Public Square’s concrete barriers are now gone
CLEVELAND (WJW) — To make way for the next phase of an extensive project to transform Public Square, now “infamous” concrete barriers had to go.
On Monday afternoon, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne joined Greater Cleveland RTA officials to lay out the next phase of the plan, which is designed to make Public Square a safer and more welcoming space for pedestrians, bike riders and people who use mass transit.
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“Today is finally the day we get to turn the lights off on the concrete barriers and bench them for good — just in time before thousands of visitors make their way here for next weekend’s Final Four and Solar Eclipse events,” Mayor Justin Bibb is quoted in a news release. “It has been a bumpier road than we originally thought, but I’m extremely grateful to those who provided funding and am happy to deliver on this campaign promise that will improve the People’s Park so that everyone in our city will be able to better access this great asset.”
The project started back in 2016 with changes to the traffic pattern and addition of new green space south of the Terminal Tower.
Legislation proposed by Bibb’s administration and approved by council members in 2022 set aside $1.5 million for the work, according to a Monday news release. Another $1 million came from Cuyahoga County; another $500,000 came from RTA.
A commission last year approved replacing the barriers with nine retractable security bollards at either end of the Public Square section of Superior — at East Roadway and West Roadway — which can be raised to close off the area to vehicles for special events.
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The plan also includes Cleveland’s first-ever raised “tabletop” crosswalk in the center of the block and the return of bicycle lane makings along Superior Avenue.
“Public Square is not only the front door for downtown Cleveland, but it is RTA’s No. 1 transfer location for buses and rapid transit trains: approximately 5,000 transfers daily,” RTA General Manager and CEO India Birdsong Terry is quoted in the release. “The modifications [the removal of the barriers] will enhance operational efficiency and minimize impact to our customers.”
Crews will need to work carefully so as to not damage infrastructure buried beneath the square, according to the release. The project is being overseen by the Group Plan Commission, which is tasked with seeing it through.
“We’re proud to work with our partners in Downtown Cleveland to ensure our vision of an 18-hour, 15-minute City is realized, ” CEO Sanaa Julien is quoted in the release. “This is the next step in the process towards achieving that goal.”
Learn more about the plan here.
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