Three train stations have opened for use by rail passengers this year in Greater Cleveland -- on the east side, the south side and the west side. Talk about regional balance!!! But each station is also very different architecturally from the other. CVSR uses standardized stations built by the National Park Service for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and they are based on small-town depots that were built in the late 1800s, including in the Cuyahoga Valley. But the RTA stations are not so standardized in their architecture. Each one is different, although they still must conform to many federal regulations and RTA's own branding, logo and signage standards. As you will see, RTA's two newest east- and west-side are very different from each other.

 

Furthermore, while each station replaces and/or expands an already existing facility, each also represents an investment in their communities and in the region's infrastructure, providing more and better transportation choices for trips to work, school, tourism and others.

 

These stations and their investments in the future include:

 

East 55th Regional Transit Authority Station - Replacement of a decayed facility that did not meet ADA requirements with a new, $12 million facility on the opposite site of East 55th. It opened to passengers on Aug. 22, but its official dedication will not occur until later this month. This station is a joint-use facility, meaning it is used by the Red Line heavy-rail trains and the Blue/Green light-rail trains. It is one of three such stations in Greater Cleveland and one of the few in the country that serves heavy- and light-rail trains on the same tracks.

 

Rockside/Independence Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Station - Expansion of the existing station with a paved, lighted parking area for cars, buses and bikes, paved driveway, plus restrooms and better signage. Cost of the expanded facility was just under $1 million, provided by federal funding to the National Park Service. This is CVSR's northernmost station which reopened at the end of August. CVSR runs to downtown Akron, Canton and intermediate stations with several trains daily Wednesday-Sunday.

 

Puritas Regional Transit Authority Station - Replacement of an aging, unattractive facility that did not meet ADA requirements with a new, $8.5 million facility on the site of the old station. However, the new station has a more secure-feeling, glass-enclosed walkway over the tracks to the boarding platform, replacing a dank concrete and ceramic tile tunnel. This new Puritas (also called West 150th) station was dedicated by RTA and city officials on May 17, 2011.

 

OK, let's start the tour!

 

Starting with the new East 55th Street RTA station, which is located at the east end of I-490 and is next to RTA's Central Rail Facility. Private vehicle access direct from East 55th is prohibited. Only buses are allowed in from East 55th. Private vehicles must take an indirect route through a neglected neighborhood......

 

 

 

 

Everybody's "favorite" fare machines....

 

 

 

 

The station offers nice views of RTA's Central Rail Facility.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we head south to Independence to the newly expanded Rockside station for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we head west to the West Park section of Cleveland and the Puritas Rapid station, at the West 150th Street exit off I-71......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This station, unlike most, has two distinct entrances. There is the more commercial side facing the huge park-and-ride lot off West 150th. And there's the residential side of the station with a kiss-and-ride turnaround off Valley View Avenue....

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty clever -- the benches look like a cross between a briefcase and a laptop computer!

 

 

 

Thanks for riding!

 

Man, I wish Cincinnati had a rail system...

 

I was going to say, "Can we get those lines extended to Cincinnati?"

 

At least Cleveland has something to extend. Cincinnati can't seem to get anything at all started, much less extended.

 

Oh well, at least we have the zoo train. 

Great pics. Would love to see all stations covered!

RTA has done a nice job with it's new stations.  I'm a little disappointed that they ditched escalators at Puritas -- one of the busier stations -- when they were in the old stations.  I know they are expensive to maintain and often break down, but escalators are far and away the most efficient means of moving large nos. of people from one level to the next.  And from my understanding and appearance from the photos, the new Puratis bridge level over the tracks is extremely high, no doubt to accommodate the taller freights on the adjoining NS ROW... Still, it's a nice looking station, architecturally; bright, airy and safe-looking, like all RTA's recent builds...

 

E.55 is probably the most dramatic upgrade for RTA to date; maybe even more than the W.65 upgrade 7 years ago... it's an eye-catching facility and was wisely moved to the other side of the street, away from busy I-490 traffic... Let's hope this very attractive/inviting purple + steel + glass rail transit facility will attract TOD to its struggling Slavic Village nabe... Given the immediate access to 3 rail lines, busy N-S E. 55 and I-490, it seems a natural for some kind of compact/dense office and/or retail, residential development...

These new stations are a welcome sight, and the one on Puritas really does look nice.  The area around the 55th station is probably too industrial to encourage much non-industrial spinoff development.  It features active scrapyards, a distribution hub with associated truck traffic, and a very loud press machine that neighbors complain about.  If the city pushes ahead with the East Side Market at 55th and Woodland, that could increase the number of arrivals and departures from 55th.  Right now it seems like most people using that station are RTA employees.       

 

I was going to say, "Can we get those lines extended to Cincinnati?"

 

At least Cleveland has something to extend. Cincinnati can't seem to get anything at all started, much less extended.

 

Oh well, at least we have the zoo train. 

 

Great pics. Would love to see all stations covered!

 

There is a thread in the transportation section which covers the capital improvements to the GCRTA rail system:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6956.0.html

 

I will be posting some more photos there, along with a detailed, illustrated article that will appear in the next All Aboard Ohio newsletter. That newsletter will come out in a couple of weeks.

 

GCRTA is in the midst of a $168.2 million capital improvement program for 2010-15, and includes some pretty awesome projects that include Transit Oriented Development. Its continuation depends on the availability of funding from local, state and federal sources.

Very enjoyable and impressive photos, KJP!  These pics reaffirm that Cleveland IS the undisputed leader in Ohio public-transportation.  Your city's extensive and interconnected rail/bus routes offer lessons enough to the other "two C's"--but nobody seems to be learning anything.  Very sad...

I know the narrative for UO Cle. threads is never to say anything that could be mistaken as "anti-Cleveland"... but let's hope that with this kind of investment RTA has dished out...that they will turn up  the notches on the routine maintenance and watch at these stations...and not have them looking like crap in just a couple years, or welcome mats for inappropriate behavior or activity. With some of their current/recent past standards on such, I could see it happening. We have nice stations now...public investment....the least we can do is take care of them properly...and this means washing windows or picking up litter more than once a year. Not poo pooing anything... Just expecting above mediocre standards.

Well we tried to extend the train service to the other 2C's but it wasn't to be. In fact, the three tracks to the left (in the picture below) are the tracks the 3C trains would have used. I'm looking in the direction of Columbus and Cincinnati in this shot. Those tracks would have been spread apart to drop a platform, elevator and stairwell in from the overhead walkway I'm standing inside. Puritas was to be the SW Cleveland/Airport station for 3C. But the only passenger trains to use those tracks today are Amtrak's four daily er, nightly trains between Chicago and the East Coast. They speed through here at nearly 80 mph.

 

I know the narrative for UO Cle. threads is never to say anything that could be mistaken as "anti-Cleveland"... but let's hope that with this kind of investment RTA has dished out...that they will turn up notch on the routine maintenance and watch at these stations...and not have them looking like crap in just a couple years, or welcome mats for inappropriate behavior or activity. With some of their current/recent past standards on such, I could see it happening. We have nice stations now...public investment....the least we can do is take care of them properly...and this means washing windows or picking up litter more than once a year. Not poo pooing anything... Just expecting above mediocre standards.

 

You're so right, EC.  West Blvd is just over a decade old, yet from the inside, it looks like a dingy, worn-out station from decades ago.  Same w/ W. 25, where maintenance has upticked lately (although, can someone please trim the weeds growing up under the station-level walls? it looks sooo tacky, esp given the efforts that the Cleanland Ohio (or whatever that group's now called) in trimming the grass, picking up trash and creating the cute garden nearby)... no doubt RTA's had serious cutbacks, esp from stingy Ohio re its operating expenses, and yes, station upkeep is a shared responsibility btw RTA and the riding public... but, as KJP noted elsewhere, when RTA spends the elbow-grease on the day-to-day maintenance, it spends far less on replacement costs when crappy facilities need wholesale replacment/refurbishment, ie, because of rust for example...

 

 

Puritas was to be the SW Cleveland/Airport station for 3C. But the only passenger trains to use those tracks today are Amtrak's four daily er, nightly trains between Chicago and the East Coast. They speed through here at nearly 80 mph.

 

 

Wow, you mean 80 mph (!) and not the 39 mph the Kasich-crew said they'd go??

I know the narrative for UO Cle. threads is never to say anything that could be mistaken as "anti-Cleveland"... but let's hope that with this kind of investment RTA has dished out...that they will turn up notch on the routine maintenance and watch at these stations...and not have them looking like crap in just a couple years, or welcome mats for inappropriate behavior or activity. With some of their current/recent past standards on such, I could see it happening. We have nice stations now...public investment....the least we can do is take care of them properly...and this means washing windows or picking up litter more than once a year. Not poo pooing anything... Just expecting above mediocre standards.

 

You're so right, EC.  West Blvd is just over a decade old, yet from the inside, it looks like a dingy, worn-out station from decades ago.  Same w/ W. 25, where maintenance has upticked lately (although, can someone please trim the weeds growing up under the station-level walls? it looks sooo tacky, esp given the efforts that the Cleanland Ohio (or whatever that group's now called) in trimming the grass, picking up trash and creating the cute garden nearby)... no doubt RTA's had serious cutbacks, esp from stingy Ohio re its operating expenses, and yes, station upkeep is a shared responsibility btw RTA and the riding public... but, as KJP noted elsewhere, when RTA spends the elbow-grease on the day-to-day maintenance, it spends far less on replacement costs when crappy facilities need wholesale replacment/refurbishment, ie, because of rust for example...

 

 

 

The weeds are probably hiding lots of litter!  Haha! But trimming would be good....Not spraying the lazy way, as then it will look even worse wit a bunch or brown dead plants exposing disturbed littered soils...making it more erosion prone.

 

Simple routine maintenance like washing windows, a fresh coat of paint once in a while on doors or striping., refreshing planters with some native plants (less maintenance prone in the long run)...litter pick up and asking loiterers to leave, would do wonders...and prevent having to spend money on new stations. I have kindly suggested these things to RTA several times through writing and calling with very little feedback. I used to ride RTA regularly, but to be honest, these issues are what deters me. Probably not a great example...but in Sydney, Aust. a place where many feel the transport system is antiquated... they have a shortage of funding too as I was told at a greens meeting there......probably nowhere near the local issues, but having said that, even with thousands of riders daily...big crowds, the scene is still cleaner than ours! Their staff and resources are also disproportionate to their problems, but somehow these issues look to be a priority and make for a more pleasant experience.

 

So, IMO, as I have stated before....a lot of this cannot be blamed on funding, but rather some flaw in priorities in the leadership of the organization that does not set a better standard throughout. If they want to increase ridership, perhaps it would be in their interest to address the commonly overlooked. I think we just need to admit we have room for improvement in how serious or not so serious management bodies take such issues around here and step it up. A 10 year old station, properly maintained, even a less than quality one, can look respectable with some basics. We should not have to settle for less. And I hope RTA is reading this.

Those stations are fantastic.  I'm loving those benches.

Man I am not feeling the purple on the e55th station. Purple should not be a part of any structure that is not an amusement park ride. Uggh!

You're so right, EC.  West Blvd is just over a decade old, yet from the inside, it looks like a dingy, worn-out station from decades ago.  Same w/ W. 25, where maintenance has upticked lately (although, can someone please trim the weeds growing up under the station-level walls? it looks sooo tacky, esp given the efforts that the Cleanland Ohio (or whatever that group's now called) in trimming the grass, picking up trash and creating the cute garden nearby)... no doubt RTA's had serious cutbacks, esp from stingy Ohio re its operating expenses, and yes, station upkeep is a shared responsibility btw RTA and the riding public... but, as KJP noted elsewhere, when RTA spends the elbow-grease on the day-to-day maintenance, it spends far less on replacement costs when crappy facilities need wholesale replacment/refurbishment, ie, because of rust for example...

 

I see the West Blvd and W. 25th stations as wasted potential, which is exactly the kind of thing that frustrates me about Cleveland. I would love to see both of these stations redone with transit oriented development in mind.

 

For the W. 25th station, there is room for some rice mid-rise housing to be built on the blocks south of Loraine Ave. Get rid of that strip plaza right by the station! Not to mention all of the potential low-rise and townhome development that could be built near that station in Ohio City and Duck Island. 

 

The area around the West Blvd Station is just horrible! Detroit Avenue should be narrowed and the parking lot in front of the station should be replaced with a mid-rise building or at least a public space. Even worse is perhaps the nasty low-income housing just south of the station! I would love to see all of that removed and replaced with a Battery Park type development. There is also room for development just east of the station in a rather large brownfield south of Detroit between West Blvd and W. 85th. Right now the entire area around the West Blvd station just creates a pocket of ghetto between Gordan Square and Edgewater.

Man I am not feeling the purple on the e55th station. Purple should not be a part of any structure that is not an amusement park ride. Uggh!

 

I'm OK w/ the purple; to me it's kinda hip 'n funky.  RTA has definitely built it's rail stations as peices of art.  Each is different (though some are similar -- the new E. 55th station has that Waterfront Line wavy thing going on although it's miles from the Flats/Cuyahoga or Lake Erie,... no matter)... The new stations are museums in themselves.... personally, I think that's a good thing... Just keep the damn things clean and in good repair!!!!

 

I see the West Blvd and W. 25th stations as wasted potential, which is exactly the kind of thing that frustrates me about Cleveland. I would love to see both of these stations redone with transit oriented development in mind.

 

For the W. 25th station, there is room for some rice mid-rise housing to be built on the blocks south of Loraine Ave. Get rid of that strip plaza right by the station! Not to mention all of the potential low-rise and townhome development that could be built near that station in Ohio City and Duck Island. 

 

Have you seen the Ohio City redevelopment plan?

 

http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102184300899-261/June+14+11+PPT+Overall+Plan.pdf

 

 

The area around the West Blvd Station is just horrible! Detroit Avenue should be narrowed and the parking lot in front of the station should be replaced with a mid-rise building or at least a public space. Even worse is perhaps the nasty low-income housing just south of the station! I would love to see all of that removed and replaced with a Battery Park type development. There is also room for development just east of the station in a rather large brownfield south of Detroit between West Blvd and W. 85th. Right now the entire area around the West Blvd station just creates a pocket of ghetto between Gordan Square and Edgewater.

 

It's easy to spend other people's money. So while the region's public/nonprofit sectors have been out front of the private sector on TOD, it's ultimately up to the private sector to buy in. It is what buys, builds and redevelops properties. While there are a few real estate investors and developers in Cleveland who understand TOD, far too many don't. And those that do have their hands full with projects like Uptown, the Market District, Flats East Bank and others. University Circle, downtown and Ohio City are a little more attractive to investment right now than West Boulevard-Cudell -- and even in those other more attractive places, subsidies are often needed for projects to work financially.

Have you seen the Ohio City redevelopment plan?

 

http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102184300899-261/June+14+11+PPT+Overall+Plan.pdf

 

No, I had not. Not too bad though! Was this prepared for and supported by the City of Cleveland? Or some other organization?

 

It's easy to spend other people's money. So while the region's public/nonprofit sectors have been out front of the private sector on TOD, it's ultimately up to the private sector to buy in. It is what buys, builds and redevelops properties. While there are a few real estate investors and developers in Cleveland who understand TOD, far too many don't. And those that do have their hands full with projects like Uptown, the Market District, Flats East Bank and others. University Circle, downtown and Ohio City are a little more attractive to investment right now than West Boulevard-Cudell -- and even in those other more attractive places, subsidies are often needed for projects to work financially.

 

Yes, it is fun to spend other people's money  :wink:

 

I'm well aware of the public/private dynamic. I'm also aware that not too many investors (or people) in Cleveland seem very up to speed on TOD. However, I do think the government could do some more things to encourage TOD when it does become more feasible for the private sector to invest down the road. Also, outside investors (or people) could come in if they see the potential even if the locals are in the dark.

 

In the case of the West Blvd Station it was the public sector who decided to put a parking lot and an overly wide street in front of an urban rail station. To me that is an example of the local government not setting the table properly for future development. Designating a bunch unremarkable row houses, which serve as low-income housing, as historically significant structures certainly is not a magnet for market rate investments either. I think this area could be a prime location for future improvement since it's well situated between the the stable Edgewater neighborhood and the emerging Gordan Square neighborhood, with lots of underutilized land there to be built upon.

 

Anyway.....I suppose this discussion belongs in another thread.

^ The sad thing is that if new properties replaced the low income housing....they would probably, structural wise--and not that those brick places are any works of art---would be cheap spit and paste.  And, yes, the W. Blvd and W. 25th stations are what has been described, but again, even the greatest design to replace them, should it be built, would wind up looking like crap not too many years after based on current standards/priorities that are displayed with taking care of what already exists--which again, I am not sold on the catch all excuse of "lack of funding" Rather, I'll buy lack of priorities, or understanding how small things left unabated become the big things that end up being costly.  I believe some may call that in a word, "complacency" Pride is free.

Have you seen the Ohio City redevelopment plan?

 

http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102184300899-261/June+14+11+PPT+Overall+Plan.pdf

 

No, I had not. Not too bad though! Was this prepared for and supported by the City of Cleveland? Or some other organization?

 

 

Yes, I believe that was developed in conjunction with the Ohio City Near West Development Corp.

 

"Purple should not be a part of any structure that is not an amusement park ride. Uggh!"

 

I tend to agree with this.

Interestingly...this is just down the street from this station (at least it was 2 yrs ago when I took this pic):

 

like the e55th station a lot, but puritas is a missfire.

 

and while i applaud the attempt to inject art and levity into a waiting area, what at first glance looks like an unattended suitcase bomb...yikes - not a good idea!

like the e55th station a lot, but puritas is a missfire.

 

and while i applaud the attempt to inject art and levity into a waiting area, what at first glance looks like an unattended suitcase bomb...yikes - not a good idea!

 

That sounds like a "New York state of mind"! :)