Clifton Blvd. Project

[Mary Anne Crampton]

Thanks for the endorsements of LakewoodAlive's efforts. The postings throughout the Observer Forum about Lakewood's future are terrific. Of course I am pleased that LakewoodAlive is considered an effective means of provoking informed discussion and action in the community. The profound and compassionate thoughts of Observer contributors on the very complex subject of Lakewood's future are inspiring.



I read the Kotkin article Ken W. mentioned elsewhere in this forum: http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=1260. Kotkin's comments make so much intuitive sense they cannot be ignored. Thanks, Ken.



In addtion to LakewoodAlive's "Our Homes, Our Future" Part 2, there is another critical public meeting in Lakewood this week. On Wednesday, at Lincoln School, at 7PM there will be a presentation and public comments on potential enhancements to Clifton Boulevard when ODOT is scheduled to repave it in 2008. David Reed, a Lakewood resident and professor at the Kent State School of Urban Design in downtown Cleveland, will present KSUD's ideas on what Clifton Blvd could be.....and WHY.



Twice a day, Clifton Blvd largely serves as a thoroughfare to/from downtown Cleveland for our west suburban neighbors. They don't stop here, they just go through here. This is our chance to take ownership of Clifton Blvd. for our residents and for our future. It is an opportunity to establish Lakewood's image and make it inviting for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Prof. Reed will explain the role street design plays in the quality of life for our residents and in economic development.



We need citizens like Observer contributors to learn about the impact of street design and then advocate on Lakewood's behalf. Hope to see you there, too!......I know, people will talk, but that's the whole idea!



Mary Anne Crampton

[Kenneth Warren]

Thanks for the reminder about "our chance to take ownership of Clifton Blvd. for our residents and for our future."



Once Clifton is done to serve our city, ourselves, let's figure out means to take ownership of Lake as well.



I'd hate to see Lake in a choke hold of unintended consequence.



Push the SUVs en-route to and fro Leakwood to I 90.



Great call to sustainable action.



Another point of common ground in 21st century Lakewood.



Let the lions roar, walk and ride bikes.



Kenneth Warren

[Tom Bullock]

I'd return light rail to the Clifton Ave corridor (or wherever it'd make sense to install it) so you could ride smoothly into downtown Cleveland and as far West as Lorain or Elyria.



There should be a stop at 117th St, at Warren Road, and at Rocky River/the West End.

[observeradmin]

Another reminder:



Clifton Road Project Meeting



Wednesday, 4/27/05 7 PM in the Lincoln School Gymnasium.

[Jeff Endress]

Of course, the only reason for the traffic on Clifton, is the tie-in with the shoreway. So, if we look at this issue on a more regional level, perhaps there is something to be said for linkage with Cleveland's Lakefront plans. If the shoreway is converted into the "Boulevard" as envisoned, then it would seem to follow that Clifton Blvd. would lose traffic and some sort of conversion could follow. The problem with this is the lack of any progress ever made by Cleveland on their "dream" projects. I would expect that the Shoreway conversion will begin shortly after the completion of the E. 9th-Canadian bridge.



Jeff

[Stan Austin]

Jeff--- This is also potentially related to the rebuilding of th Innerbelt I-90 bridge.

I say lets get the most that we can from Clifton for Lakewood now and let the downstream projects materialize if ever.

Mark this down-------- Clifton will need another repaving by the time any of the downstream projects ever come to fruition.

Maybe a good reason to visit Chef Geoff's site!

[Bill Grulich]

Thanks Mary Anne...If the rails are still buried in Clifton Blvd., Lakewood and Cleveland should apply for "Rails to Trails" funding. An all-purpose trail on either side of Clifton could be a huge enhancement.



This project could be connected to the future upper trail of the MetroParks. All-purpose trails throughout Lakewood will help raise our property values and improve the quality of life.



Tom Powell-Bullock...It might be more cost effective to use the old Norfolk and Southern railroad line as an alternative light rail route.



Stops at Beachcliff Mall, Warren Road, West 117th Street, and West 110th Street could be easily accomplished. The line could connect to Tower City and eventually East to Euclid. Painesville, Geneva, and Ashtabula, That line could also tie into Avon Lake, Lorain, Vermillion, Sandusky, and Cedar Point.



JeffÖIíve contacted former Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes through the Ouija Board and he told me to expect the Canadian E 9th Street Bridge in the near future! He told me that right before he turned over.

[Mark Timieski]

I received this from Cudell, which is working on the Cleveland side of the Clifton project.

Could we consider this a regional effort?


-------------------------------------------------

Cudell Improvement, Inc.
11650 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
(216) 228-4383
Fax: (216) 228-3328
cudell@multiverse.com


June 9, 2005

Dear Neighborhood Stakeholder,

Clifton Boulevard is a vital urban thoroughfare lines with, and bordered by, desirable residential stock and interspersed with locally owned retail shops.

The Boulevard is a major commuter route for suburban and exurban motorists seeking to reach the government center of downtown Cleveland via the West Shoreway. Thousands of vehicles traverse the seven lanes of Clifton Boulevard daily, often exceeding the posted thirty-five mile an hour speed limit by ten miles an hour or more.

However, with proposed changes to the speed limit of the West Shoreway, coupled with the proposed roundabout, or rotary, at Lake Avenue and Clifton Boulevard, and the removal of the depressed lanes to and from Lake Avenue, the community will be faced with major challenges of vehicular volumes and speed on Clifton Boulevard.

Stakeholders in the city of Lakewood will also be examining these Clifton Boulevard challenges, separately and cooperatively, with stakeholders in the city of Cleveland. The Urban Design Center of Kent State University has been retained jointly by Cleveland and Lakewood to guide stakeholders in both cities through this planning process.

Therefore, Ward 18 Councilman Jay Westbrook, Ward 19 Councilwoman Dona Brady, Cudell Improvement, Inc. and the city of Cleveland would like to invite you to participate in a public forum for the planning project.

Please join us on Wednesday, June 22nd at 7PM in the Cudell Improvement offices, 11650 Detroit Avenue for the initial public meeting for Cleveland stakeholders.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Cathy Sabolik at 216.228.4383 or Michael Bosak at 216.664-3802.

Sincerely,


Anita Brindza
Executive Director

[Mary Anne Crampton]

Mark,

We can consider the Clifton Blvd project, at the very least, a collaborative project with Cleveland. And thanks in part to its collaborative nature, we are hopeful that we will be able to uncover funding sources for upgrades beyond the current plan of simply laying new asphalt curb to curb in 2008.

FYI....the Clifton Blvd Study steering committee includes not only council and planning representatives from the the Cities of Lakewood and Cleveland, but also from ODOT, NOACA and RTA, and of course, KSU Urban Design Center.

Cleveland, while apparently committed to and enthusiastic about the project, has been a little bit slower getting things off the ground on their end. Lakewood organized the first public meeting back in April. The June 22nd meeting is Cleveland's first. The plan all along has been to hold several joint meetings......I think we will likely see one scheduled in late July.

Mary Anne