I know it's "on" the shoreway somewhere, but where do you go to pick someone up?

I know it's "on" the shoreway somewhere, but where do you go to pick someone up?

 

The only way to get in there is to drive into the muni lot, then drive WEST on South Marginal toward the station.

 

There is a turn about area on the eastern side of the station. 

How helpful :roll:

 

rockandroller - it's a little convoluted, but I'll put together a group of maps together for you - give me a few minutes.

There are several ways to get in there. One is the way MTS said.

 

+ From I-71 northbound, I-77 northbound or I-90 eastbound:  exit at East 9th Street and go through downtown to the Shoreway (Route 2). Get on the eastbound ramp (sign says "to Euclid" I think), but don't get on the highway. Instead make an exit at the first right toward the municipal parking lot but don't enter through the gates. Go to South Marginal Road which parallels the Waterfront Line. Turn right on South Marginal toward downtown, go under East 9th, and then turn left into the Amtrak station.

 

+ From I-71 northbound, I-77 northbound or I-90 eastbound, exit at Ontario Street and go through downtown/Public Square. Turn left at St. Clair or Lakeside, then right on West Third. Take West Third to Route 2/West Shoreway and get on the eastbound entrance ramp. But instead of getting on the Shoreway, keep to the right as if you're heading to East 9th and keep your speed to less than 20 mph. Exit hard right into the Amtrak station.

 

+ From Route 2/West Shoreway eastbound (ie: from Lakewood):  Exit at East 9th Street but cross the lines on the pavement to get way over toward the the right side of the road. Slow rapidly to less than 20 mph. Exit hard right into the Amtrak station.

 

+ From I-90 westbound:  exit to Route 2 (Shoreway) for downtown and Lakewood. In other words don't go around Dead Man's Curve. Immediately after I-90 splits off to the left, exit to the right and take the ramp over the Shoreway. This exit ramp takes you to South Marginal Road and the muny parking lot. Turn right on South Marginal and follow it until just after it goes under East 9th Street. Go straight into the Amtrak station parking lot.

 

Happy motoring!

Talk about a prime example where visuals make all the difference... here you go, rockandroller.

 

Here's the overall map:

 

First and foremost, get on the Shoreway eastbound at West 3rd - or any entrance *west* of downtown (West 25th, West 45th by the Harp, etc.).

 

Follow the Shoreway eastbound to the off-ramp for the Muni Lot - this exit is just east of East 9th Street:

 

The off-ramp "becomes" a connector to South Marginal Road (note the parking gates for reference only). Make a RIGHT onto SOUTH MARGINAL ROAD:

 

Follow South Marginal Road past the Muni Lot and the North Point Garage - you'll drive under a pedestrian bridge, followed by East 9th, followed by the walkway to the Waterfront Line. Just past the walkway is the entrance to the Amtrak lot:

 

 

Isn't that what I said?  lol

Jeebus that's complicated.  At least I know where it is now too!  Can you access the Amtrak station from the E. 9th WFL stop?  Or do you really have to drive there?

^The only way to get there from the WFL is to follow the station's walkway to East 9th, then make a left out of the station, then a left onto the offramp from the Shoreway (there's a sidewalk).

From what I understand, the operator will stop at the Amtrak station on request.

 

It also looks like (from the provided image) there is a walkway from the E9th station West toward the Amtrak parking lot.  Is this true or is it blocked off somehow?

^The only way to get there from the WFL is to follow the station's walkway to East 9th, then make a left out of the station, then a left onto the offramp from the Shoreway (there's a sidewalk).

 

Wow, cause walking next to a wanna-be interstate is so safe for pedestrians....  Lame!  Thanks for the info tho.

MayDay, that's PERFECT!  You rock.  :banger:

Um, please note in the last image MayDay posted that ramp which makes all of that unnecessary -- if you are coming from the West Shoreway/West Third. I referred to the ramp in my description above. That ramp is visible in MayDay's aerial, between the last red arrow and the green highway signs bridging the Shoreway.

 

It greatly simplifies things!!!

 

And yes, you can ask the Waterfront Line train operator to stop at the Amtrak station walkway. Or you can stand on that walkway and wave the Waterfront Line train to a stop.

"Um, please note in the last image MayDay posted that ramp which makes all of that unnecessary -- if you are coming from the West Shoreway/West Third. I referred to the ramp in my description above. That ramp is visible in MayDay's aerial, between the last red arrow and the green highway signs bridging the Shoreway."

 

True, but:

1. It comes up on you really fast, especially if you're not familiar with the layout.

2. Most people presume that it's right by East 9th, when it's a good distance *before* it.

3. Most people who try to slow down to 20mph on the Shoreway get run off the road.

4. Most people who try to slow down to 20mph and then merge/yield to the two lanes of accelerating traffic (note the orange lines) trying to get on the Shoreway will see their lives justifiably flash before their eyes.

 

Thus, my recommendation for the slightly longer but sans hairpin curves, scary merges, etc. Mind you, if it's late at night without traffic (and Amtrak stops late, right?) the shorter route would be a lot easier and much less scary. :-)

 

I'm starting to think maybe it is time Cleveland re-did it's Amtrak station/setup.

 

I did ride it last month, and walking from E.9th to the station is about an unpedestrian friendly as you can get.  Note: To top i all off, the walk is even on a downward slant because of the hill.

 

Lastly, when I got to Penn Station in Baltimore, the station was completely surrounded by walkable residental, as well as a college campus.  I literally walked over and knocked on my friend's door two blocks from the train station.  I guess my point is, I love their setup compared to ours!

My girlfriend in high school lived in Boston, so I used this station once or twice a year in the mid-90s, leaving in the middle of the night and returning at the butt crack o' dawn.  My mom (the saint) would drop me off and pick me up each time.  Imagine her dismay on one occasion when she arrived on the morning of the Triathlon!  Everywhere she tried to go, cops were telling her she couldn't get through.  Eventually, she convinced an understanding officer that she NEEDed to get to her child (who was 16) at the station, so everything was all right.  So, that's my story.  I did manage to flag down the WFL once upon returning to Cleveland in those days.  A two-seat trip from Back Bay in Boston to my little nabe in Shaker Heights!

True, but:

1. It comes up on you really fast, especially if you're not familiar with the layout.

2. Most people presume that it's right by East 9th, when it's a good distance *before* it.

3. Most people who try to slow down to 20mph on the Shoreway get run off the road.

4. Most people who try to slow down to 20mph and then merge/yield to the two lanes of accelerating traffic (note the orange lines) trying to get on the Shoreway will see their lives justifiably flash before their eyes.

 

WUSS!!! All other cars on the road are merely "mobile slalom pylons"!  :police:

was there ever consideration of having a multi-modal facility by combining the waterfront line e9 station with amtrak?  it seems like a perfect opportunity to combine facilities.

Yes, but not specifically at that location. RTA commissioned a study of it at the same time they developed plans for the West Third Street station. The "North Coast Transportation Center" would have looked something like this:

 

and to think something like that probably would be built....but only if the old convention center comes back into play again.