Alrighty, I decided to try out the new-fangled BRT line - the new RTA Healthline. I didn't go the whole route, but it's a huge improvement over the cramped, sluggish traditional bus route that it replaced. There were a few hiccups as far as timing (buses would bunch up) and the priority signaling but overall it's a great way to get between downtown and University Circle. I apologize in advance for some glare and reflections but I couldn't ask the driver to shut off all the lights ;-) Here are some of the sights along the way:

 

A nice view while I wait at the Public Square station:

 

The Park Building, undergoing rehab and conversion into condos:

 

Alright, off we go!

 

At East 9th, a quick peek of the detailing on the Cleveland Trust Rotunda:

 

The Hanna Building and USBank Center:

 

The soon-to-be-a-lot-emptier Jewish Community Federation (a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone) at East 18th:

 

Details of Trinity Cathedral at East 22nd:

 

The recently refurbished belltower of St. Paul Shrine at East 40th:

 

The venerable Cleveland Agora concert venue, near East 55th:

 

Detailing on the Agora facade:

 

The Baker Motors Building undergoing renovation at East 71st with the requisite union protestors:

 

The belltower of St. Agnes Church - all that remains of the church:

 

The Taussig Cancer Center at the Cleveland Clinic - designed by Pelli and Associates:

 

Alright, time to walk around - the Ireland Cancer Center construction site at Euclid and Cornell Road:

 

One more piece of structural steel for the construction:

 

Never mind this pedestrian crap, time to get "air time":

 

Steady...

 

Since there aren't too many cranes in the air around Cleveland, another pic will have to do:

 

CWRU's Village 115 in the foreground, the Bratenahl highrises in the background:

 

No, not cowbell - more SKYLINE!

 

Slab-o-riffic!

 

The art museum is looking great, even while under renovation:

 

Looking back over at University Hospitals:

 

Lots of sharp lines here:

 

Lots of curves over there:

 

Double dutch colonial?

 

Village 115, all LEED-certified, all the time!

 

Cleveland Institute of Art - nice re-use you got there:

 

Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, showing how you can build up the sidewalk and improve the urban fabric:

 

Brought to you by the fine folks at Zaremba!

 

Alright, party's over - time to head back downtown:

 

Oh what the heck, let's hop off and check out the "allee" at the Clinic. Oh, I'm happy to report there were no signs saying "Keep Off the Grass" - not that I would have obeyed them :-D

 

And at the opposite end of the spectrum, we have this poor beast awaiting reinvestment near East 55th:

 

The Willson tower over on Chester and East 55th:

 

Brickwork detailing at the Cleveland Masonic Hall at East 36th:

 

I believe it's the new education building at Cleveland State University:

 

Tallest academic building (but certainly not the prettiest) in Ohio:

 

I've got a GREAT... ;-)

 

Alright time to depart at East 6th Street:

 

And with that, I'll zoom zoom zoom my way outta here - hope you enjoyed!

 

Yay Cleveland! Those left me smiling!

I would have liked to see some more interior shots and shots of the stations/stops for the BRT.  The design looks nice, but I wonder about its long-term functionality.  When I was last there it looked like cars might often get confused and merge their way into the bus only area.  It also looked to have quite a bit of weaving in and out of stops for the buses.  These seem like things that could be remedied relatively easily and improve the functionality immensely.  The surrounding shots look great though, thanks.

That's life in the big city! Nice shots!

Forget David Bryne and his assessment of Euclid Avenue!  Those were AMAZING shots of the street...and sooooo many people out downtown!  Love it!  Thanks!

Huzza!!

awesome. i am loving the museum additions. wow.

 

Forget David Bryne and his assessment of Euclid Avenue! Those were AMAZING shots of the street...and sooooo many people out downtown! Love it! Thanks!

 

david byrne is a mayan ruin himself....& the rock hall has the big suit to prove it!  his blog blurb was such a typical boomer era assessment....lazy and uninformed.

 

Great photos!

Nice!!!

I'll echo Rob's comments. What I've seen done on other BRT's is plastic dividers (very cheap) being installed along the guide lines, to delineate bus and car traffic.

 

Does the BRT line lend to a future conversion to say... a streetcar route?

^I didn't pay too much attention to the route infrastructure but I don't think it would be too drastic to convert the Healthline into a streetcar route at some point.

It may be harder after 105th st because there are no dedicated lanes east of there.

Beautiful shots!

Forget David Bryne and his assessment of Euclid Avenue!  Those were AMAZING shots of the street...and sooooo many people out downtown!  Love it!  Thanks!

 

what was David Byrne's assessment of Euclid Avenue?  (link?)

btw, great shots, MayDay! 

Beautiful pics MayDay.  I gotta take me a ride on the Health Line this weekend.

Great pics!  I think I'll try that BRT line when I head up for Thanksgiving.

Nice shots of Cleveland, but BRT?  Ugh.  A bus by any other name...is still a bus.

Nice shots of Cleveland, but BRT?  Ugh.  A bus by any other name...is still a bus.

 

comeon SFSpike.  This project has been discussed here on UO for 3 years.  It's not something new.  It is what it is - A BRT.

 

And you've got to see it in person.  The stations look like Light Rail stations.  Its quite nice to me, although I haven't been on it yet.

What sort of station is at the East Cleveland end?  Do they just take the bus around the loop at the Stokes/Windmere station or did they build something for it to stop at?

I've seen BRTs in other cities....hate the idea. Just seems like rapid transit done on the cheap to me. Just my opinion....decided to come back and tone down my post!  :-D

 

They spend a bundle of money, tied up traffic for years to put a bus lane down the middle of the street for a few miles.  To me seems like throwing money away; a folly like the downtown pedestrian malls of the mid to late late 70s. Innovate, creative, jump on the band wagon urban planning at its worst.

 

I love the Key Tower shot.

 

Excellent series.  Yes, that is the new education building at CSU

I've seen BRTs in other cities....hate the idea. Just seems like rapid transit done on the cheap to me. Just my opinion....decided to come back and tone down my post! :-D

 

They spend a bundle of money, tied up traffic for years to put a bus lane down the middle of the street for a few miles. To me seems like throwing money away; a folly like the downtown pedestrian malls of the mid to late late 70s. Innovate, creative, jump on the band wagon urban planning at its worst.

 

 

Agreed, in general.  Though one advantage of it, which I've seen in action, is that it can easily re-route in situations that would shut down a rail line.  And near Case there may be too much traffic to lose 2 lanes completely to train tracks.  There is no alternative path for cars once Chester ends.

I've seen BRTs in other cities....hate the idea. Just seems like rapid transit done on the cheap to me. Just my opinion....decided to come back and tone down my post! :-D

 

They spend a bundle of money, tied up traffic for years to put a bus lane down the middle of the street for a few miles. To me seems like throwing money away; a folly like the downtown pedestrian malls of the mid to late late 70s. Innovate, creative, jump on the band wagon urban planning at its worst.

 

 

Agreed, in general. Though one advantage of it, which I've seen in action, is that it can easily re-route in situations that would shut down a rail line. And near Case there may be too much traffic to lose 2 lanes completely to train tracks. There is no alternative path for cars once Chester ends.

 

i agree too except i am still very happy about it as it was really more of a much needed/stealth street repair and beautification project. brt was just a side effect. whatever, more importantly it will attract redevelopment along a fixed up euclid avenue.....it already is. the new stations and busses do look sleek and cool too. so as for getting some good bang for the cheap buck it gets a big thumb's up.

 

 

Excellent!  (as usual) :)