Greater Cleveland RTA approves URS planning/design pact for Cedar-University Rapid Station

On Tuesday, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) board authorized a contract with URS Corp. for architecture/engineering planning and design services for the new Cedar-University Rapid Station.

The board also authorized:

• The general manager/secretary-treasurer to enter into an interagency agreement with the city of Shaker Heights for a Warrensville/Van Aken transit-oriented development with the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative.

• A contract with Aaron Landscape Inc. for improvements to the Avalon Station.

• And a contract with Schirmer Construction Co. for the rehabilitation of the Abbey Avenue Bridge.

Meanwhile, Greater Cleveland RTA Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joe Calabrese reported that July rail ridership represented a 12.2 percent increase compared with July 2006’s total, and that year-to-date ridership was up 8 percent.