A plan to shut down streets around Cleveland's Public Square and make it a pedestrian friendly civic space has prompted many commenters to call for revisions to the plan, especially with regard to the square's heavy bus transit capacity.
"As Cleveland mobilizes to complete a sweeping makeover of Public Square in time for the Republican National Convention in 2016, questions linger over whether bus transit in the 10-acre civic space in the heart of downtown would be negatively affected by the project," reports Joe Litt.
According to Litt's coverage, one key voice in the discussion, CEO and General Manager of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Joe Calabrese, is reserving final judgment.
At issue is the access of buses to Superior Avenue, which would be the only type of vehicle allowed on the street.
According to Litt, "[a] majority of readers [of The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com] said they wanted to see buses banished from the square entirely, or at least relegated to the peripheral roads around it." But given that the RTA runs about 4,000 buses through the square daily, the transit agency has reason to be cautious in assessing the impacts of moving transit to other locations.
Bus System Redesign Coming to the Cleveland Region
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) revealed a draft system redesign this week.
Feds Want Their Money Back After Cleveland Changes Public Square Plans
The city of Cleveland knew that the Federal Transit Administration expected buses to run through Public Square. Now that there will be no buses, the FTA says there will be no grant money.
Editorial: Cleveland Made a Mess of Public Square Decision
Whether or not it was the right decision, the process leading to the decision to prohibit buses from Cleveland's renovated Public Square raises questions in Cleveland.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service