CLEVELAND -- Officials of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will host a public meeting on Monday, Dec. 16, to discuss an environmental assessment report for a proposed transit center near Cleveland State University.

The proposed site of the transit center, at Prospect Avenue and East 21st Street, is across the street from the CSU Convocation Center. It would be part of the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project. This location has a very high concentration of CSU students, transit users and transit service. More than 100 buses operate in this area during peak hours

The meeting will be held in Room 301 in CSU's University Center, 2121 Euclid Ave. The open house starts at 6:30 p.m., with a presentation at 7 p.m. Public comments will be taken at 7:30 p.m.

The environmental assessment compares various potential social, economic, environmental and transportation impacts of building the center vs. not building the center. Cost estimates for the center are in the $14 million-$18 million range. The hearing is required by the National Environmental Protection Act.

RTA staff will present details of the project, as well as findings of the environmental assessment. If you require special accommodations at the public meeting, call Lucy Anderson, 216-566-5129.

Project Description

RTA officials say the center will eliminate the need for on-street bus layovers and will increase pedestrian access to public transit, as they can travel and connect seamlessly through local, circulator, intercommunity, regional and downtown transit-oriented services. The center will offer direct, convenient transfers and the minimize waiting times between connections in the Euclid Corridor, regular bus routes in transit zones and rapid transit stations.

The transit center will operate very much like an airport waiting area. It will include an off-street bus loop, area for turning, staging, layover, automated passenger information RTA's service, and passenger boarding and alighting. The centers will also include climate-controlled buildings where passengers can wait comfortably in a secure environment. The center may also include commercial retail space.

Construction will require some property acquisition, and some structures may have to be demolished.. Work will be coordinated with the CSU, the City of Cleveland, and prospective developers. The design will be sensitive to existing buildings and meet historic preservation guidelines.

Design and property acquisition are scheduled to begin next year. Construction could begin in mid-2004 and take 9-12 months.

If you cannot attend the hearing

Copies of the environmental assessment report can be viewed at:

* RTA's Main Office Building, 1240 W. Sixth St.

* CSU Rhodes Tower, 1860 E. 22nd St.

* Public Administration Library, Cleveland Public Library, City Hall Rotunda, 601 Lakeside Ave.

* Cleveland Public Library, Main Building, 325 Superior Ave.

* Carnegie West branch, Cleveland Public Library, 1900 Fulton Road

* Jefferson Branch, Cleveland Public Library, 850 Jefferson Ave.

* Sterling Branch, Cleveland Public Library, 220 E. 30th St.

* Brooklyn Branch, Cuyahoga County Library, 4480 Ridge Road.

* Beachwood Branch, Cuyahoga County Library, 25501 Shaker Blvd.

Written comments should be sent to Maribeth Feke, Director of Planning, RTA, 1240 W. Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113. All comments received by Jan. 13, 2003, will be part of the official record.

To request a copy of the environmental assessment, send a letter to Feke at the above address, or send e-mail to mfeke@gcrta.org.

RTA background

RTA's mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region by providing outstanding, cost-effective public transportation services. RTA's 2,740 employees operate 758 buses on 1,100 route miles, and 108 rail cars on 34 miles of track. Revenue from a one percent countywide sales tax makes up more than 70 percent of RTA's $230 million operating fund. Passenger fares generate 20 percent, and the other 10 percent comes from federal and state funds, and transit advertising. In 2001, more than 58.2 million passengers rode RTA's trains, buses, Community Circulators and paratransit vehicles.