New West Shore Express speeds West Side commute downtown

CLEVELAND -- RTA Trustees selected Perk Company as the prime contractor for the $20 million Clifton Boulevard Transportation Enhancement Project.

 New West Shore Express speeds West Side commute downtown

Aug 21, 2013

CLEVELAND -- The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) selected Perk Company Inc. as the prime contractor for the $20 million Clifton Boulevard Transportation Enhancement Project, which includes the purchase of 16 new 60-foot articulated buses for this service. 

A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.

A first-class experience

The new 'West Shore Express' will:

  • Replace the 55 and 55F bus routes.
  • Provide more capacity.
  • Deliver a faster trip and
  • Provide a more first-class experience throughout the four-mile corridor of Clifton Boulevard in Cleveland and Lakewood.
  • More efficiently link Lakewood, Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake to downtown.

Every 10 minutes during rush hour

The West Shore Express service along Clifton Boulevard. will operate every 10 minutes during rush hours with dedicated bus lanes. Through bus stop consolidation, as well as adjusting traffic signals and patterns, the commute for RTA customers will be quicker, in addition to making it a smoother commute for other motorists.

Stations will be constructed with real-time travel information through NextConnect, and have emergency call boxes. 

The rules for parking along Clifton Boulevard will remain the same, as the dedicated bus lanes will only be used during morning and afternoon rush hours, when parking is not currently allowed.

Project funding, timing and additional details are posted online for what previously was called the Clifton Bouevard Transporation Enhancement Project.

RTA provides quality, economic and safe public transportation via rail, bus and Paratransit throughout Cuyahoga County. Real time information is available for all buses and trains. Check www.riderta.com or call the RTAnswerline at 216-621-9500.

Media Contact: Mary Shaffer, 216-566-5211