Permanent island expansion in the works at MLK Jr. Blvd. in University Circle

Posted November 22, 2016 in Articles

Author: Emily Bamforth

CLEVELAND, Ohio - University Circle Inc. has secured $273,900 to permanently expand a raised island to help pedestrians cross busy Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Carnegie Avenue, near the bottom of Cedar Hill.

RTA and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District will provide funding for the island, which will replace temporary barriers near the RTA's new Cedar-University Rapid Station. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2017.

RTA's $125,000 is coming from additional funding provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation as further enhancement to the Cedar-University station. The NEORSD are providing a $127,900 grant to design the island to collect stormwater runoff.

University Circle had already improved the intersection this year to alleviate safety concerns for pedestrians, including creating a crosswalk on the north side of the intersection and adding a temporary barrier to slow the flow of cars.

The island will create a safe place for people to stand while waiting for the crosswalk, said Debra Berry, vice president of planning and real estate development for University Circle Inc. The barrier is handling that now.

University Circle will start construction plans as soon as possible.

These traffic improvements are one of many on the docket for University Circle. Chris Ronayne, president of the group, said traffic issues are "growing pains" for the area.

"Quick as we do this intersection, we've got a dozen more to do," he said."

Original Article: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/11/more_permanent_solution_on_the.html