^Cannot comment on the trees but my view of the stations is that the cantaliever is simply a design element and is not meant to function as protection from wind and rain.  That is the purpose of the shelter which is covered and completely glass enclosed.  Looks like they can hold 15-18 comfortably (as least standing) which should be enough given the location of most stations and the frequency of the buses.  My question is whether the stations are larger in the Public Square to CSU corridor since is could be expected that more people will board in that area.

 

Also, I was just driving the area today and noticed the many of the trees are surrounded by a small tree lawn.  I wonder who is going to be responsible for cutting the grass?

 

My question is whether the stations are larger in the Public Square to CSU corridor since is could be expected that more people will board in that area.

 

your answer, which is yes, can be found here: http://www.euclidtransit.org/ECTP_documents/Community%20Update%20022807%20MJS.pdf

 

to sum up, the downtown platforms will be the largest in terms of footprint, with size decreasing as travel proceeds further east... pages 23-33 of the above-linked presentation detail the station designs

maybe they're using that newfangled low- or no-mow grass?

 

I know some of the stations are slated to be bigger, depending on the location.

 

There are also standard grade trees throughout the project, but neighborhoods were given the opportunity to customize/upgrade as the project passed through.  I know there has been an effort to significantly upgrade the tree calipers in University Circle by the institutions and community groups.

 

question: why has the RTA not updated their EuclidTransit.org site in forever???

Has anyone actually tried a BRT? I live in Pittsburgh now, and I use the East/MLK busway quite often...it's pretty cool...and fast too!

Has anyone actually tried a BRT? I live in Pittsburgh now, and I use the East/MLK busway quite often...it's pretty cool...and fast too!

 

Personally no but a friend who's at USC loves their Orange Line which I'm pretty certain is BRT.

Has anyone actually tried a BRT? I live in Pittsburgh now, and I use the East/MLK busway quite often...it's pretty cool...and fast too!

 

I've ridden the BRT in Ottawa, which is pretty heavily used since the city is pretty aggressive in planning and incentivizing TOD and transit-supportive uses along its route. The BRT west of downtown is in a long cut that was blasted out of solid rock and left the exposed rock along the walls. Station accessways descend from high-rise housing and street level to the BRT, which has a bus coming along it every few seconds (not an over-exaggeration - the buses sometimes stack up at the stations during rush hours). I read somewhere that Ottawa's transit system has the largest bus fleet in North America. You'd think NYC or Chicago would, but after my visit to Ottawa, I'm not surprised. I've never seen so many buses in my life.

 

It's a pretty impressive system for a metro area the size of Buffalo or Columbus.

Since we are in the mood for pictures today:

 

 

 

They have the pedestrian signaling poles in also.

 

And the bike lane signage (as well as other street signs)

 

Trees, lawn, plus irrigation

 

Cool.  In the last picture, the trees seem to be elm trees, in earlier pics they looked more like pears.  So looks like they are mixing it up a bit along the route, while keeping some consistency.     

^ Thanks for the update. It is looking pretty impressive thus far.

Cool.  In the last picture, the trees seem to be elm trees, in earlier pics they looked more like pears.  So looks like they are mixing it up a bit along the route, while keeping some consistency.     

 

I was hoping some of those were elms.  I know there are blight-resistent elms available now and am surprised I don't see more of them planted.  I'm a bit tired of honey locusts, bradford pears, lindens, etc....

Yes exactly.  I was initially hoping they would use something other than honey locusts along the route since they have been so overused downtown.  When I saw what seemd to be pears I was a little disappointed if thats all they used, but happy to see something like elms used.  They have recently been planting alot of elms here in D.C.  Mostly a variety called "Princeton", which is resistant to past problems while being a quick and uniform grower (They were planted along the re-done Pennsylvania avenue in front of the White House last year and already have nearly doubled in size)

Cant wait to have a look in person!!!       

Oh the linden tree is such a wonderful tree.Actually its the slovenian national tree,and i think Lausche and Vonoivich both pushed the tree when in power. 

 

 

Cool.  In the last picture, the trees seem to be elm trees, in earlier pics they looked more like pears.  So looks like they are mixing it up a bit along the route, while keeping some consistency.     

 

I was hoping some of those were elms.  I know there are blight-resistent elms available now and am surprised I don't see more of them planted.  I'm a bit tired of honey locusts, bradford pears, lindens, etc....

Facelift planned for Euclid Ave.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Susan Vinella and Henry J. Gomez

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

(Link to photos & map:http://www.cleveland.com/news/wide/index.ssf?landmarks.html

 

Cleveland plans to target five mostly vacant buildings along a downtown stretch of Euclid Avenue and invest millions of dollars to help ready them for new businesses, stores and condominiums.

 

..........

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/118362483674570.xml&coll=2

Musky:  Thanks for the pics.  I see they are using the same audible crosswalk buttons that they put on the Bagley boulevard project in Berea.  They are notorious for unreliability.  Every year at least two have to be replaced or repaired.  I hope the manufacturer worked the bugs out, otherwise the Cleveland is going to be replacing/repairing several per year along Euclid. 

 

As for trees-- there needs to be variety for practical reasons as well as aesthetic.  Planting too much of the same species invites infestations and blights that can wipe out large swaths of trees in an urban setting.  With respect to urban plantings, no species should account for more than 10% of the total and there shouldn't be large groups of the same species-- they should be mixed.  This is something that is routinely ignored by city planners everywhere.

 

There are dutch elm disease resistant elms.  I planted one in my front yard a few years ago, and it's growing like gangbusters-- about 4-6 feet per year. 

 

 

 

 

cleveland.com:

 

Traffic circles cut from Euclid Corridor plans

Posted by Sarah Hollander July 10, 2007 21:00PM

Categories: Breaking News

 

 

.........

RTA thinks it can finish by mid-2008, in time for the corridor's late-2008 deadline.

 

So a year from now it should be complete? Sounds good, hopefully there won't be any more delays.

 

Checked out the Euclid Corridor construction yesterday afternoon when I was in the area.  Construction seems to be moving at a good pace.  Another station has been erected, though I didn't check to see what the cross street is (next station from W. 40th).  The concrete bases appear to be completed for several stations, too.

 

What surprised me was all of the building renovation and construction going on, particularly east of Gallucci's. 

 

 

^Really.  How about some specifics.  I call the area between 55th and 79th the dead zone.

Checked out the Euclid Corridor construction yesterday afternoon when I was in the area.  Construction seems to be moving at a good pace.  Another station has been erected, though I didn't check to see what the cross street is (next station from W. 40th).  The concrete bases appear to be completed for several stations, too.

 

What surprised me was all of the building renovation and construction going on, particularly east of Gallucci's. 

 

 

 

W. 40th?  :?

Well, it's still kind of dead bet. E 55th and E. 65th, but beyond 65th is where I saw things happening.  I drove between E. 65th (Gallucci's) and that big round church (forget the name and what the cross street is too... sorry.  As many times as I've driven by there the past few years you'd think I'd remember!).  One building was a nice old brick one with a lot of wood trim. 

 

 

Has anyone actually tried a BRT? I live in Pittsburgh now, and I use the East/MLK busway quite often...it's pretty cool...and fast too!

 

I read somewhere that Ottawa's transit system has the largest bus fleet in North America. You'd think NYC or Chicago would, but after my visit to Ottawa, I'm not surprised. I've never seen so many buses in my life.

 

It's a pretty impressive system for a metro area the size of Buffalo or Columbus.

 

 

huh? where did the real kjp go?!?! please come back to us!  :wink:

 

ottawa bus fleet: 991

http://www.octranspo.com/admin/Facts_Figures/Facts_active.htm

 

nyc bus fleet: 5850 + various in queens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_models_used_in_New_York_City_Transit_and_MTA_Bus

 

Maybe the biggest in Canada?!?!  :oops: Sorry, but with age, I realize I'm starting to lose my ability to, um, what is it called? Memorize!

 

Ottawa's downtown WAS mobbed with buses.

Installation of the shelter near Fenn Tower:

 

 

 

I really like the stations I just wish the overhang was lower to help protect people from the elements.  Although most will argue, you're only standing out in the elements a few minutes as you wait your turn to board.

I agree .. but I really like the curved roof. It's a nice, clean look overall.

I agree .. but I really like the curved roof. It's a nice, clean look overall.

 

definitely!

reminds me of the cincinnati stations down by the river........

reminds me of the cincinnati stations down by the river........

 

..... in a van?  :laugh:

 

How did that girl get on a job site with sandles and shorts in the City of Cleveland?

I was wondering the same thing. I think she was there to help control traffic when the crane entered/left the site.

However, she was all over that other construction dude the whole time I was there.

I was scolded profusely for wandering into the construction zone one day when I was trying to find the entrance to the new administration building.  And I was wearing good sturdy shoes and pants!

Odd observation, but has anyone else noticed that the top part of every single lightpole along the Euclid Corridor is slightly off kilter? 

Visually line it up with the (hopefully) right angled side of a building, and you'll see it's not straight.

Maybe the buildings are crooked?  :-D 

Odd observation, but has anyone else noticed that the top part of every single lightpole along the Euclid Corridor is slightly off kilter? 

Visually line it up with the (hopefully) right angled side of a building, and you'll see it's not straight.

 

I noticed one of the poles in playhouse square. The rest of them seem fine.

Odd observation, but has anyone else noticed that the top part of every single lightpole along the Euclid Corridor is slightly off kilter? 

Visually line it up with the (hopefully) right angled side of a building, and you'll see it's not straight.

 

I noticed one of the poles in playhouse square. The rest of them seem fine.

 

there are quite a few along the corridor like this.  my guess is that the fiberglass poles aren't as straight as the old metal poles.

 

cleveland, by the way, is one of the largest users of the fiberglass lightpole.  unfortunately, none of them are made here, but in denver.  they are significantly less expensive, don't corrode (except for their base which is steel), and generally look exactly the same, and certainly better than a wood pole stuck in the ground in the middle of the city.

Just like the politicians. Crooked and lame

Would like to throw Calabrese out the door

 

 

Maybe the buildings are crooked?  :-D

The city where I grew up (Bay Village) used fiberglass poles I think. I'm assuming these are sturdier though, since a couple friends and I were screwing around swinging a light pole back and forth until SNAP. Clean through. Our only option was to run.

 

I sure hope the statute of limitations is up.

 

Euclid Corridor progress report

 

Posted by from staff reports August 12, 2007 06:15AM

 

Scott Shaw/The Plain Dealer

 

The construction mess from the Euclid Corridor project hasn't been easy for local businesses, drivers or pedestrians. Work has stalled on this section of Euclid Avenue, looking west from the 1100 block, since this June 27 photo.Stand on Euclid Avenue at East 40th Street and

see the future -- all-new sidewalks, streetlights,

trees and pavement, and a glass-enclosed passenger

station next to bus-only middle lanes.

 

Stretches of the seemingly interminable Euclid

Corridor Transportation Project sit nearly complete,

waiting to whisk riders between downtown

and University Circle.

 

After decades of talk and years of dirt and detours,

the evidence of progress may offer some relief.

But the changes may also trigger nagging

doubts. Is that it? Is this really worth all the trouble

and money?

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2007/08/euclid_corridor_progress_repor.html

 

Link to graphic 1:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/wide/index.ssf?euclid081207b.html

 

Graphic 2:

http://www.cleveland.com/news/wide/index.ssf?euclid081207a.html

 

 

 

^I see there are already two comments posted on the PD site about this article-- both negative.  And probably neither of them have actually checked out the project and seen the building renovation activity that has already begun along some parts of the corridor. 

Euclid Corridor project hard on businesses

Businesses on route trying to survive costly disruption

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Sarah Hollander

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

When RTA broke ground on the Euclid Corridor Project nearly three years ago, plenty of folks were smiling, but they also understood that road work is never painless.

 

Yet for many businesses along the route, the work has been worse than expected, with some reporting 50 percent to 80 percent drops in revenue for extended periods.

 

.............

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/118690794466450.xml&coll=2

No question, the BRT movement is growing across the country and, as much as I'm not a big fan, it does have a place in urban mass transit structure.  Pittsburgh, as the article notes, has had a form of it for years... The BIG difference here is that a) we have a rapid rail transit system and, b) we're using BRT in our central corridor where some type of subway -- as part of that rapid rail system -- should have been built... But that's behind us now.  It's tough to see businesses closing because of the construction -- I'm really sorry Best Gyros and Pizza (formerly Best Steak) has gone under -- I didn't know that it had closed but am not surprised; it would have really been a strong anchor for CSU's "college town" concept.  It always happens when subways are being built.  Always... The difference is, this isn't a subway and, yet, it seems the work is as drawn out (if not more so) and even messier than subway construction I've witnessed: in both D.C. and Baltimore.  I'm glad to see shelters going up right now and even I'm curious to see how ECP will turn out.  But I sure wish to hell RTA would hurry up and get this thing done and, even more so, better communicate with the public as to what it's doing (signs, regular reports on its website and in the PD, Sun papers and others) and when it's going to get done.

Ugh, I wish (and this is not directed at you clvlndr) that people would stop saying its dragging on. I mean from the jump it was a four year project and its only been three and some change. I could see if this was the end of year four or the middle of year five but come on. The street was in miserable condition. The old asphault and road bed is being COMPLETELY ripped up, regraded and poured as concrete, a much stronger material for roads. On top of all the decorations and bus stops, there is some century old infrastructure that is being discovered as needing to be replaced, so that adds time. I'd rather them do this right, then two months after it opens a steam pipe burst and all hell breaks loose. No one said this would be painless, but its neccessary. To summarize: this is a four year project, its been three and some change.

 

End rant.

I'm sure there are probably good reasons, but why the patchwork of various segments being completed at different times? E.g., what's with the random segment between e61 and e86 not getting done until November, while everything around it is already complete.

 

I think if they had proceeded in a more linear fashion it would help alleviate some of the perceived delays. I know for me personally it was miserable having a dirt pit outside my window for a month or two before they started pouring concrete. Meanwhile they were working like gangbusters a block away.

From peedee article,

The 7-mile route will feature bus-only median lanes with rumble strips and a distinctive pavement pattern meant to keep motorists away.

 

Does anyone know how this will look? My perception of the bus roadway was that it would be different from the regular car-lanes. But any graphic or rendering I have seen, both the bus and car lanes appear to be the same color and texture. I was hoping the bus-lane would look different. Any ideas?

I'm really sorry Best Gyros and Pizza (formerly Best Steak) has gone under -- I didn't know that it had closed but am not surprised; it would have really been a strong anchor for CSU's "college town" concept. 

 

Best Gyro and Pizza/Steak was going to close as part of College Town regardless of whether EC was underway or not.

I happen to be on Euclid at this very moment, the construction sucks; its not a good time to visit Cleveland. The windows of our hotel are filthy from the dust (and mapquest directions arn't worth a darn).

 

Any plans for these buildings?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look, I understand construction is a part of progress.  And ECP is progress.  I just think there needs/needed to be better communication as to when, where and how long construction should last.  That's why I think some people are upset.  And this is Euclid, mind you, the main street of Cleveland.

Look, I understand construction is a part of progress.  And ECP is progress.  I just think there needs/needed to be better communication as to when, where and how long construction should last.  That's why I think some people are upset.  And this is Euclid, mind you, the main street of Cleveland.

 

I see what you're saying, but at the same time there have been timelines released, like the one the PD printed yesterday. Are they supposed to put up signs every month stating when they think the project will be done? The truth is with any new construction that involves as much money and unknowns as this one, you can't be 100% about everything. Why put detailed timelines out when its likely dates will get pushed back? That's like shooting yourself in the foot, especially when the media is basically calling this a waste.

 

I happen to be on Euclid at this very moment, the construction sucks; its not a good time to visit Cleveland.

 

Yep, because Euclid Avenue is the only place to go in Cleveland.

mapquest directions? When you have locals here who (if they'd known you'd be coming) would be more than happy to give you directions around the construction? :roll:

 

"Yep, because Euclid Avenue is the only place to go in Cleveland."

 

It's true - it's the only street in the entire city. :roll:

Ink, I think that is a very disingenuous thing to say.  How can one project, as you put it, make the city so bad its to be avoided?

 

In regards to your hotels windows, take that up with the General Manager of the Holiday Inn.  I do recall reading that many property owners are waiting for the project to end so that they can clean the facade of their property.  I think that the cleaning of buildings is something the city address as they didn't want a "new" system running down Euclid and have riders looking at dirty, run-down or dilapidated buildings.

 

Those properties are discussed in other Cleveland related threads!