Nor is the Airport.

 

Next stop 'Uptown'...Why not call it Uptown.

Uptown is not a neighborhood.

 

TowerCity is not a neighborhood either...

 

As the Airport is a terminal with a defined function.  The "Airport" is an appropriate name.

 

Tower City or PKA "Cleveland Union Terminal" or "Terminal Tower" make sense as it's was the hub/terminal of Cleveland's rail operations.

 

I left those out on purpose, as I didn't think I would have to explain thoses.

 

I think naming the station is an important part of the construction process, but if KJP, you don't feel it's appropriate, please move this sub convo to an appropriate thread.

Nor is the Airport.

 

Next stop 'Uptown'...Why not call it Uptown.

Uptown is not a neighborhood.

 

TowerCity is not a neighborhood either...

 

As the Airport is a terminal with a defined function.  The "Airport" is an appropriate name.

 

Tower City or PKA "Cleveland Union Terminal" or "Terminal Tower" make sense as it's was the hub/terminal of Cleveland's rail operations.

I left those out on purpose, as I didn't think I would have to explain thoses.

 

I think naming the station is an important part of the construction process, but if KJP, you don't feel it's appropriate, please move this sub convo to an appropriate thread.

 

lol

Re: Names...

 

Cedar-University refers to CWRU, not University Circle.

 

Little Italy-University Circle was chosen because it includes both the neighborhood and the bigger picture.

 

All maps, timetable and Web references are or will reflect these names.

 

By the way, Red Line is two words. Many people, including posters here, misuse it.

I think naming the station is an important part of the construction process, but if KJP, you don't feel it's appropriate, please move this sub convo to an appropriate thread.

 

I won't move it. I'm just expecting it will go away quietly.

Re: Names...

 

Cedar-University refers to CWRU, not University Circle.

 

Little Italy-University Circle was chosen because it includes both the neighborhood and the bigger picture.

 

All maps, timetable and Web references are or will reflect these names.

 

By the way, Red Line is two words. Many people, including posters here, misuse it.

 

Hey Jerry,

 

I really didn't expect this discussion to go off the tracks (so to speak) in to the name of the new LI station.  I just mentioned it because frankly 12 syllables is difficult to verbalize on a routine basis.  And lets face it, unless RTA implements a total GPS station-announcement system by the time this new station is built, I don't have a lot of confidence in RTA motormen to communicate it effectively, esp since they often mumble the simpler stop names the Rapid already has -- Red, Blue and Green Lines included... KJP's suggestion: UC-Little Italy, works much better...

 

... moving on...

Thanks! I was hoping to get over there to take a picture of the UC-Cedar station, too, but nature was calling me home.....

 

I also see that GCRTA is using the new articulateds as the Red Line shuttle buses on the east side. I was hoping to get a picture, but wasn't able to.

I posted pictures in the GCRTA discussion thread of the buses.

A couple of pics of University Circle-Cedar station from yesterday.....

 

 

Very nice!  What an improvement from the old sewer station.

I'd love to see the old Lincoln Storage in the background be converted into housing, with windows punched through those solid concrete walls. But CWRU is using that structure for storage. I would think their storage could be done anywhere else, and use this structure for residents -- what with CWRU's housing shortage.

^Not sure if plans have changed, but as of a couple years ago Case planned to turn the Lincoln Storage bldg into a new home for it's innovation/incubator space, "Think[box]."

I'm pretty sure they are still working on it.  I talked to someone from Think[box] a few months ago and they were talking about it as if it was still on.

About the Lincoln Building

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2977.new#new

Awesome!

 

Question about the Lincoln Storage building near the new Cedar RTA station in one of the other threads. CWRU currently uses a part of it for storage but has plans to convert it for their ThinkBOX program. As far as I can tell 13 of the 20 mil needed has been raised. CWRU has so much going on it's hard to tell where it fits in priority wise. StudioTECHNE is the architect for the project which is described at 50k sq ft. Let's hope this one happens. And I can think of about ten other big hulking windowless buildings I wish could get the same love.

 

Brookpark Station rebuild. More at design review.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2014/06202014/index.php

 

^Well I can see the Brookpark redo is getting a big response. Yeah I don't blame you. Why does it seem that RTA saves its least innovative design for the westside. Isn't the Brookpark station one of the most travelled.  This thing looks like a Sheetz. All it needs is a half dozen gas pumps in front of it and a slurpee poster in the window. But considering the embarrasment that is there now, I won't complain. Please just no purple...like that thing at E55.

Why does it seem that RTA saves its least innovative design for the westside.

 

They want them to match the neighborhoods  :-P

^Well I can see the Brookpark redo is getting a big response. Yeah I don't blame you. Why does it seem that RTA saves its least innovative design for the westside. Isn't the Brookpark station one of the most travelled.  This thing looks like a Sheetz. All it needs is a half dozen gas pumps in front of it and a slurpee poster in the window. But considering the embarrasment that is there now, I won't complain. Please just no purple...like that thing at E55.

 

Based on the rendering I see nothing wrong with the station.

^Well I can see the Brookpark redo is getting a big response. Yeah I don't blame you. Why does it seem that RTA saves its least innovative design for the westside. Isn't the Brookpark station one of the most travelled.  This thing looks like a Sheetz. All it needs is a half dozen gas pumps in front of it and a slurpee poster in the window. But considering the embarrasment that is there now, I won't complain. Please just no purple...like that thing at E55.

 

Based on the rendering I see nothing wrong with the station.

Well maybe his disapproval stems from RTA giving stations like University Circle eye catching glass designs while this is mainly brick and seems cookie cutter in comparison. Just my guess. When put side by side I can see where he's coming from.

 

 

I too am underwhelmed by the planned Brookpark station.  It looks very much like the (still extant) 1960s-built station it's replacing.  I expected more.  First, as noted, RTA has set a high bar for Red Line station rebuilds.  From rising new University Circle station, to E. 55, to W. 117, to Triskett, to Stokes-Windermere; all these rebuilds are striking, unique and interesting looking.  Based on the above rendering, the new Brookpark shares none of that.  It looks like a throwback to to the bland, boxy International Style architecture of the 50s and 60s... Second, I expected more simply because we've been waiting so long... this new station has been in limbo for about/over a decade.  For all this anticipation, I expected more.  Third, it's RTA's busiest station outside Tower City.  A lot of people pass through this location.  Wouldn't you want a signature station for a place of such high visibility?

 

I thought I'd read that there was some TOD going in at Brookpark in tandem with this station.  I know a hotel had been planned before, but fell through -- hence the long-term temporary structure that still stands.  TOD certainly would be a plus and, hopefully, blunts what looks to be a dull, uninspiring station building.

Among the many rail projects in which GCRTA is engaged is the replacement of crossings through Cleveland's Shaker Square. But GCRTA is doing more than that. They are replacing the tracks as well, including with concrete ties through the station itself. Concrete ties are heavier than wood ties and are thus more stable. They are often used on high-speed rail lines, heavy-duty freight rail lines, or where there is unusual drainage or track stress issues. For example, GCRTA installed new tracks with concrete ties through the Red Line S-curve between the West Boulevard and West 117th stations. BTW, I shot this yesterday (Friday). The Blue & Green are shut down this weekend east of the square where they are replaced with shuttles so work crews could replace the crossings at the east end of the square....

 

^My car, esp its tires, thank RTA profusely for the Shaker Square crossings rehab.

I'm researching an article for the All Aboard Ohio newsletter and I'm counting these rail projects budgeted in the five-year period from 2012-2017.....

 

Bridges: $10 million

Station improvements: $3.6 million

Major station projects (UC-Cedar, Lee/Van Aken, East 116th, Little Italy, Brookpark):  $52 million

Track rehabilitation: $20.8 million

Red Line S-Curve: $7 million

Red Line Airport tunnel: $10 million

Electrical systems: $14.2 million

Heavy-rail fleet overhauls: $10 million

Light-rail fleet state of good repair: $5.5 million

Blue Line extension: $44 million

 

Total capital investments in rail system (2012-2017): $177 million

RTA has made a lot of progress on the new Little Italy station over the last month since the road has been closed. I feel like this station should open ahead of schedule.

RTA has made a lot of progress on the new Little Italy station over the last month since the road has been closed. I feel like this station should open ahead of schedule.

 

I agree, and hopefully with the announcement that Cleveland landed the 2016 Republican Convention, a fire will be lit under RTA to get this station done... I visited the UC/Little Italy station site a few days ago for the 1st time in months.  The progress was impressive.  Frankly, with the progress made to date coupled with the (extended) Red Line east shutdown, this station looks like it could/should be finished by late this year... early 2015 at the latest.

 

Also I hope the RNC 2016 news can speed up the molasses-like Red Line car refurbishment program.  Since the 1st few refurbished cars went on line several months ago, I've seen no real expansion of the refurbished cars... and weirdly, in the few newbies that are out on the rails, RTA has been running them in mismatched pairs with the old/rundown cars.  It looks kind of ridiculous and is causing some passengers -- me among them-- to go out of their/my way to ride in the newer car vs the oft-ratty unrehabbed one.... At the rate RTA is rehab-ing Red Line cars, the entire fleet will be at the retirement stage and ready for junking by the time the rehab is complete.

 

I noticed the last few days the extensive plantings that are going into the University Circle station as it reaches completion.  Really more landscaping than I have viewed at any other station.  I sure hope some entity other than RTA is going to be responsible for the upkeep (hopefully CWRU but why would they take the responsibility, especially with potential liability issues...OK the lawyer in me).  I have never been impressed with RTA's upkeep of landscaping even when it was minimal.  This has me a bit worried.

 

At the rate RTA is rehab-ing Red Line cars, the entire fleet will be at the retirement stage and ready for junking by the time the rehab is complete.

 

 

I think that the Red Line cars have all been rehabbed mechanically. The upgrades that are being done now are only on the interiors of the cars, and I think the work is all being done in-house.

I think that the Red Line cars have all been rehabbed mechanically. The upgrades that are being done now are only on the interiors of the cars, and I think the work is all being done in-house.

 

That's correct.

Yes, the Cedar Road station has so many flowers I was figuring they're mainly just for opening day ceremonies.  The old station, which mainly kept going down, down, down over the years (in both appearance and amenities) had like no landscaping in recent years worth talking about.  Really nothing at all to make it appealing or attractive.  Shame on them!  Many of us had to spend a good part of our lives there - particularly when service from the Heights to and from Downtown went down the tubes.

 

[

I think that the Red Line cars have all been rehabbed mechanically. The upgrades that are being done now are only on the interiors of the cars, and I think the work is all being done in-house.

 

I understand that, but nevertheless the process is painfully slow.  I've never seen such a piecemeal car rehab process like this ... and the fact that the Red Line cars aren't even getting LED next-station messaging with the rehab, which is pretty standard for cars (for the last decade+), makes RTA's process even worse.

I understand that, but nevertheless the process is painfully slow.  I've never seen such a piecemeal car rehab process like this ... and the fact that the Red Line cars aren't even getting LED next-station messaging with the rehab, which is pretty standard for cars (for the last decade+), makes RTA's process even worse.

 

Honestly, after riding the healthline I honestly wouldn't want to see next stop LEDs on the red line cars because RTA doesn't upkeep the maintenance on those. All the tell you is when a stop is requested, it would eventually start to look tacky after a while of neglect.

JMasek[/member] When is the Little Italy station supposed to be completed? Ive heard 2016(seems way to long) and Spring 2015 which seems far more realistic.

 

It looks pretty far along. The platform looks to be built already from what I can tell.

 

I walked by today at 11:04 and there was nobody at the site (lunch?). Do crews work on it daily?

^When did this @somebody stuff start?  I just noticed it the past few days.  Does it make a difference from just saying "Hey, somebody...etc"?

jeremyck01[/member]

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,29452.0.html

 

tradition7[/member] Ahhhh.  Thank you!

Not sure what this means but I found this while perusing the construction Dodge reports for Cuyahoga County:

 

W. 25th Street Rapid Transit Station (Revitalization)

201400578285 v. 3

Dodge Project Report, Plans, Specs and Addendum

Owner Type: Public

Passenger Terminal (Other) GC Bidding $150,055 OH (Cuyahoga) Jul 30, 2014

 

View Here: http://dodgeprojects.construction.com/search.htm?src1=&src2=&state=OH&filter=county:Cuyahoga&projectTypeCode=

 

It looks like RTA is getting some preliminary design/engineering work in order for a station redo.

Didn't see any crews today either. I find that odd since I thought they would be working on it nonstop in order to get the rail line up and running again.

Didn't see any crews today either. I find that odd since I thought they would be working on it nonstop in order to get the rail line up and running again.

 

And RTA has suspended UC-to-Windermere Red Line service "until further notice" because of "delays."  Are we getting the whole story?

Not sure what this means but I found this while perusing the construction Dodge reports for Cuyahoga County:

 

W. 25th Street Rapid Transit Station (Revitalization)

201400578285 v. 3

Dodge Project Report, Plans, Specs and Addendum

Owner Type: Public

Passenger Terminal (Other) GC Bidding $150,055 OH (Cuyahoga) Jul 30, 2014

 

View Here: http://dodgeprojects.construction.com/search.htm?src1=&src2=&state=OH&filter=county:Cuyahoga&projectTypeCode=

 

It looks like RTA is getting some preliminary design/engineering work in order for a station redo.

 

That's not a lot of money for station engineering. It's not the result of this:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/article/GCRTA-receives-175000-grant-from-Cleveland-Foundation--28768

 

Those funds were already expended for the TOD plan issued last year: http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/06/a_new_rta_plan_for_transit-ori.html

 

This is something different. There also was a recent proposal for extending a pedestrian walkway below Lorain Avenue using the existing Red Line underpass to the north side of the street. Still checking......

 

And RTA has suspended UC-to-Windermere Red Line service "until further notice" because of "delays."  Are we getting the whole story?

 

Good question.

While researching the above questions, I came across this...

 

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/engineering/OTEC/2014%20Session%20Descriptions/Tuesday%20102814_1030%20to%201130%20am.pdf

 

Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference

Registration: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/engineering/OTEC/Pages/default.aspx

 

 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. CPDs = 1.00

Session 20

Advancing Access and Mobility with Transit

Organizer: Marianne Freed

Moderator: Marianne Freed

Room: C216

Little Italy - University Circle Transit Station 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM | CPD = 0.33

Joseph Shaffer, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, OH

Chris Cummings, Michael Baker Jr., Inc., Cleveland, OH

The presentation will focus on the unique challenges in planning, designing and constructing a new transit station in

a historic urban setting along an active rapid transit line.

 

W. 25th Street Station TOD Study 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM | CPD = 0.33

Nancy Lyon-Stadler, Michael Baker Jr., Inc., Cleveland, OH

Maribeth Feke, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, OH

This session will present the results of the W. 25th Street Station TOD Study in Cleveland, Ohio. The study integrates

the GCRTA’s transit rail station at W. 25th Street with the surrounding Ohio City neighborhood, including the iconic

West Side Market.

 

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - University Connection 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM | CPD = 0.34

Timothy Reynolds, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Cincinnati, OH

The growth of BRT nationwide is a phenomenon in the last ten years that shows no signs of abating. This

presentation will offer a series of brief case studies of how universities have capitalized on BRT lines by re-orienting

campuses from internally-oriented superblocks to more outward facing facilities that better engage their

surroundings, encourage pedestrian traffic, foster transit ridership, and facilitate economic development

opportunities.

KJP[/member] - do you think RTA could do the Lorain Ave pedestrian walkway with $150,000?  I don't know much about construction costs but $150K just doesn't sound like a lot of money.

KJP[/member] - do you think RTA could do the Lorain Ave pedestrian walkway with $150,000?  I don't know much about construction costs but $150K just doesn't sound like a lot of money.

 

Not unless someone else is paying most of the cost.

So the W. 25 Station study is not prompted by the proposed Market Sq plaza mixed use development.  I do like the idea of the under-bridge passage to the north side of Lorain Ave as it would eliminate the hassle of crossing Lorain and/or Gehring/Abby (crazy 3-way intersection) to get to the WSM side which, I would guess, is where the bulk of Red Line passengers desire to go.  Ironically, the old CTS-built station was on the north side with a dark passage to the South side where the current RTA-built station is.

So the W. 25 Station study is not prompted by the proposed Market Sq plaza mixed use development.

 

I don't know if it is or isn't. I have no idea what this funding is for.

Littly Italy -- groundbreaking Oct. 2013 + an estimated 24 months construction = fall 2015 opening. Work is now slightly off that pace. See this story from the Riders Digest.

http://www.riderta.com/publications/ridersdigest/2014/august#toc-3

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:

 

 

Work included tearing out the 1920s-era vault (a concrete box below the tracks for the station entrance) and replacing it with a new vault:

 

 

Track-level station headhouse and new platform. The eastbound track hasn't been re-laid through this site as construction equipment must work from the east side of the station (where I'm standing):

 

 

I thought this was supposed to be a new bridge (for eastbound trains, the westbound bridge is at left)? The eastbound bridge has new footers (can't see them here) but the deck and supports look like the infrastructure from the freight siding overpass that was removed in the early spring:

 

 

Why invest in rail @inthecircle? Station-area dvlpmt $110M mixed-use Intesa & $119M Cleveland Inst. of Art expansion.

 

 

Why invest in rail @inthecircle? Traffic. All kinds of traffic! Reduce the vehicular type. Boost the pedestrian type.

Cool shots, KJP!  Seeing all the progress, I'm actually surprised completion is still more than a year away.  Looks like the hardest parts are already done.

Thanks for the update KJP... a couple comments:

 

- indeed the new Little Italy station appears to be coming along nicely, but I still don't see any catenary wire hanging over railroad tracks.  In fact, your 3rd photo indicates tracks haven't even been laid at that particular station location... While Jerry has informed us the station won't be ready until fall of 2015, he also stated that through service back to Windermere would be reinstated by mid-August (2014) IIRC.  I'm not sure exactly when you took these photos, but if it was as recent as I suspect, RTA doesn't look anywhere near ready to restore full Red Line service.

 

- As for the bridge at the station, the artist concept drawings on RTA's website indicate an old-style (circa 1920s) bridge would support the eastbound track at the station.  Also, I thought that awesome time-lapse video (also) on RTA's website indicated that the industrial siding bridge was dismantled and removed.  Now maybe it was rebuilt and re-installed in the new location.  However I'm wondering whether the bridge supporting the original eastbound track was merely lifted and moved over a few feet to the east.  Just a thought...

 

- Love the Euclid-Cornell street shot... that's the kind of urban density and ped-activity Uptown has spawned, which will only get greater once Phase II is complete.

 

- ... but I love the Intesa "future home" signage even more!

Cool shots, KJP!  Seeing all the progress, I'm actually surprised completion is still more than a year away.  Looks like the hardest parts are already done.

 

It does seem like fall 2015 is a generous time period in which this project could be completed.  Admittedly though, although the station's superstructure looks largely in place, there's still the time-consuming aspects of wiring, lighting and general station finishing that lie ahead.  There's also the tedious aspect of installing the ADA-compliant elevator too.

I took the pictures this evening. There is wire above the westbound track and new catenary poles have been erected through the work zone starting a few hundred feet south of Mayfield and north of the station platform.

However I'm wondering whether the bridge supporting the original eastbound track was merely lifted and moved over a few feet to the east.  Just a thought...

 

 

Im 95% positive that is the case.