1. 2011 ULI FALL MEETING
and
URBAN LAND EXPO
Jason Hellendrung
Principal, Sasaki Associates
Intro: Euclid Avenue, Cleveland
The Euclid HealthLine BRT Project
Partnerships for Realization

2. Euclid Avenue
1850 – 1910
The second most beautiful
street in America next to Fifth
Avenue in NY
Millionaire's Row or
Prosperity Street
260 grand residences lined
the street, including homes
for Jeptha Wade (Union
Telegraph), John Rockefeller
(Standard Oil), and Andrew
Brush (General Electric)

3. Euclid Avenue
Downtown
2002

4. Euclid Avenue
Midtown
2002

5. Euclid Avenue
Fairfax/Cleveland Clinic
2002

6. Why Euclid Ave?
The Euclid Corridor Transportation Project
Dual-hub concept dating to the 50's
50's - 80's: Subway
90's: LRT
2000: BRT
1.Improve Service to the RTA customers by
increasing transit system efficiency.
2.Promote Long-term Economic and Community
Development in and adjacent to the Corridor.
3.Improve the Quality of Life for those Visiting,
Working, or Living in the Corridor

7. Why Euclid?
Dual-hub concept of
connecting Cleveland's 2
commercial centers:
Downtown and
University Circle

8. The Euclid HealthLine Bus Rapid Transit Project
Bus Rapid Transit - "Think Rail" while "Using Bus" to offer transit improvements
• Designated, Exclusive Bus Lanes
• Signal Prioritization
• Precision Docking + Guidance Systems
• Custom Low-Floor Vehicles/Near Level Boarding
• Off-Vehicle Fare Collection
• Enhanced Service Frequency/Fewer, Consolidated
Stops
• Passenger Friendly Waiting Environment
• Real-time Passenger Information

9. Urban Core Reinvestment
Building Face to Building Face
Reconstruction
•Utility Replacements and Betterments •4.5 Miles of Dedicated BRT Lanes in
Median
•New Roadway, Curbs, & Sidewalks
•2.6 Miles of Mixed-Use BRT Lanes in
•New Traffic Signal, Lighting, &
Curb Lanes
Communication Systems
•36 Stations and Platforms
•Landscaping & Irrigation System
•Passenger Amenities
•4 Miles of Bike Lanes
•Public Art

10. Typical Section
Downtown/Lower
Euclid
•Median Station/Left
Side Boarding

11. Typical Section
CSU/Midtown/Clinic
•Median Station/Right Side
Boarding

12. Typical Section
University Circle/East
Cleveland
•Curb-side Station/Right
Side Boarding

13. The Euclid Vehicle
• 21 - 64 ft articulated vehicles
• Stylized exterior design
• 3 doors right side & 2 door left
side
• Docking arms
• Hybrid diesel – electric power train
• 100 kW motors & 600V battery
packs
• 25% fuel savings
• Reduced emissions

14. Placemaking:
Downtown/Lower Euclid
Paving
Lighting
Landscape
Public Art

15. Placemaking:
CSU, Midtown,
Clinic
Bike Lanes
Paving
Lighting
Landscape
Planted Median
Public Art

16. Placemaking:
University Circle
Paving
Lighting
Landscape
Public Art

17. Placemaking: 5 Artists Selected to Work with Design Team to
Develop Integrated Art Installations
Integration of Public Art
Cliff Garten - Paving
Public Art Master Plan Mark Howard – Litter Receptacles, Tree
Grates, Removable Curbs
Cleveland Public Art
Nancy Dwyer – Seat Benches
Arlene Watson – District Markers + Wayfinding
Joan Brigham – Community Oral History Project
3 Artists Selected to Develop Stand-Alone Art
Installations
Scott Murase – University Circle
Steve Manka – Playhouse Square
Nina Yankowitz – E. Cleveland Public Library
(audio granite spheres + benches)

18. Integration of
Public Art

19. Integration of
Public Art

20. Partnerships for Realization
Public – Public Partnerships
Public – Neighborhood Partnerships
Public – Private Partnerships
Public – Non-profit Partnerships

21. Partnerships for Realization
Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Project Budget: $200.0 million total
Project Budget: $168.4 million (FFGA)
Federal Transit Administration
FTA New Starts: $82.20 m
Ohio Department of Transportation FTA Rail Mod: $ 0.60 m
City of Cleveland ODOT: $50.00 m
RTA: $17.60 m
NOACA
NOACA: $10.00 m
Downtown Cleveland Alliance, City of Cleveland: $ 8.00 m
PlayhouseSquare, Midtown, University
Circle $31.6 million Non-FFGA
Cleveland State, Cleveland Clinic, Case
Western Reserve, University Hospital
Numerous individual Property Owners

22. Funding Partnerships
Naming Rights purchased in
a partnership between the
Cleveland Clinic and
University Hospitals for over
$6 million

23. Land Assembly/Land Banking Initiatives
Partnerships for Realization
City of Cleveland, Port Authority
Economic Development
Streetscape Improvements
Transit Oriented Development GCRTA’s Art in Transit Program (1%)
Financial Incentives Tax-Increment Financing (TIFs)
Tax Abatement
Federal Empowerment Zone & City Loans/Grants
Brownfield Incentives
City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, & State of OH
Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit
Historic Preservation Tax Credit
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Financing
City officials established the “First Five” program
“Circle Living” housing assistance program

24. Partnerships for
Realization
Downtown +
Playhouse Square

25. Partnerships for
Realization
Cleveland State
University

28. Partnerships for
Realization
Cleveland Clinic

29. Partnerships for
Realization
University Circle

30. Goals for Euclid Ave
Improve Service to the
RTA customers by
increasing transit system
efficiency.
Promote Long-term
Economic and Community
Development in and
adjacent to the Corridor.
Improve the Quality of
Life for those Visiting,
Working, or Living in the
Corridor

31. Goals for Euclid Ave
Improve Service to the RTA
customers by increasing
transit system efficiency.
Promote Long-term Economic
and Community Development
in and adjacent to the
Corridor.
Improve the Quality of Life for
those Visiting, Working, or
Living in the Corridor

32. Goals for Euclid Ave
Improve Service to the RTA
customers by increasing
transit system efficiency.
Promote Long-term Economic
and Community Development
in and adjacent to the
Corridor.
Improve the Quality of Life for
those Visiting, Working, or
Living in the Corridor

33. Outcomes
Euclid has proven that Bus Rapid
Transit can work in the United States
– a model for other communities
Euclid has delivered improved transit
at a fraction of the cost of rail –
providing a much more affordable
options for medium sized cities
Euclid has generated the economic
spin-off that experts thought could
only be achieved by rail –
demonstrating the power of creative
partnerships to help drive economic
development and revitalization in
neighborhoods.

34. Thank you! 2011 Urban Land Institute
Award of Excellence
Jason Hellendrung
Principal, Sasaki Associates
jhellendrung@sasaki.com
617.923.5321
64 Pleasant Street
Watertown, MA 02472