ClevelandDesignCity

“But, with ‘transit managers predicting growth of 5 percent or more this year, the largest increase in at least a decade,’ RTA, regional transportation managers and the region at large will have some decisions on how to meet the demand increase. With the cost of liquid fuels rising, RTA has already decided to move more bus passengers to its light rail lines (RTA trains marked a 9% increase last year). How much will the increase in rail ridership prime the real estate market and drive consumer demand for transit-oriented development?

With some of the largest increases reported in the Times coming on commuter rail, expect pressure to mount for reuse existing freight lines like the current effort by a number of West side communities to run a Lorain-to-Cleveland rail service. All Aboard Ohio, rail advocates who are facilitating the Lorain-Cleveland working group, note the benefits of commuter rail include, ‘One three-car train removes 450 cars from the roads.’…” (go to article)