Superior Avenue through Cleveland’s Public Square opens to bus traffic Monday– a day before the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority would have had to return $12 million in federal funds if bus access wasn’t restored.
Four buses will stop at shelters on Superior Ave., in the middle of the Square. Seventeen other routes will travel through the Square and stop on corners nearby. RTA spokesperson Linda Krecic said the strategy was always part of the redesign for the Square.
“The plan from the beginning, was for those routes to stop in the middle, and for many other routes to be right there on Superior, but still in Public Square. It’s just more convenient and makes it accessible to Tower City; that’s our main transit hub.”
Buses were supposed to begin traveling through Public Square last August, following the Republican National Convention. But Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said bus traffic could endanger pedestrians using the water park and other amenities of the renovated Square.
City officials did not respond to a request for comment. But Krecic said the city is erecting barriers to keep pedestrians safe.
“From the beginning, (city officials) did express some concern about safety. So they are implementing some planters to address their safety concerns. There're still going to be four lanes of traffic. The two in the center are going to go straight through.”