RTA Taps TRA for Transit-Based Strategy

CLEVELAND-The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has tapped TR Advisors of Boston to create a transit-oriented development plan for the region. The goal is to create livable and walkable communities centered on the city’s commuter train systems, which have a service area of 458 square miles that generates 55.5 million passenger trips annually.

TR Advisors’ parent firm, Transit Realty Associates, was formed in 1996 to be the defacto real estate department for Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Today, Transit Realty is in the middle of its second five-year contract with the MBTA, while TR Advisors is out seeking similar outsource and consulting assignments in other markets. Cleveland is TR Advisors first such assignment.

Lorna Moritz, the executive director with TR Advisors, tells GlobeSt.com that the first part of its project with the Greater Cleveland RTA will be to form some planning guidelines for transit-oriented development that are specific to Cleveland. Zoning also will be reviewed to make sure it supports and encourages such development, and there will be an education program to educate the various stakeholders.