Warrensville-Van Aken Transit Oriented Development
Recent Updates:
The City released a Pre-Proposal RFQ for engineering services for the reconfiguration of the Warrensville/Van Aken intersection and relocation of Northfield and Farnsleigh Roads.
The City recently received the exciting news that the Ohio Department of Transportation awarded Shaker Heights $4M in construction funds to reconfigure the six-legged intersection at Warrensville, Van Aken and Chagrin. The grant award is from the Safety and Congestion Program. Please see the press release for additional information.
City Council has already authorized $2.3M in matching funds for the project from our economic development fund. The Cuyahoga County Engineer is contributing $500,000. The remaining projected $3.7M to redo the intersection is currently being sought form other federal, state and government sources.
Additionally, the City of Shaker Heights and RTA jointly received a $70,000 grant from NOACA's Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative to prepare a detailed Intermodal Program Plan.
This plan will study alternatives for the intermodal transit station building(s) and passenger waiting environment, bus/rail passenger transfers, bus access routes, pedestrian/bike connections and parking. Proposals for the Program Plan preparation will be requested from qualified consultants in January 2009.
The Context:
Transformation of the Warrensville/Van Aken area into a downtown destination with residential, office, retail and recreation amenities begins with a traffic study and transit-oriented development (TOD) plan. Visit Thinking Big: Transformation & Growth of the Warrensville/Van Aken District for more background information.
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The Plan:
The Warrensville/Van Aken Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan implements the call to revitalize the district that was explored in the Strategic Investment Plan (2000). The SIP recommended reconstructing the Warrensville/Van Aken/Chagrin intersection, improving transit connections and transfer points, redeveloping existing strip shopping centers into a mixed use downtown, and improving pedestrian connections between the station and surrounding areas.
The Warrensville/Van Aken study area encompasses land in all quadrants of the Warrensville Center Road/Van Aken Boulevard/Chagrin Boulevard intersection. The area within a 1/2 mile radius around the intersection is included in the study area.
The major changes proposed are:
- Change six-way intersection at Chagrin and Warrensville into a standard four-way intersection;
- Reconfigure Van Aken to extend straight east between Farnsleigh and Warrensville;
- Reconfigure Northfield to connect with Warrensville near the Post Office;
- Maintain the rapid transit line in its current diagonal configuration; and
- Extend the rapid transit line through the Chagrin/Warrensville intersection to a new transit/bus terminal near the University Hospitals Administrative building.
Significant infrastructure changes will set the stage for new development of retail stores, offices and housing.
The estimated cost to implement proposed infrastructure and transit improvements is $49 million. Both the City and RTA are currently working to obtain funding from the Federal and State governments.
Final Report Downloads
The Process:
Public Workshop #1: December 2007
Public Workshop #2: January 2008
Public Workshop #3: February 2008
Council Meetings: April 2008
For additional information, contact Ann Klavora, Senior Planner, 216-491-1436.
