Public Meetings on Proposed WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Plan

GREATER CLEVELAND – In the near future, residents, regional visitors and commuter could have safe, convenient new options for travel between major points in Erie, Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties including commuter bus and rail, according to planners on the WestShore Transportation Project. However, new local funding sources must be identified, further studies undertaken, and railroad and intercounty agreements inked before a major new service like commuter rail service is ready to operate.

On behalf of project co-sponsors Lorain County Board of Commissioners/Lorain County Transit and Lorain County Community Alliance, the WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force and communities in Lorain County, Erie County and Cuyahoga County, will hold three public meetings to present study findings to-date for recommended travel options, costs, benefits and funding/financing for the WestShore Corridor.  Public comments are needed in order to finalize the proposed package of options designed to improve longer-distance public transit service between the WestShore counties of Erie, Lorain and Cuyahoga.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend one or more of the following meetings:

Cuyahoga County—October 24, 2011               
Lakewood City Hall                                   
Auditorium                                               
12650 Detroit Avenue                               
Lakewood, OH 44107                               
6-8 pm                                                   

Lorain County—October 26, 2011
Black River Landing
421 Black River Lane
Lorain, OH 44052
6-8 pm

Erie County -- October 25, 2011
Erie County Administration Building
3rd Floor Commissioner’s Chambers
2900 Columbus Avenue
Sandusky, OH 44870
6-8 pm


For more information, please contact Tim Rosenberger, PB at 216-832-2952, Nancy Lyon Stadler, Michael Baker, Jr., Inc. at 216-776-6814 or Marissa Beechuk, BrownFlynn at
440-484-0100, ext.211.

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WESTSHORE CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION STUDY BACKGROUND

The WestShore Corridor Transportation Project (WCTP) seeks to address the lack of public transportation options for travel in the WestShore Corridor, which extends from downtown Cleveland through western Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Erie Counties to Sandusky. The need for improvements is based on several factors including a lack of public transit options for inter-county travel, lack of transit options within Lorain and Erie Counties, and the need for more sustainable land use patterns in suburban growth areas.

While the development of commuter rail service along the Norfolk Southern (former Nickel Plate) rail line that passes through Lakewood, Bay Village and much of northern Lorain County has been the goal for many citizens and political leaders in the WestShore Corridor, the analysis conducted for the WCTP indicates that a transit market must first be established within the WestShore Corridor before commuter rail can become a reality. Currently, commuter bus services to downtown Cleveland operate from Medina, Summit, Portage and Lake counties. Lorain County is the most populous county surrounding Cleveland that does not have bus service to downtown Cleveland. The WCTP suggests that an inter-county transit market could be established in several phases.

In Phase 1, during the next five years, would include implementation of commuter bus service between Lorain County and downtown Cleveland.  The proposed service would include basic commuter bus service between the city of Lorain and downtown Cleveland with stops at Black River Landing, Midway Mall, and two new park and ride lots located in Sheffield and Avon. In this phase, Lorain County Transit would be restored to its pre-2009 service levels to distribute passengers throughout Lorain County. 

Implementing this service would cost approximately $11 million per year in buying buses and outfitting park-and-ride lots in Lorain County. The annual estimated annual operating cost of Phase 1 is $8.3 million. While commuter bus service is made operational, work would continue on the analysis of the benefits and environmental impacts of the commuter rail service to allow for that service to be developed in the future. Discussions with the Norfolk-Southern Railroad about use of their rail line for commuter rail service began as part of the West Shore study, and would continue through the first phase of development. 

In Phase 2 (Years 6-10), commuter bus service in Lorain County would expand, and commuter bus service between Erie County and downtown Cleveland would begin. In this phase two new bus routes would be started to supplmenet the route operating between Lorain and downtown Cleveland. One new route would operate between Sheffield and downtown Cleveland, with one park and ride lot located in Sheffield and two in Avon. A third commuter bus route would begin providing service between Sandusky and downtown Cleveland, with stops at park and ride facilities located in Sandusky, Huron, and Vermilion. 

The estimated cost of this second phase of service would be about $16 million for additional buses and park and ride lot, and about $10 million in additional annual operating cost. 

Also in this phase, regional transit officials would complete the analysis of commuter rail service and reach an agreement with the Norfolk Southern railroad regarding use of their rail line, and would begin the design of improvements to the rail line, stations and other infrastructure needed to operate commuter rail service.

WESTSHORE CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION STUDY BACKGROUND - Continued

Page 2

In Phase 3 (Years 10-15), commuter rail service would begin operation and would replace some or all of the commuter bus services in Lorain County, and would perhaps replace some bus services in Cuyahoga County.  The commuter rail service would operate between Black River Landing in Lorain and downtown Cleveland. Stations would be located in Lorain, Sheffield, Avon, Westlake, Bay Village, Rocky River, Lakewood and Cleveland. It is hoped that many of the park and ride facilities developed in the first two phases of the project would now function as park and ride lots at the commuter rail stations. Commuter bus service would continue to be operated between Sandusky and Cleveland as in Phase 2. Extension of commuter rail service to Sandusky and other Erie County locations would be re-examined as a possibility for the future.

The WestShore Study has estimated that it would cost nearly $160 million in improvements to the Norfolk Southern rail line and associated stations and park-and-ride lots, and in purchasing new rail cars and other equipment, to operate a startup commuter rail service.  The estimated annual cost of operating the commuter rail and commuter bus services in Phase 3 is approximately $17 million.

There are many challenges to developing intercounty transit service in the WestShore corridor. The most important of these is the establishment of a sustainable funding source to support the service. Currently, Lorain and Erie Counties lack a secure dedicated funding source for mass transit service to match the 1% county wide sales tax that supports the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) in Cuyahoga County. A source for those county’s portions of the cost of operating the service would be necessary to allow service to be operated. Identifying a potential operator of the commuter bus and rail service-whether it be Lorain County Transit (LCT), GCRTA, Erie County Transit, some combination of those agencies, or a new agency, is another issue that must be resolved before operation can begin. The high cost of commuter rail may be beyond the funding capacity of the region at this time, but the phased approach may allow for the more fiscally manageable commuter bus service to begin operating while the region works toward the goal of developing commuter rail.  

The budget for this phase of the WestShore Corridor Transportation Project is $423,000 and was managed by Lorain County.  Funds for 80% of this budget came from a Federal appropriation secured by Congresswoman Betty Sutton in 2008.  The remaining 20% of the project budget was contributed by local sources including the private sector, municipalities, transit authorities and government agencies from all three project area counties. Representatives from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), GCRTA, ODOT, Lorain County Transit and other organizations helped in manage the project via the WestShore Corridor Commuter Rail Task Force. 

Public comments will be accepted through November 2, 2011 at WestshoreAA@pbworld.com.

Readmore: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1916.msg582347/topicseen.html#new#ixzz1b62j9IAW

All Aboard Ohio: U.S. Appropriations Bill Funds West Shore Corridor Study

All Aboard Ohio

Contact:
Ken Prendergast
Director, Research & Communications

July 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. appropriations bill funds West Shore Corridor study
Only Ohio rail/transit project to receive federal planning funds

Thanks to the efforts of Rep. Betty Sutton (D-13), the West Shore Corridor has become a bonafide transportation project in the eyes of federal, state and regional transportation planning agencies. Rep. Sutton successfully secured $350,000 for a West Shore Corridor rail/bus transit alternatives analysis as part of the House of Representatives' Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. The project’s sponsor, and thus the recipient of funds, is the Lorain County Board of Commissioners.

More funding for the alternatives analysis will be sought. The funding will allow a consultant to be hired to seek public input to develop a range of proposed rail and bus transit options, then determine potential ridership and revenues, capital and operating costs, station-area land uses, train horn Quiet Zones, safety enhancements and other impacts of those options. Local public officials would then be in a position to select a preferred option and pursue funding for implementation.

Ultimately, West Shore commuter rail/enhanced bus services could connect neighborhoods and employment districts in Cleveland, Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake, Bay Village, Avon, Avon Lake, Sheffield Village, Sheffield Lake, Lorain and Vermilion. West Shore Corridor rail/bus services would provide a leading, close-to-home for other key transportation corridors in Northeast Ohio. It might also pay economic dividends in addressing serious, transportation-based problems in Northeast Ohio by:

§ Reducing Greater Cleveland’s transportation costs (fifth-highest in the nation – ULI, 2003; CNT, 2004), which cause working-class households to devote more of their budgets to transportation than housing, limiting their ability to build wealth;

§ Increasing access to jobs, education and health care that have sprawled beyond the traditional service areas of local transit systems (only 8-15 percent of available jobs in the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area are within a 40-minute transit ride – Census, 2000);

§ Encouraging compact development patterns in a pedestrian-friendly setting at transit stations (“Commuter rail might also focus land development around stations, slowing urban sprawl and would provide an example of inter-regional cooperation.” – Parsons Brinckerhoff, NEORail Feasibility Study, 2001);

§ Reducing vehicular emissions that cause Greater Cleveland to fall into EPA air quality non-attainment, compromising human and economic health. Ironically, Honda refused to consider non-attainment areas for its newest U.S. assembly plant. In Cuyahoga County, mobile sources (ie: vehicles) accounted for 86-95% of ozone precursors, or 16-36 percentage points higher than the typical U.S. urban area (USEPA & EDF, 1996);

§ Provide a fast, more reliable option to driving in and out of downtown Cleveland which will only become more stressful as several major road projects (Inner Belt, West Shoreway, Clifton) get underway within the next several years.

Since July 2006, citizens, business people, city and county officials, state and federal legislators, transportation and planning agency representatives, plus many others have been working together via a series of stakeholders meetings to determine whether there is a public interest in advancing planning for enhanced West Shore Corridor transit.
The next stakeholders meeting will be from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 29, in the Gallery Room at the Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd.

Stakeholders responded positively to the House of Representatives’ vote.

“Thanks to Congresswoman Sutton and an outpouring of local support, developing West Shore Corridor rail and bus transit has grown from a good idea to a real project,” said Ken Prendergast, director of research and communication at All Aboard Ohio. “That support is why the West Shore Corridor was the only Ohio rail or transit project approved by Congress to receive federal planning funds.”

“Special thanks to first-term Congresswoman, Betty Sutton, who has seen the value of this project to our West Shore and Northeast Ohio areas and gone to bat for our collective communities,” said Lorain County Commissioner Betty Blair.

“I think that this shows great commitment from federal leaders for commuter rail and great cooperation on the municipal, county and federal level,” said Kevin Kelley, chair of Cleveland City Council’s Aviation and Transportation Committee. “Transit has been embraced by communities around the nation and this community should study transit development as an economic development tool. I am absolutely thrilled about this important first step. This is a nice solid gain.”

“We’re excited about the possibility of commuter rail and this is another step in that direction,” Lakewood Mayor Tom George said. “Commuter rail is an excellent fit for Lakewood, the western communities and the region. At this time of high energy prices, alternative forms of transportation are on the cutting edge of our community discussions."

“I think this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the importance of alternative transportation throughout this western region and it demonstrates that the cooperation between counties and statekholders can affect the distribution of federal funds for needy projects such as this,” said Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough. “And I hope this is just a beginning step toward ultimate completion of a commuter rail system for the region.”

Although $1.5 million in FY2008 federal funds was sought for the alternatives analysis, the funding appropriated was in line with awards to similar transportation projects around the country. The West Shore Corridor was one of 25 projects nationwide identified by the House of Representatives to receive a total of $9.8 million in U.S. Department of Transportation Alternatives Analysis Program funds. The House also increased the funding ceiling for the Alternative Analysis program from $18 million to $25 million, of which roughly $3.3 million remains uncommitted. West Shore stakeholders will seek additional funds in the coming months from a variety of sources to expand the scope of planning elements.

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All Aboard Ohio! is a statewide nonprofit organization based in Columbus that advocates for improved public transit and passenger train services in Ohio. More information can be found at www.allaboardohio.org. The Stocker Foundation in Lorain is a generous supporter of All Aboard Ohio’s West Shore Corridor educational efforts.

All Aboard Ohio: (Action Alert) Legislative Action Required

Dear Supporter of Passenger Rail,

Soon, the House Appropriations Committee in Congress will be finalizing
their budget items before the Congress adjourns for Summer break. Two items
are of vital importance to the future of passenger rail and transportation
for Ohio.

Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) and Tim Ryan (D-Youngstown) are
supporting the Ohio Rail Development Commission's request for federal
funding of the Environmental Impact Study of the Ohio Hub Plan and the
Alternatives Analysis for the Lorain to Cleveland Westshore Corridor
Commuter Rail Service. Both
Representatives Kaptur and Ryan need to hear your support of the development
of better passenger and freight rail in Ohio by Wednesday, July 11th.

If you live in the district of Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) or Tim Ryan (OH-17),
please call them and thank them for their support of the ORDC's request for
the Environmental Impact Study of the Ohio Hub Plan and the development of
the Lorain to Cleveland Westshore Corridor Commuter Rail Service.

If you live in another Ohio district, please ask your Representative to
support the funding request by Representatives Kaptur and Ryan for the
development of more and better passenger and freight rail in Ohio. This
request is part of the House Transportation & Housing and Urban Development
Appropriations Bill. Please mention this fact as it will help in the
communications process.

Please keep in mind that these are the ONLY actionable items for our cause
at this time. The Ohio Rail Development Commission has already released
promising economic numbers with the first study of the Ohio Hub Plan and the
Westshore Corridor continues to move forward in the planning phases. It is
now time to reconnect Ohio's cities, grow our economy, and provide better
transportation solutions by moving the Ohio Hub Plan and others forward.

For information on how to contact your Congressional Representatives, please
visit http://www.allaboardohio.org/cms/index.php/content/action

Also, feel free to contact me with any questions.

Andrew M. Bremer
Executive Director

Andrew@allaboardohio.org
614-228-6005

Cleveland City Council passes West Shore Corridor resolution

North-east Ohio is one step closer to seeing commuter rail on the west side of Cleveland and the western suburbs thanks to All Aboard Ohio.

P R E S S R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ken Prendergast
Feb. 7, 2007 (216) 288-4883 or (216) 986-6064

Cleveland City Council passes West Shore Corridor resolution

CLEVELAND -- At its regular meeting Monday, City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Ohio Congressional Delegation to provide $1.5 million in each of the next two federal fiscal years for an alternatives analysis of potential transportation improvements in the West Shore Corridor.

If the funding is provided, a variety of transportation improvements between downtown Cleveland, the West Shore suburbs, downtown Lorain and possibly beyond will be weighed to determine their costs and benefits. Potential impacts on economic development, access to jobs, plus natural and built environments will be measured. A public involvement process will be an essential part of the analysis.

Transportation improvements could include adding commuter rail, expanding express bus service, restructuring existing bus routes, providing more hiking/biking paths and enhancing the existing roadway system. Sub-elements could feature transit-oriented development around stations, better transit waiting environments, adding quiet zones to the existing Norfolk Southern rail line and more.

Once the options for improving transportation in the West Shore Corridor are analyzed, a preferred alternative may be selected by the region's stakeholders and funding may be sought to implement it.

All Aboard Ohio, a statewide nonprofit association, thanked City Council for passing the resolution. Special recognition goes to Ward 15 Councilman Kevin Kelley, chair of the Aviation & Transportation Committee, for introducing the resolution. Additional recognition goes to council members who joined Councilman Kelley in sponsoring the resolution -- Anthony Brancatelli, Patricia Britt, Joe Cimperman, Roosevelt Coats, Kevin Conwell, Brian Cummins, Martin Sweeney and Matthew Zone.

"I gratefully appreciate council's passage of this important resolution," said Ken Prendergast, All Aboard Ohio's director of research and communications. "It sends a clear message to Congress that maintaining access to jobs in the West Shore Corridor is of paramount concern to City Council. Whatever transportation improvements result from this analysis should seek to enhance Downtown Cleveland's prominence as the region's main employment center."

"The region needs to be vibrant and connected," said Councilman Kelley, who favors commuter rail. "These goals would be served by regional commuter rail. While I would like everyone in the region to live in the city of Cleveland, it's very important that people at least work in the city of Cleveland."

"What the resolution is calling for is a better stewardship of precious resources," added Councilman Cimperman, whose ward includes downtown Cleveland. He also chairs council's Planning Committee. "Whether it's laying less asphalt or connecting more people to our venues, to me this is about the future."

"We need to be creating alternative methods of transportation that won't be increasing our carbon emissions," said Councilman Zone, chair of council's Public Utilities Committee. "Adding commuter rail is a win-win situation. It will help Cleveland be a more desirable place to live."

The use of federal planning funds for the West Shore Corridor was authorized by the most recent federal surface transportation law, passed in 2005. Then-Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) worked to ensure the authorization was included in the surface transportation law.

END