News & Updates: Newsroom

RTA News

 

June 1, 2009

 

RTA puts stimulus money to good use

 

CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) qualifies for $45.75 million in stimulus money, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

 

Half of those funds must be obligated by Sept. 1, 2009. RTA is combining the stimulus funds with $19.16 million in existing grants to create a total program of $64.81 million.

 

RTA Trustees have awarded $ 13.5 million in contracts from this total program.

• $9.5 million to build a new Red Line rail station at Puritas-West 150^th. A ground-breaking ceremony was held May 27.
• $1.74 million to buy 15 KM electronic control group units for heavy-rail vehicles.
• $400,000 to design the rehab of the one-mile Red Line S-curve track between the West 98^th and West 117^th street stations.
• $732,000 for rail materials and equipment -- a spot tamper for setting smooth track, 13 pantograph units, line breakers on rail cars, track ballast (stones), 40 heavy-rail electric couplers, 5 heavy-rail vehicle heaters, and two small bobcats vehicles used for rail work.
• $40,000 to finish the first of two surveys of rail grade crossings in Shaker Heights
• $42,000 to hire a plinth expert for the Waterfront Line. A plinth connects rail ties to a concrete foundation.

 

Another $30.6 million of work is in the Procurement process.

 

In June, the Board will consider resolutions to:

• Perform an alternatives analysis for extending the Blue Line through the intersection of Van Aken and Chagrin boulevards.
• Hire a firm to design a new station at Brookpark Rapid location.
• Purchase land to expand the Westlake Park-N-Ride.

 

The following projects are being advertised.

• Award contracts for construction and public art for the new Stephanie Tubbs Jones (East Side) Transit Center at Cleveland State University.
• Award construction contracts for the new East 55^th Street rail station.

·         Purchase 18 rail material and equipment contracts, 22 heavy-rail overhaul materials, and complete rail grade crossing designs.

 

In July, the Board will consider the purchase of 50 new Paratransit vehicles.

 

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:

• Jerry Masek, 216-566-5211