Clifton Boulevard Plans

In 2006, the City of Lakewood, in partnership with the City of Cleveland retained the Cleveland Urban Design Center to develop a framework and recommendations for improvements to Clifton Boulevard. This directive was to restore of the grandeur of the boulevard by improving the pedestrian environment while supplementing transit options. Asphalt and high volume traffic now dominated this once-classic example of a tree lined streetcar thoroughfare.

The Clifton Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Project, as it would be called, worked through a public input process—attended by hundreds—to develop a consensus for improvements that enhance the environment of the boulevard. The outcome is a plan to improve the environment for those living along the street, using the street for walking or bicycling, and for those patronizing the retail establishments while enhancing transit options to and from job centers in Cleveland’s downtown and eastside.

The streetscape enhancement plan bore out the communities’ desire to better balance the transit hierarchy of the boulevard and minimize the impact of cars on Clifton. The plan recommends constructing a shallow landscaped median composed of ornamental trees and ground plantings. Historic lighting and signage will complement the updates. Special paving at cross walks and architecturally sympathetic bus shelters will enhance pedestrian-friendliness, transit ridership and accessibility.

In 2007, Lakewood City Council adopted the Streetscape Enhancement Plan into the City’s Master Plan. The master plan is the guiding document for the on-going improvement, development and success of Lakewood’s physical environment, neighborhoods and economy. The City of Cleveland Planning Department has also made enhancing the boulevard a priority. Together, both cities view this opportunity to enhance the boulevard as strategic to strengthening residential and commercial property.

In 2008, both cities advanced their efforts to pursue funding for this important enhancement project that will increase property values for residential properties, calm traffic and expand transit options for this densely-populated corridor. Both cities have sought RTA’s input as a source for funding and transit design, requesting new environmentally friendly busses that use the outer-most lane and to construct historically sympathetic shelters along the outside curbs. With the participation of the Federal Transit Administration and the region’s transit authority, both cities continued public input and collaboration to produce public planning and a funding strategy that would make the Clifton Streetscape Plan a reality.

Recently, RTA was awarded more than $700,000 to pay for the engineering for the project. Part of that study will be to - again - collect public input on the plan and details regarding that plan. Public meetings should be underway in the autumn.