Opportunity Corridor

The Opportunity Corridor is a boulevard in Cleveland, Ohio, partially open to traffic and partially under construction as of 2019, that is planned to connect Interstate 77 (I-77) and I-490 to the University Circle neighborhood. "The purpose of the project is to improve the roadway network within a historically under-served, economically depressed area within the City of Cleveland."[1]

Opportunity Corridor
Route information
Existed2008–present
Major junctions
West end I-490 / East 55th Street in Cleveland (connection unconstructed as of 2019)
East end US 322 in Cleveland
Location
CountiesCuyahoga
Highway system

History
Further information: Interstate 490 (Ohio) § History

In the 1960s, Cuyahoga County had planned to build a freeway called the Clark Freeway in Cleveland and its environs, part of a network of planned freeways.[2] The entirety of I-490, along with a portion of what later became I-90 westward from the I-71/I-90/I-490 interchange, was built as a result of this project. However, the road was initially proposed to extend to the Outer-belt East Freeway (I-271). The route was ultimately truncated to East 55th Street as a result of freeway revolts.

Later plans for a highway along this general routing included a plan to build a freeway northeastward from East 55th Street to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway (I-90 and State Route 2, SR 2), but this plan was rejected in 2002.[3] The route was again proposed by Ken Blackwell during his failed bid for governor in 2006.[4]

Active project

The current project as of 2019, part of the Inner-belt reconstruction project, involves building a boulevard to connect I-490 to the University Circle neighborhood. This iteration was conceived in 2008;[5] its record of decision was issued in May 2014.[1][6] Construction began in March 2015 along the portion east of East 93rd Street;[7][8] this portion opened in two segments in late 2017 and November 2018.[9] The target date for the completion of the rest of the road is 2021.[10]

The Ohio Department of Transportation has proposed that the road receive an extension of the Ohio State Route 10 designation.[11][12]

The project was estimated in April 2013 to cost $331.3 million by the Federal Highway Administration, or about $100 million per mile.[13]

Opposition

The Opportunity Corridor has a number of opponents, including a grassroots group, Clevelanders for Transportation Equity.[14] Many of the objections are rooted in the upheaval of the local community, which is predominantly lower income and African-American.[15][16]

Other local critiques include a report by the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative in which concerns are raised regarding a lack of comprehensive vision, lack of meaningful community engagement, poorly designed green infrastructure, and the absence of true multi-modal integration.[17]

The Opportunity Corridor was also featured in a report by the United State Public Interest Research Group titled, "Highway Boondoggles: Wasted Money and America’s Transportation Future".[18] This report highlights ODOT's poor enforcement of their “fix-it-first” policy as well as the stagnant Vehicle Miles Traveled statistics for the region in contrast with the increased ridership on the Regional Transit Authority.[19]

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References
  1. HNTB (May 1, 2014). The Cleveland Opportunity Corridor Project: Final Environmental Impact Statement / Record of Decision (PDF). Federal Highway Administration/Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  2. Cuyahoga County, Ohio (August 1966). "Route Location Studies: Clark Freeway, East 55th Street to Outer Belt East Freeway (Report Number 8)". Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  3. Exner, Rich (February 15, 2002). "East Side Highway Options Hit Wall: State, Federal Officials Urge Scrapping Plan". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
  4. Wendling, Ted (August 18, 2006). "Foe Blasts Blackwell's 'Summit' with Contractors". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
  5. Nichols, Jim (June 27, 2008). "Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor Project Gets Back on Track". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  6. Grant, Alison (May 29, 2014). "Opportunity Corridor Gets Federal Signoff, Clearing Way for 3.5-Mile Boulevard". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  7. Grant, Alison (December 18, 2014). "Inner Belt, Opportunity Corridor Move Along, Road Repair Plan Nixed". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  8. Grant, Alison (March 13, 2015). "Opportunity Corridor Crews Begin Work on Monday Along a Section of East 105th Street". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  9. District 12 (November 29, 2018). "Officials cut the ribbon on Opportunity Corridor Section 2" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation District 12. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  10. Litt, Steven (February 14, 2018). "Opportunity Corridor is Back on Track for 2021 Completion after Delay Caused by Taxpayer Lawsuit". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  11. City of Cleveland (October 1, 2013). "Opportunity Corridor Public Hearing" (PDF). City of Cleveland. p. 19. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  12. Ohio Department of Transportation (March 2015). "District 12: 2015 Construction Program" (PDF). Ohio Department of Transportation. p. 21. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  13. "Project Overview". Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  14. Clevelanders for Transportation Equity. "Clevelanders for Transportation Equity". Clevelanders for Transportation Equity. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  15. Breckenridge, Tom (July 18, 2011). "Opportunity Corridor's Latest Alignment Would Uproot More than 90 Families, a Dozen Businesses". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  16. Stocking, Chris. "Opportunity Nowhere: The Beginner's Guide to Being Outraged Over the $330-Million Opportunity Corridor". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  17. Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (March 4, 2014). "Advancing Opportunities: Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  18. U.S. Public Interest Research Group (September 18, 2014). "Report: 21st Century Transportation". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  19. Inglis, Jeff; Baxandall, Phineas (September 18, 2014). "Highway Boondoggles: Wasted Money and America's Transportation Future" (PDF). U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

Further reading
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