Opportunity Corridor planning process maintains momentum

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Cleveland, Ohio—Much progress has been made on the Opportunity Corridor transportation and economic development project.
The project’s Steering Committee has identified a single Recommended Preferred Alternative based on input from the City of Cleveland, Community Development Corporations, neighborhood stakeholders, steering committees, businesses, and the public. It anticipates construction of a boulevard-type road with:

  • Traffic signals and a wide median
  • Pedestrian and bicycle paths
  • Tree lawns and landscaping
  • Access to RTA bus and rapid transit

The alternative, presented at three public meetings at the end of July, included updated renderings of the boulevard cross-section, featuring a depressed center median, additional design elements, and a proposed reduction in travel lanes from a total of six to four. Although the number of lanes is less than previously anticipated, the final amount will not be determined until the calculated future traffic volumes are confirmed.

City of Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Partnership consultants are continuing to identify the best community and economic development opportunities along the Corridor. They also will provide the estimated economic impact that these improvements will generate for the city, county, and region.

With the Recommended Preferred Alternative selected, traffic analysis and environmental studies will be conducted and additional public hearings held before a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision are produced during 2012. The project will then seek federal approval and necessary additional funding before development planning and right-of-way acquisition gets under way in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Construction could start as early as 2016.

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