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Van Aken Bikeway
The City's Planning Department is in the process of developing the Van Aken Bikeway, which will connect the Van Aken District and Lee Road. The planning process includes significant community engagement to allow residents and other stakeholders to be part of creating the Van Aken Bikeway. Sign up for email updates about the Van Aken Bikeway Plan.
Latest Updates
- View the Van Aken Bikeway Plan (PDF)
Community Engagement
Round 2
In April 2023, the City held a second round of community engagement for the Van Aken Bikeway with a community open house and a walk/bike tour of Van Aken Boulevard. View the boards from our round two engagement events (PDF)
Round 1
In February 2023, the City kicked off community engagement with two public meetings and an online survey. Watch the February 1 virtual public meeting presentation.
Project Overview
This project will extend existing Van Aken District bike paths into western Shaker Heights, creating a critical connection to the future Lee Road bicycle infrastructure and improving neighborhood connections to primary transportation arteries for both pedestrians and cyclists of all levels. This is an important project intended to fundamentally transform car-dominated corridors and create well-connected neighborhoods and activity centers through a network of on-street bicycle lanes and a shared use path.
Background
The new Van Aken District, Shaker’s vibrant, mixed-use downtown, is the first major infrastructure project resulting from the City’s Strategic Investment Plan, which identified investment focus areas and developed a long-term roadmap to build on the City’s strengths. This plan also identified the Lee Road corridor as an area in need of improvement and the City is in the process of reimagining the ¾-mile Lee Road commercial corridor south of Van Aken Boulevard using the Lee Road Action Plan as a guide. This corridor will be transformed into a commercial district that is more vibrant, walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly. This new Lee Road corridor will complement the established retail districts at Chagrin Boulevard and the Van Aken District. When complete, a fully connected bike infrastructure will be constructed on Lee Road from the northern to southern borders of Shaker Heights.
The Warrensville Multipurpose Path was completed in 2021 and responded to the broader vision to create connections and reshape the Van Aken District for pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, a new streetscape for Farnsleigh Road was constructed in 2018 and includes a 10-foot wide multipurpose path/sidewalk.
Building on these initiatives, the Van Aken Bike Facilities Plan will serve as a blueprint for a new phase of bike networks that provide active transportation alternatives and create connections throughout the community.
Planned Investments
A $1.8 million project budget of local and Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) funds will be used for implementing this plan in 2024, and the primary goal is to create more connections from existing Van Aken Bike Facilities to the Lee Road bicycle infrastructure slated for completion in 2025. Additions along key thoroughfares between the Van Aken District and Lee Road will include new bicycle facilities, cyclist amenities, signage and pavement markings, and other enhancements designed to improve the public realm experience, expand transportation alternatives, and increase cyclist and pedestrian safety.
News
- 5/23/23: Shaker Heights cyclists already geared up for Van Aken Bikeway Plan
- 4/30/23: Shaker Heights pedals ahead on Van Aken, Lee Road bikeway plans this month
- 4/17/23: City of Shaker Heights debuts concept for Van Aken Bikeway project, accepting public feedback
- 2/6/23: Shaker Heights gears up community engagement for new Van Aken Bikeway Plan
- 10/25/22: Van Aken Bikeway coming soon to Shaker, along with $1 million in ARPA funding for Lee Road
Staff Contacts
For questions or comments, please contact Anna Mates in the Planning Department.