Tier 2 Detailed Alteratives Screening Report


In May 2014, a third round of public meetings was held to present the results of the Tier 2 screening of alternatives. At that time, three (3) alternatives remained in consideration. Details on each of these alternatives is provided at the end of this update and additional information can be found in the Tier 2 screening report.

What we heard from the attendees of the public meetings was that each of the remaining alternatives had value. The Red Line extension (Alternative B) would serve a commuter market and provide localized TOD opportunities at station locations, while the HealthLine extensions (Alternatives E and G) directly serve the neighborhoods and could support economic redevelopment in those areas. We also heard interest in exploring a combination of the remaining alternatives into a multi-modal hybrid alternative.

Therefore, no alternatives were eliminated and all will continue to the next round of analysis. Alternative B (HRT), Alternative E (BRT), Alternative G (BRT) and the hybrid will be evaluated and compared to No Build and Do Minimum alternatives as part of the Tier 3 screening, also called The Business Case. After this final level of evaluation, which includes detailed ridership forecasting using the NOACA regional travel demand model and a refined analysis of cost-effectiveness, one Locally Preferred Alternative will remain.

NEXT STEPS: The project team is currently waiting for a major update to the NOACA regional travel demand model to be complete. It is expected to be available for our use in early 2015. At that time, the Tier 3 analysis can be completed and results will be presented to the public for comment in Spring 2015. Finally, we will bring the Locally Preferred Alternative to the RTA Board of Trustees and NOACA Governing Board for approval.

We appreciate your patience as we continue our work on this study and we look forward to continuing to gather your feedback.
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Alternative B: A heavy rail Red Line extension that begins at Louis Stokes Station at Windermere and continues to run east adjacent to the Norfolk Southern (NS) freight railroad corridor. Alternative B would terminate at the Euclid Park-N-Ride near the intersection of St Clair Avenue and Babbitt Road in the vicinity of Euclid Square Mall.

Alternative E: A HealthLine bus rapid transit extension that begins at Louis Stokes Station at Windermere and runs east along Euclid Avenue to Ivanhoe Road where the alignment turns north to East 152nd and St. Clair. At Five Points the alignment continues north on East 152nd Street to Waterloo Road, then turning east through the Waterloo Arts District to East 156th Street. The alignment again turns north on East 156th Street until reaching Lake Shore Boulevard, where it turns east
to Shoregate Shopping Center in Lake County.

Alternative G: A HealthLine bus rapid transit extension that begins at Louis Stokes Station at Windermere and runs east along Euclid Avenue to Ivanhoe Road where the alignment turns north to East 152nd and St.
Clair. At Five Points, the alignment turns east on St. Clair Avenue to Nottingham Road where it turns north until reaching E. 185th Street. At E. 185th Street, the alignment turns northeast serving the E. 185th Street commercial district up to Lake Shore Boulevard where it turns east to Shoregate Shopping Center in Lake County.