Cleveland, OH -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is collaborating with the community to develop a new Strategic Plan that will shape the “Framework for the Future” and guide the agency to the year 2030.

RTA is scheduling a series of community meetings to seek input from diverse constituencies to garner stakeholder and public engagement feedback. That feedback will form the basis for RTA’s final Strategic Plan, which will outline RTA's key strategies to the year 2030.

“We’re looking forward to hearing from our stakeholders in order to develop RTA’s ‘Framework for the Future,’” said RTA’s CEO and General Manager, India Birdsong. “Community input is critical, and this step will help direct not only RTA’s system improvements, but help inform its ability to implement innovative transportation solutions that will positively impact the region in the years ahead.”

“RTA’s planning process will call for keeping the customer’s needs in sharp focus,” said Birdsong. “To that end, we review service options as part of our continuous planning process and we prioritize on-going infrastructure upgrades and capital improvements,” she said. “However, we will also continue to address the challenges ahead: decreasing ridership that reflects national trends; limited and reduced funding; aging infrastructure; and emerging technology and mobility disruptions.”

STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEW

The Strategic Plan will reflect RTA’s internal strategic vision, changing conditions, and community input. The Plan includes analyses of:

• existing conditions,
• priority corridors,
• capital projects,
• infrastructure repair,
• transit technology, and
• new mobility.

A transit needs assessment highlights strengths, weaknesses, trends, opportunities, and other key issues.

The Pillar Study analyses and conclusions, including the System Redesign Study, the Economic Impact Analysis, the Fare Equity Study, the Rail Car Replacement Study, and the Financial Analysis and Economic Forecast, will be incorporated into a cohesive plan.

The planning team will also create prioritized strategies to achieve key recommended objectives. These will include considerations of:

• equity,
• sustainability,
• funding scenarios,
• infrastructure needs,
• public-private partnerships,
• transit network,
• fare policies, and
• costs.

ENGAGEMENT

While there are many technical aspects to this project, this effort relies on successful communication and collaboration among stakeholders to collectively identify the appropriate path forward. A final Strategic Plan will outline RTA's key strategies to the year 2030.

Dates, times, and locations of community meetings:

Media Contact:

Linda Scardilli Krecic
216-356-3104 (office)
216-390-9605 (cell)