BROOKPARK (RTA RAPID TRANSIT STATION)

Brookpark is a station on the RTA Red Line in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It is located along Brookpark Road (Ohio State Route 17) west of the intersection of Engle Road (Ohio State Route 291).

It is the westernmost station on the RTA Rapid Transit that includes free parking, and it is the second busiest station on the RTA Rapid Transit, after Tower City.

The station includes two large parking lots—the original one east of the station, and a new auxiliary one west of the station.
The station is a temporary structure built in the early 2000s and is being used while a decision is made on plans to develop the station area. The temporary station has no tunnel or bridge to the island platform, and passengers are required to cross the westbound tracks to reach the platform.

Contents

Nearby destinations

History

References

External links

Nearby destinations

★ Cleveland Engine

★ Brook Park

★ Southwest suburbs

History

The four-mile extension of the CTS Rapid Transit from West Park station to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport was opened in November 1968, but the Brookpark Station was not opened when this extension was opened. The station opened the following spring on April 20.^[1]
The station lobby and parking lot were originally located on the northeast side of the tracks and connected to the platform by a tunnel extending under the eastbound track and the adjacent tracks of the CSX railroad.
In 2000, RTA announced plans for a $7.5 million renovation of the station similar to other Red Line stations that have been or being rebuilt.^[2]
The plans called for closing the present station and building a temporary station on the other side of the tracks. The temporary station was erected and the old station closed, but further plans for a new station have been sidetracked.
Instead of simply building a new station, RTA envisioned a larger transit-oriented development. RTA began working with Brookpark RTA Ventures, Ltd. headed by Paul J. Singerman of Beachwood. Plans called for a hotel and restaurant as part of the project, along with a new station and parking facility. As development efforts dragged on, Singerman publicly complained about lack of cooperation from the RTA Board.^[3]
Eventually, RTA reached an agreement with Singerman's company.^[4]
In 2005, the RTA Board approved a letter of intent with the company.
The agreement provided for completion of the new station in three years, but construction work has yet to begin.

References

1.
About RTA: History of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland
2.

3.
Developer faults RTA's board for delay on hotel-station plan Rich Exner
4.
RTA Brookpark Road station plans get OK Rich Exner

External links

★ Brookpark Rapid Station page from RTA Website