In late breaking news, ODOT will not discuss the multi-use path on the Innerbelt Bridge at tomorrow's Cleveland Planning Commission meeting, even though they were confirmed on the agenda. ODOT representatives will be at the Planning Commission meeting anyway, presenting plans for the West Shoreway, but will not respond to a resolution approved by the Planning Commission inviting ODOT to address questions and concerns on the possibility of a multi-purpose path on the new Inner Belt Bridge. The local office is waiting as "ODOT Central (Columbus) formulates a response," writes an ODOT 12 staffer. Bicyclists, joggers, walkers and sustainability advocates are still expecting to have a conversation with ODOT about this at a future Planning Commission meeting. To support a bike/pedestrian path on the Innerbelt Bridge, click here.- As evidenced by WCPN’s January 29th broadcast of the Sound of Ideas, momentum for the addition of a multi-purpose path on the Inner Belt Bridge is growing, as the discourse has extended beyond planning circles to mediums more capable of broadly affecting the public conscience. The episode was entitled “Access for Everyone”, and had an ODOT representative, Bonnie Teeuwen of the local office, District 12, defending the bridge’s design as Plain Dealer reporter Steven Litt and Cuyahoga County Planning Director Paul Alsenas questioned both the wisdom of its placement as well as its functionality. At one point moderator Regina Britt asked whether or not ODOT was still considering the option of a multi-use path given the local groundswell of support. While Teeuwen did not answer the question directly, she asserted that the advocacy component was being addressed through ODOT’s attempt to provide an alternative path via Abbey Rd and W. 20thStreet. And while this is no small accomplishment for local advocates given the fact that ODOT conceded millions of dollars of investment that otherwise wouldn’t have been spent, one gets the feeling that the work is not done—and that more can be accomplished. Litt agrees. In response to Britt’s question as to whether the future Innerbelt can still be redeemed, the urban design critic states that a multi-use path has “been done on 30 interstate bridges…it shouldn’t be that difficult.”
- Case Western Reserve University has expanded its composting program in a big way. Bon Appétit, the food service management at Case, has just partnered with Rosby Resource Recycling in a waste reuse program which promises to keep up to 3,000 pounds of food waste from entering the landfill. The amount diverted is expected to grow, as the initial phases of the partnership calls for Rosby to pick up at only one of Case’s four main dining units.
- For all those architects and designers out there at a loss with what to do with your material samples, local artist and educators need your help. Every Saturday this month ZeroLandfill will be in Akron collecting your unused materials that hold value for other creators in the community.
- The new issue of EcoWatch is out, with Re-imagining More Sustainable Cleveland taking the cover. Other articles of interest include the description of a demonstration project studying the efficacy of hydrogen-based public transit, and information on EcoWatch’s annual Green Gala featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as guest speaker.
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I would tear down all the borders. I would make it one big municipality. I would take this idea of regionalism seriously. I would go as far as Akron, Canton, and Youngstown and make this one region that would work together, because they would be forced to. One tax system, one school system, one economic base. Everybody then would be all for one and one for all.
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It’s time we built a high-speed rail system connecting Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati. It’s time we fund our transit systems to be strong competitors to the car. It’s time we invested in Complete Streets (like the Euclid Corridor). It’s time we fixed our potholes. It’s time we stopped building new highways to nowhere. It’s time we had a real conversation about investing in a transportation system that recognizes climate change, peak oil, and sustainable solutions.
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The hope for access, a new composting partnership, and EcoWatch hits the stands
Submitted by Richey Piiparinen | Last edited February 4, 2010 - 6:18pm
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Marc Lefkowitz Says:The activists and cyclists in favor of a multi-use trail for cycling and walking and enjoying beautiful views of downtown will still appear at tomorrow's Planning Commission meeting at 8:45 am at Cleveland City Hall. Between 12 and 20 citizens and groups have been showing up and testifying on a regular basis. Hundreds of people and scores of groups representing thousands of potential users of the path have written and sent ODOT letters of support since this campaign ramped up again in 2009. See the letters, and read the talking points for your letter at gcbl.org/innerbelt