U.S. Department of Transportation Commits $82.2 Million for Cleveland Revitalization Project

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today signed a funding agreement providing $82.2 million toward construction of the Euclid Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project in Cleveland, OH. The action on behalf of the Bush Administration came during a signing ceremony that also included a groundbreaking with U.S. Senator George Voinovich, Governor Bob Taft and others.

The project is an integral part of Cleveland’s strategic plan to revitalize the Euclid Corridor and bring more jobs, economic activity and residents to the area, Secretary Mineta said during the ceremony.

“The Euclid Corridor bus rapid transit project is one of the top transit priorities for the Administration this year,” said Secretary Mineta. “In a city that is almost synonymous with urban renaissance and rebirth comes a new, state-of-the-art bus rapid transit line that will breathe new life into the area.”

The Euclid Corridor transportation project is a BRT system that will run along Euclid Avenue from Public Square in downtown Cleveland to the Stokes-Windermere Rapid Transit Station in East Cleveland.

“I can think of no city that demonstrates better than Cleveland how transportation is moving the local economy,” Secretary Mineta said.

The City of Cleveland has targeted the corridor for a number of economic development initiatives that will produce 32,000 new jobs and 17,000 new residents in the corridor during the next 20 years, he said. The BRT will serve 39,000 daily riders by 2025.

The Department is currently considering a request to waive guidelines governing the distribution of federal funds to certain types of minority- and female-owned businesses involved in the Euclid Corridor BRT project. At present, no decision has been made on the request.

This state-of-the-art transportation system is expected to help local leaders achieve their goals of improved transportation and economic growth. Secretary Mineta noted that the project could generate up to $700 million in new housing and retail construction.

BRT is a state-of-the-art bus system that incorporates exclusive lanes and intelligent transportation systems to aid in increased speeds, decreased travel times and more user-friendly service. The total cost for the project is $168.4 million. Today’s federal commitment of $82.2 million represents nearly 50 percent of the total project cost.