokerage, and the Geis and Asher families, according to a story by my colleague, Alison Grant.

 

The plan, Volpe said, is to remove the easternmost bridge, which will shorten the 200 feet of darkness between Little Italy and University Circle. The architect said he’s exploring new lighting for the underside of the bridges in ways that could be installed without triggering a veto by the railroads.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/08/city_architectures_new_little.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2#incart_m-rpt-2

 

But... clicking is hard! ;)

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/03/mayfield_road_stretch_closing.html#incart_river_default

 

Mayfield Road stretch closing to allow bridge demolition

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mayfield Road will be closing Monday between East 117th and East 120th streets so that an abandoned railroad bridge can be demolished.

 

The section of road will stay closed through Thursday to allow crews to complete the bridge removal. Then construction can resume on the new Little Italy-University Circle Rapid Station. Weather permitting, the demolition work and the Mayfield Road closure will last from March 24-27.