June 24, 201014 yr ... btw, the Van Sweringens, in the 1920s, projected much of today's Red Line as the spine/starter line of their county-wide system of rapid transit ... and it was the only one where any work actually materialized beyond the up 'n running Shaker lines... But their plan was for the Western leg to stretch westerly thru Lakewood to downtown Rocky River, and not dogleg southwest toward the Airport, as it now does.
July 15, 201014 yr LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE & WESTSHORE COMMUTER RAIL TASK FORCE ANNOUNCEMENT Grant Approved for Phase I Alternatives Analysis!! GREAT NEWS!!! The Federal Transportation Administration has approved the grant for $428,750 to pay for Phase I of the WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Alternatives Analysis Phase I!! Since shortly after its establishment in 1996, the Lorain County Community Alliance (LCCA) has been actively involved in seeking to identify and implement cost effective regional transportation investments that will speed travel and improve multi-county access and mobility within the WestShore Corridor. This Transportation Project is centered at the City of Lorain in Lorain County, Ohio and extends west to Sandusky, Ohio in Erie County and east to Cleveland, Ohio in Cuyahoga County. Alternatives Analysis Phase I will study a range of alternatives including: no build, TSM, road improvements, express bus, bus and rail rapid transit and commuter rail. Thank you to Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Federal Transportation Administration, Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County Community Alliance, WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force, NOACA, Lake Erie Shores & Islands, City of Avon, Lorain Port Authority, Cleveland Alliance, RTA, All Aboard Ohio!, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, and the many individuals and organizations who continue to move this project forward! Check FACEBOOK for the complete list of supporters and current updates. Follow along on FACEBOOK and Twitter and participate in discussion on this exciting project. FACEBOOK at WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force and Twitter at Twitter.com/WCRTF Coming soon….. WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Website: www.ridewestshore.com Feel free to contact Dr. Hintz or myself if you have any questions.
July 15, 201014 yr Here's how the funding breaks down, especially for the local funding partners.... NOACA $ 34,600 Lake Erie Shores & Islands 10,000 GCRTA 5,000 City of Avon 5,000 Lorain Port Authority 5,000 Downtown Cleveland Alliance 5,000 West Shore Rail Task Force 3,800 ______ Subtotal $ 68,400 In-Kind Contribution $ 17,350 (non-Federal amount of projected staff hours) ______ Total Local Contribution $ 85,750 (20% of total) Total Federal Contribution $ 343,000 (80% of total) Total For Phase 1 of Alternatives Analysis: $428,750 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 15, 201014 yr LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE & WESTSHORE COMMUTER RAIL TASK FORCE ANNOUNCEMENT Grant Approved for Phase I Alternatives Analysis!! GREAT NEWS!!! The Federal Transportation Administration has approved the grant for $428,750 to pay for Phase I of the WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Alternatives Analysis Phase I!! Since shortly after its establishment in 1996, the Lorain County Community Alliance (LCCA) has been actively involved in seeking to identify and implement cost effective regional transportation investments that will speed travel and improve multi-county access and mobility within the WestShore Corridor. This Transportation Project is centered at the City of Lorain in Lorain County, Ohio and extends west to Sandusky, Ohio in Erie County and east to Cleveland, Ohio in Cuyahoga County. Alternatives Analysis Phase I will study a range of alternatives including: no build, TSM, road improvements, express bus, bus and rail rapid transit and commuter rail. Thank you to Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Federal Transportation Administration, Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County Community Alliance, WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force, NOACA, Lake Erie Shores & Islands, City of Avon, Lorain Port Authority, Cleveland Alliance, RTA, All Aboard Ohio!, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, and the many individuals and organizations who continue to move this project forward! Check FACEBOOK for the complete list of supporters and current updates. Follow along on FACEBOOK and Twitter and participate in discussion on this exciting project. FACEBOOK at WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force and Twitter at Twitter.com/WCRTF Coming soon….. WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Website: www.ridewestshore.com Feel free to contact Dr. Hintz or myself if you have any questions. THAT'S GREAT NEWS!!! Now we have funding for the Cleveland-Lorain Alternative analysis, Funding for Cincinnati streetcar, $25 m for 3-C analysis (w/poss $375 m to come) and maybe something good might happen with the Cuyahoga Valley line...we might be seeing the dawn of a new age on Ohio. Could it be??? :-D
July 16, 201014 yr RTA says proposed Cleveland Warehouse District transit center would include residential and business development Published: Friday, July 16, 2010, 5:00 AM Updated: Friday, July 16, 2010, 7:25 AM Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA hopes to build a Warehouse District transit center tied to retail, residential and business development. The project, which could draw on federal funds targeted for such developments, would be part of a new neighborhood promoting the use of public transportation to stimulate economic growth. ... For the rest of the article, see: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/rta_says_proposed_warehouse_di.html
July 16, 201014 yr Here are my questions: 1. What are the current drawbacks of using Public Square as an open-air transit facility? Is the goal to create an indoor depot? 2. If they obtain a large parking lot to do this, what happens to the parking spaces lost? Do we just have to deal with it? 3. Do I really want a huge bus depot right next to our party zone? 4. Doesn't the WHD already have adequate access to rail by way of the waterfront line? I know this is ludicrous because nobody uses that train, but I think that just goes to show that most WHD residents just -don't- (or -can't-) use public transportation on a daily basis. WHD doesn't strike me straight off as being underserved by public transportation. Most of the residents there either can walk to work downtown or are forced to drive out to Beachwood or Lakewood because taking the bus would require upwards of 45 minutes' extra walking time through dead neighborhoods to get to work. The real trouble is service. If the bus doesn't get me to near where I need to go, there's no number of fancy facilities that will entice me to use it short of offering free drinks on the bus (and even then, I don't want to be drunk when I get to work...) I think this study will find that not very many people would consider using the bus if it were one block closer or had a heated waiting facility. But we'll see... However, I acknowledge the benefits. I would certainly rather walk past a bus depot (perhaps with some built-in street retail spots...) than a parking lot on my way from Tower City to the WHD. With the energy that is accumulating at both lower Euclid and the WHD, though, I think it might waste some potential synergies between these areas to take up an entire superblock with an indoor transit facility, especially if it is a standalone building without any non-transit attractions. These problems can definitely be mitigated by proper planning. RTA needs to avoid creating deadspots on the street like that entire mess of City Hall, CMSD, the library, the Fed and the courthouse does right in what is supposed to be the center of the city. Edit: Ahh, just saw that they plan mixed-use development. Well, if the RTA can force it to happen with federal funds, that would be pretty desirable considering no one wants to touch those parking lots. I'm looking forward to the plans. Or does Crain's detail them? I don't have a subscription, so I can't read the article.
July 17, 201014 yr Plus the preliminary engineering on the Cleveland intermodal hub, lest we forget! Plus renewed interest in Cleveland-Akron-Canton commuter rail, the Columbus streetcar and who knows what's gonna happen with the Cincinnati Eastern Corridor! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 17, 201014 yr I think RTA should take over the parking lot and build the center using federal funds, then abandon it as a transit facility then move on to the next surface parking lot in the WHD. :-D But seriously, I believe RTA has to use a federally funded capital asset for 20 years otherwise it has to partially reimburse the feds for the un-depreciated amount. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 17, 201014 yr Fingers and toes are crossed. This boy has waited a lifetime for this...literally! 8-)
July 18, 201014 yr If the city/county want to make public square more park like and link it to the malls I think moving the buses, sans the health line of public square is a great start. I dont see anything wrong with building a structure, I'll say similar to the port authority bus terminal, with ground level retail that hences the HWD.
July 18, 201014 yr how difficult would it be to link the underground TC station with both East/West bus transit hubs?
July 18, 201014 yr With what kind of linkage? Pedestrian? Bus? Rail? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 18, 201014 yr With what kind of linkage? Pedestrian? Bus? Rail? how difficult would it be to link the underground TC station with both East/West bus transit hubs? Good question KJP, connecting TC to the Westside hub should be easy, granted I dont know what is under Superior. I'm thinking things could be linked via the old Shaker Terminal. The Eastside transit terminal is on 21 street. That is a whole different set of issues.
July 20, 201014 yr The Eastside transit terminal is on 21 street. That is a whole different set of issues. *cough* waterfront line extension *cough*
August 8, 201014 yr The Stephanie Tubbs Jones transit center is coming along nicely: clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
August 8, 201014 yr The Stephanie Tubbs Jones transit center is coming along nicely: When is the expected completion date?
September 11, 201014 yr NOTE THAT THESE START THIS COMING TUESDAY!! News from Lorain County September 7, 2010 Three Public Meetings Hosted to Discuss the Westshore Corridor Transportation Project GREATER CLEVELAND – Lorain County, Lorain County Transit (LCT) and the Westshore Commuter Rail Task Force (WCRTF), in cooperation with communities in Lorain County, Erie County and Cuyahoga County, will hold three public meetings to introduce people to the Westshore Corridor Transportation Project (WCTP) and solicit valuable feedback on potentially developing a public transit-based solution for the transportation needs of the Westshore corridor—one of the most heavily used and traveled corridors in Ohio. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings. Meeting details are listed below: Cuyahoga County—September 14, 2010 St. John Medical Center (29000 Center Ridge Road) Building Two, First Floor, Auditorium B 29101 Health Campus Drive Westlake, OH 44145 6-8 pm Lorain County—September 15, 2010 Black River Landing 421 Black River Lane Lorain, OH 44052 6-8 pm Erie County—September 16, 2010 Erie County Administration Building 3rd Floor Commissioner’s Chambers 2900 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, OH 44870 6-8 pm WCTP seeks to address the lack of public transportation options for travel in this popular metropolitan region. The need for improvements is based on several factors including limited public transit options for inter-county travel, highway traffic congestion, the need to increase economic and sustainable development along the corridor and the need to enhance and preserve the natural environment with all the potential enhancements along the anticipated public transit corridor. Public comments will be accepted through (September 24, 2010) at ([email protected]). "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 14, 201014 yr Today's the first of three meetings this week to provide input on the WestShore Corridor. If you support commuter rail or a lighter-weight rail transit vehicle on the existing rail corridors, these maps show what is possible..... Routing options to downtown Cleveland are dependent on the vehicle chosen for this service, assuming commuter rail is the locally preferred option.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 15, 201014 yr I attended the public meeting last night in Cleveland. The presentation by the study contractor helped me to understand the purpose and scope of the project, and there was some good discussion afterward, but turnout was pretty low. This study boils down to the fact that the eventual commuter transportation selection could be eligible for federal funding for up to 50% of infrastructure costs. I'm all for it, although what I really want (rail rapid through Lakewood) is kind of out of scope for this project. Here are some links to more info. I recommend taking the survey since it will help guide the contractor in the study! West Shore Commuter Rail Survey: http://surveymonkey.com/s/wctp FacebooK http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FWestShore-Commuter-Rail-Task-Force%2F127439217285152&ei=gueQTLOjA4menQeawNy0DA&usg=AFQjCNFgvCWWkF6KPc3jEs144vdI12Tlxw&sig2=wh9Grfsg12GOkGAA0GToyQ Website (not active yet?) http://www.ridewestshore.com/
September 17, 201014 yr Also, here's the West Shore powerpoint presentation (2mb).... http://freepdfhosting.com/a7857a0929.pdf "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 17, 201014 yr ^Thanks KJP for the info and birdtree for your report about the meeting. I agree with birdtree: costs aside (ha!) lighter vehicle service direct to Tower City (with more than one Lakewood Stop) would be awesome. I can't imagine service to NCH with commuter trains, stop distance and scheduling would even come close in terms of ridership.
September 18, 201014 yr wow; corridors 1, 6 and 7 would be so amazing and seem so long overdue... didn't some of these routes exist as passenger service at one time or another? i think it'd be fantastic if NCH was the train station opening into the mall. there was some kind of contest a while ago for trains station designs in front of the mall and every one was just amazing. i'll try to find pictures...
November 5, 201014 yr Existing Conditions Report https://ftp.pbworld.com/GetFile.aspx?fn=413429603.zip "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 9, 201014 yr November 9, 2010 Dear Westshore Transit Supporter: The Westshore Corridor Transportation Project (WCTP) is currently under review by our region's transportation planning agency (NOACA) for inclusion in the Cleveland metro area's long term plan and for possible inclusion in the region's Transportation Improvement Program (i.e., projects with priority for funding). The WCTP was presented to NOACA's Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) as an information item on October 15. The WCTP will be on the TAC's November 19 agenda for action and if recommended by the TAC, the WCTP will be presented to the Governing Board for action on December 10, 2010. The WCTP sponsors are asking that you register your support for this project NOW before the November 19 meeting of the TAC. To register your support for including the WCTP in the region's transportation plan and investment strategy, please go to the following website: http://www.noaca.org/westshorecorridor.html and scroll down to the bottom If you represent a local government, please click on the Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): in the email link and send your comments If you are a member of the public, please click on the Public Involvement Section and indicate your comments. Lorain County Community Alliance will be presenting all letters of support previously received from stakeholders in Westshore Corridor; however your additional support would be most helpful. Thank you in advance for your help. Sincerely, Jeanette Corlett Task Force Advisor "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 11, 201014 yr FYI.... -----Original Message----- From: LCT Director [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 11:29 AM To: LCT Director Subject: Public Hearings on Potential New Lorain County Funding Friends of Public Transportation in Lorain County: I was recently informed that the Lorain County Commissioners will hold three public hearings to take feedback on services that should be prioritized to receive additional funding should an emergency tax be put in place. These meetings will provide an opportunity for anyone wanting to speak on behalf of restoring, or adding new, Lorain County Transit service with any funds that could be made available for that purpose. Obviously, the more people who attend and speak out in favor of new funding for public transportation, the greater the chance that it could happen. These funds might also make possible continued work on the WestShore Corridor Transportation Study, so advocates for that project should also attend and be heard. Unless the hearing locations are otherwise published, the three public hearings will take place where the Commissioners hold their regular meetings, 4th Floor, County Admin. Building, 226 Middle Ave., Elyria on: Wed. Dec. 8 10am and 6pm Wed. Dec. 15 10am Only. Please share this information with all organizations and individuals you're associated with as you see fit. . Thanks. Hope to see you at one of the hearings! Richard Enty Coordinator, WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Member, Lorain County Transportation Coalition "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 12, 201014 yr Local rail plans on track: John Kasich not talking about Westshore Corridor project Published: Friday, November 12, 2010 By RICHARD PAYERCHIN [email protected] ELYRIA — A new commuter rail service across northern Ohio is not the same as the high speed rail line under fire from Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich, a local supporter of the Westshore Corridor Transportation project said. The Lorain County Commission this week approved a memorandum of understanding to continue work on the Westshore Corridor Transportation Project, a possible commuter rail line running between Sandusky and Cleveland. The project is entirely different from the 3C high speed railroad between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, a $400 million program in the engineering phases, Erie County Commissioner Bill Monaghan said. READ MORE AT: http://morningjournal.com/articles/2010/11/12/news/mj3656104.txt "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 3, 201014 yr Any chance of this option being done in the future with a light rail rapid train? If so would it be run as extension of one of the Shaker lines or as a separate route? How feasible would it be to run a light rail out to Lorain? Personally I like the idea of using the NS Mainline route since you could have a station serving Edgewater Park and Gordan Square, which is currently not the case.
December 12, 201014 yr OUR VIEW: West Shore commuter rail line is deserving of Kasich’s support Published: Sunday, December 12, 2010 The Obama administration wasted little time playing a game of sour grapes by taking $1.12 billion in high-speed rail money away from Ohio and Wisconsin. No doubt because the incoming Republican governors, Ohio’s John Kasich and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, strongly opposed the bloated stimulus-funded rail projects. They wanted the money put to better uses, but Obama snatched it away to waste elsewhere. Last week, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the $310 million formerly for Ohio for passenger train service connecting Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, and the $810 million for Wisconsin for a high-speed rail corridor between Madison and Milwaukee would be given to other states. READ MORE AT: http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/12/12/opinion/mj3826497.txt "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 12, 201014 yr That is one homer filled article. If only Obama would have let John use the money on other projects. He would clearly have used that money to fund the West Shore line. :drunk: :roll:
December 17, 201014 yr 12/17/2010 Sonoma-Marin agency awards DMU contract to Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo On Wednesday, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) board approved the purchase of 18 diesel multiple units (DMUs) from Sumitomo Corp. of America and its car builder partner Nippon Sharyo for $56.8 million. The diesel multiple units are slated for delivery between 2013's end and mid-2014. The contract includes an option that would enable SMART and its partner agencies to purchase up to 146 cars. SMART expects to begin building an initial segment of a commuter-rail line between Santa Rosa and Marin, Calif., next year. The agency plans to construct a 70-mile line between Cloverdale and Larkspur at an estimated cost of $695 million. Because of a funding shortfall, SMART currently is pursuing only the initial segment. The line could be extended south to Larkspur and north to Cloverdale if funding becomes available between 2016 and 2018. READ MORE AT: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article/SonomaMarin-agency-awards-DMU-contract-to-SumitomoNippon-Sharyo--25285 and http://sonomamarintrain.org/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 18, 201014 yr This is the downtown Cleveland station site proposed for WestShore commuter trains, which can also bring other trains along with them -- "re-unionizing" Cleveland Union Terminal! The consultant (PB) is proposing to built the west approach on a bridge over Canal Road. I propose relocating Canal Road... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 18, 201014 yr I like that proposal much more than the North Coast station... Does RTA/Amtrak/other public entity own any rights to what's shown as the station area? If not, does the casino pretty much knock this proposal off the table?
December 18, 201014 yr ^^While I am not very up to date on this proposal, I am a bit perplexed. This is where the casino is going.
December 18, 201014 yr ^^While I am not very up to date on this proposal, I am a bit perplexed. This is where the casino is going. I assume this is under the casino. Remember the old Shaker Rapid station is still in existence.
December 18, 201014 yr Yes, it would be under the casino. But I don't know if WestShore interests have reached out to Dan Gilbert. The old Shaker platforms are on the wrong side. The shared light/heavy rail Rapid station would have to be relocated to the Shaker platforms and the railroad station relocated to the current Rapid station. To reduce start-up costs, the WestShore service may start with trains operating from Lorain to the West Boulevard station where a cross-platform connection to the Red Line would be made. That might also qualify WestShore for FTA "small starts" funding (max $75 million federal funds) and therefore also reduce its federal pre-construction planning requirements. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 18, 201014 yr ^Could DMUs ever just cross onto the Red Line tracks and take them all the way in to Tower City? Or would diesel be a no no in the Tower City station/ track sharing be impossible? Reconfiguring Tower City sounds expensive. Yes, it would be under the casino. But I don't know if WestShore interests have reached out to Dan Gilbert. Unless rights are already secured, I guess I'm just pretty pessimistic that this has much of a chance. I don't know why Gilbert would hand over this kind of space unless it was for a lot of money. Especially considering his concerns about parking capacity. But man would it be awesome to have our rail hub be back at Tower City. Not for nostalgic reasons, but for practical planning reasons.
December 18, 201014 yr Given Gilbert's funding of the Detroit light-rail project, perhaps he already understands the importance of rail access? I'm just guessing though, because I don't know if he's been contacted yet. Look at all the potential modes that can be brought into this site. It could be pursued as an ARC (accessing region's core) project. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 18, 201014 yr Yes, it would be under the casino. But I don't know if WestShore interests have reached out to Dan Gilbert. The old Shaker platforms are on the wrong side. The shared light/heavy rail Rapid station would have to be relocated to the Shaker platforms and the railroad station relocated to the current Rapid station. To reduce start-up costs, the WestShore service may start with trains operating from Lorain to the West Boulevard station where a cross-platform connection to the Red Line would be made. That might also qualify WestShore for FTA "small starts" funding (max $75 million federal funds) and therefore also reduce its federal pre-construction planning requirements. Good point, I forgot the SR station is on the interior (north) of the current station.
December 18, 201014 yr ^Could DMUs ever just cross onto the Red Line tracks and take them all the way in to Tower City? Or would diesel be a no no in the Tower City station/ track sharing be impossible? Reconfiguring Tower City sounds expensive. Sorry, I forgot, you've answered this question for me like 6 times already. I remember now that you can't mix weight classes on the same tracks, so any vehicle that shares track with freight trains can't then switch to tracks shared with the Red Line. For cost and operational reasons, I think a great mid-term solution would be negotiating a time separation on the proposed west shore route between freight and transit (as KJP has suggested many times before), and then running dual power diesel/electric equipment that can use the existing Red Line track, catenary and even some or all of the stations east of the West Blvd station. I have no idea how feasible it is to negotiate this kind of deal with the freight operator though, so maybe pie in the sky. Just seems like fussing with Tower City would add a ton of cost per passenger. And allowing one seat ride all the way to Tower City would draw much higher ridership than either one seat to north coast or two seats to Tower City. This wouldn't allow Amtrak or 3 C all the way into Tower City, though, so I know it's not a perfect long term plan.
December 19, 201014 yr Exactly. See this description of the NJT's RiverLine which is a reasonable operational model for the WestShore service. Note that it is operated by a private corporation (Bombardier) for NJT, and it has a time-share agreement with Conrail Shared Assets (CSX & Norfolk Southern).... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Line_(New_Jersey_Transit) "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 19, 201014 yr I love the idea of the WestShore commuter rail line going to Tower City. Now....continue it Eastward on Huron Rd. to E9th St, head North on E9th (coordinated with the "9/12 District" efforts), then Eastward along the path of the previously proposed extension on the Waterfront Line. From E9th Eastward it could be the "EastShore" Line.
December 19, 201014 yr Now....continue it Eastward on Huron Rd. to E9th St, head North on E9th (coordinated with the "9/12 District" efforts), then Eastward along the path of the previously proposed extension on the Waterfront Line. From E9th Eastward it could be the "EastShore" Line. Um, no. I think you're confusing Commuter Rail with Light Rail.
December 19, 201014 yr It can be extended east to University Circle and Lake County over the NS's former NKP line (the same route it would use on the west side). But according to studies from 10 years ago, the east-side alignment with the highest ridership potential is the route out to North Randall, Solon and Aurora. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 23, 201014 yr Intial screening results show these are top-ranking alternatives in terms of cost-effectiveness.... 1. Lorain to Tower City RAIL 2. Lorain to Public Square BUS 3. Lorain to Lakefront Station BUS 4. Lorain to Westlake Park-n-Ride BUS 5. Sandusky to Lakefront Station BUS 6. Vermilion to West Blvd RAIL 7. Sandusky to West 117th Rapid BUS 8. Sandusky to Westlake Park-n-Ride BUS 9. Sandusky to Public Square BUS 10. Lorain to West Blvd RAIL An idea being circulated is to go after a commuter rail service starting with Lorain to West Blvd to connect with the Rapid, costing $63.6 million. Then add access to Tower City Center as part of a second project with the CVSR and possibly even Amtrak. The WestShore commuter rail access to Tower City Center is estimated at $32.5 million, but that cost would increase if CVSR and especially if Amtrak access were included. It's still early but the fact that a rail component ranked thus far as the #1 most cost-effective alternative is encouraging. But that still means non-federal capital construction funding of 20 percent would have to be found, along with a source for ongoing operating subsidies. I do not yet know what those numbers are. And there's still more analysis to do.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 8, 201114 yr i would love to see amtrak going into our union station. but how would the amtrak trains get into tower city? if i had to guess it would make sense to have the upstate trains switch in euclid to the (former nickel plate?) tracks that eventually become the red line. but where would the pennsylvania trains connect? and then how would they get back onto their route on the west? also, i've never seen this, but is the waterfront line ever coordinated with amtrak service? i've always gotten into cleveland around 3am and nothing is awake. but seems like if the NCH was ever really used as a train station the waterfront line would be a fantastic shuttle between tower city and NCH... so i guess this is also a question of whether or not amtrak will ever give cleveland daytime service too!
January 9, 201114 yr Cyclovert, your question is a topic for the following thread, where the first part of your question was already asked and answered: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,11674.0.html The second part is best posted at either one of these threads: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,4504.0.html http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2068.0.html The Waterfront Line is a special event and tourist rail line. The rest of the GCRTA rail system operates from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. So the hours that GCRTA's rail system is NOT operating are the hours that Amtrak is serving Cleveland. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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