Lorain Avenue
This segment of the Cleveland Midway would improve safety for people walking, riding a bike, driving, or taking the bus on Lorain Avenue between W. 20th Street and W. 65th Street.
Latest Resources
Public Open House - January 25th, 2024
The Lorain Avenue segment of the Cleveland Midway would stretch 1.8 miles from West 65th Street to West 20th Street. In addition to the bikeway, improvements to that section of the road would include new pavement, curb, sidewalk, driveway aprons, ADA-compliant ramps at all locations, new water lines, traffic signal improvements, and new pavement markings. The separated bikeway would be installed next to the sidewalk with a buffer from car traffic.
Lorain Avenue generally operates under capacity, leading to speeding traffic and a high rate of crashes that are typically more severe. 67% of households within the project area have one car or fewer, and 21% are entirely car-free. Separated bike lanes can help make transportation more equitable by providing a safe and affordable way for people of all income levels to get around. This segment offers the opportunity to restore greenspace and tree canopy cover for improved stormwater capture and air quality.
This segment would provide low-stress connections to bike lanes on W. 65th, W. 44th, W. 41st, Abbey Rd, and other trails, including the Red Line Greenway, Hope Memorial Bridge, and the Towpath.
Benefits of the Lorain Avenue Segment
The Lorain Avenue segment of the Cleveland Midway is from West 20th Street to West 65th Street.
Prioritize safety and accessibility for all.
Provide a separated, sidewalk-level all ages and abilities bikeway
Improve transit performance and waiting environments
Enhance the natural and aesthetic environment of the Lorain Avenue corridor
Support Lorain Avenue as a vibrant destination for residents and visitors
Project Goals and Values:
Previous Studies
Recommends dedicated bicycle facilities for Lorain Avenue
Proposed raised separated bikeway on Lorain Avenue between W. 20th St and W. 65th St
The City of Cleveland hosted a series of pre-design engagement meetings and distributed a survey to business stakeholders along Lorain Avenue.
Current Project Timeline
Feasibility study & conceptual design for separated bikeway on Lorain Avenue between W. 20th St and W. 65th St.
Perform Environmental (NEPA) Due Diligence
Prepare cost estimates & investigate opportunities for additional funding
2023/2024 Concept Design and Due Diligence (Phase 1)
Materials and Updates
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Business Outreach: We’re collecting input from those who own or work in the businesses along the corridor. We’re asking about deliveries, parking, and other transportation concerns.
Take the business outreach survey!
Public Outreach: We’re collecting input from the people who live near and visit the corridor.
In the goals and priorities survey below, please let us know if you agree with our draft vision statement and what streetscape features you want to see on the corridor.
In the general survey, we’re asking you to let us know whether you have safety concerns about the current roadway, how you currently use the corridor, how you’d like to use the corridor, how you generally get around the city, and why you are interested in the project.
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2024 Lorain Parking Study Key Takeaways:
The parking study was conducted over multiple days in June of 2023 on Lorain Avenue between W 65th and W 20th.
Parking occupancy rates vary throughout the corridor but tend to be higher on the eastern end of the study area and between E 44th and Fulton.
The highest street parking occupancy occurs on Saturdays between 2-4 pm when 47% of street parking spaces in the study area are occupied.
Street parking occupancy varies block by block, with some segments reaching 100% occupancy at certain times.
When street parking is fully occupied on a particular block, spaces on adjacent blocks are typically less than 60% filled, meaning parking is available nearby.
Parking on Lorain is less than 30% occupied on a typical weekday.
Many cars are parked for longer than regulations allow. We can use meters, curb regulations, and enforcement tools to incentivize turnover.
What we are working on:
As part of this project, we will examine how our current curb regulations align with the corridor's use and needs. We will also work with business owners to consider the location of loading zones, pick-up/drop-off spaces, and parking duration restrictions.
We are exploring district parking options and working to develop a parking signage and communication plan to direct people arriving by car where to park.
We are completing a traffic capacity analysis to understand better where left-turn lanes are necessary along the corridor. While left-turn lanes can be an effective tool for improving roadway capacity and reducing rear-end crashes, we recognize that they occupy space that could otherwise be used for street parking in specific locations. The plans we shared at the public open house in January 2024 indicated that left turn lanes may be needed at most signalized intersections along the corridor. The roadway plans will be updated to reflect the capacity analysis results and community feedback.
