New Cleveland station boosts transit-oriented development plan

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) last week officially opened the new Lee-Van Aken Station on the Blue Line near City Hall.

The new facility was opened in phases starting in early October. About 80 percent of the $5.4 million project was funded with federal dollars, GCRTA officials said in a press release.

One of the busiest stops on the Blue Line, the station is considered a key link in a plan to revive the area through a historical connection to transit, agency officials said. The plan builds on municipal anchors, nearby retail and new residential construction.

"This new station and the redevelopment of this entire neighborhood speak to the success of transit-oriented development and what it means to a region," said GCRTA Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joe Calabrese. "Public transit is connecting the dots once again and spurring economic development that would not be realized otherwise."

The station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and has new passenger loading platforms and access; weather-protected vestibules; improved passenger amenities; and greater security.