TEAM CONTACT
Niraj Naik
Director of Neighborhood planning
nnaik@midtowncleveland.org
216-391-5080 ext. 109
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
PROVIDE FEEDBACK
PROJECT
TIMELINE
Phase I Here
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Phase II Here
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Phase III Here
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Phase IV Here
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What's Next
In the near term, look for the City’s lane re-striping and painted protected bike lane implementation, followed by iterative quick-build elements at priority locations in the MidTown segment.
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East 55th Street is one of MidTown’s most important north–south streets. It links jobs, homes, health care, and recreation and cuts right through the heart of our district. Today, it’s carrying heavy traffic with limited protection for people walking and biking. Our work aims to make East 55th safer and more welcoming while keeping it functional for everyone who depends on it.
Community Vision & Research
Over the last several years, MidTown and our partners have been listening to residents, workers, and businesses along East 55th. We’ve heard a consistent message: people want a corridor that feels safe to cross on foot, has better lighting and tree canopy, and still moves traffic reliably. That feedback aligns with crash data and on-the-ground observations—especially around Euclid & East 55th and Chester & East 55th—where long crossings and speeding are common issues.
Our vision for the MidTown segment is pragmatic and phased. Near-term, we’re leaning into quick-build safety upgrades and a painted, protected bike lane the City has committed to deliver via restriping. Over time, we’re working toward a coherent network that stitches East 55th into the broader set of neighborhood destinations. These changes will help to build out MidTown’s Linear Railway concept which is anchored at the lakefront by Cleveland Metroparks’ momentum at the North Coast Sailing Center and to the south, ties to Opportunity Corridor and the Morgana Run extension.
Pictured : precedents for this type of work in other metropolitan citites. Courtesy of LAND Studio & Merrit Chase
OUR APPROACH
CITY REDESIGN & ENHANCEMENTS
The City, with support from Stantec and our CDC partners, has advanced a near-term restriping plan that adds a painted protected bike lane and refines lane allocation to calm speeds.
In the MidTown stretch, the goals are straightforward: shorten crossing distances, create a safe north-south bike path, and increase comfort for people outside of cars.
At Penn Square (Euclid & East 55th), MidTown is piloting targeted placemaking elements that make the intersection read as a place—not just a throughput zone. Over the past year, we’ve activated the northwest corner of the lot with outdoor furniture, public events and community murals.
The East Side Railway Trail would link the Lakefront to the Opportunity Corridor and improve access to green space for many of Cleveland’s East Side neighborhoods.
Similar trails have been built in mid- size American cities, including Detroit, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Miami.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
This work is grounded in ongoing engagement with corridor stakeholders: residents, small businesses, faith institutions, and commuters.
MidTown participates in a working group convened alongside Bike Cleveland and peer CDCs. We’ve already conducted walk audits, targeted pop-ups at busy corners, and feedback loops with employers and institutions to make sure designs respond to real, everyday use.
We’ll continue to share updates as projects move from design to installation. While there are no public calls-to-action live today, we expect future opportunities to weigh in on quick-build refinements and longer-term concepts.
Pictured : Bike Cleveland's Jason Kuhn (RIGHT) is a longtime collaborator who has helped steer midtown's bike infrastructure.
Community priorities
After conversations with community members, we've identified four main priorities:
- Speeding & driver behavior, especially at night. The restriping and painted protection aim to narrow perceived lanes and calm speeds.
- Long, uncomfortable crossings. Priority intersections include Euclid & East 55th and Chester & East 55th; quick-build treatments focus on shorter exposure for people walking/rolling and clearer turning movements.
- Missing low-stress bike protection and limited comfort outside of a car. The protected bike lane, hardened corners, and daylighting measures build a predictable, connected experience.
- Lighting & tree canopy. As funding allows, we’ll coordinate with utilities and partners to improve visibility and shade where feasible.
Pictured : CROSSINGS AT INTERSECTIONS, INCLUDING AT EUCLID & EAST 55TH, WERE AMONG THE KEY FOCUS POINTS IN CONVERSATIONS
AN EXCEPTIONAL GROUP OF
PROJECT PARTNERS
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TEAM CONTACT
Niraj Naik
Director of Neighborhood planning
nnaik@midtowncleveland.org
216-391-5080 ext. 109
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
PROVIDE FEEDBACK
PROJECT
TIMELINE
Phase I Here
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Phase II Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit.
Phase III Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit.
Phase IV Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit.
What's Next
In the near term, look for the City’s lane re-striping and painted protected bike lane implementation, followed by iterative quick-build elements at priority locations in the MidTown segment.
GET ALL THE LATEST
Subscribe for news and project updates.
Building on the progress of the 2021 East 66th Transportation and Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI), the City of Cleveland in partnership with the Cleveland Foundation has now fully funded the rehabilitation of the roadway along East 66th Street.
E. 66th Street is a significant street in the Hough neighborhood. From League Park to the Fatima Family Center, Chateau Hough to the many historic churches along E. 66th Street, institutions and businesses in this corridor have served the community for years. With its roots as an old trolley line, it makes sense that E. 66th Street is an important transportation corridor.
Exciting new things are happening on E. 66th Street. The Cleveland Foundation has moved headquarters from downtown to E. 66th Street and Euclid Avenue, the Hough branch of the Cleveland Public Library now stands at Lexington and E. 66th Street, and various organizations and residents are continuing to move into the neighborhood.
Pictured : A comparison of E. 66th Street at the outset of the project (top) with the same location at the grand opening of the MidTown Collaboration Center.
OUR APPROACH
CITY-LED ENHANCEMENTS
Key Roadway Changes by the City of Cleveland:
- Road Diet: Narrowing the street to enhance safety for all users.
- Shared-Use Path: Adding a bi-directional path on the west side for bikes and pedestrians.
- Sidewalk Improvements: Replacing deteriorated sidewalks for full accessibility.
- Enhanced Crosswalks & Curb Extensions: Improving crosswalks and shortening crossing distances.
- Street Greening: Planting new trees and adding green infrastructure.
- Pedestrian-Scale Lighting & Public Art: Installing lighting and public art to enhance safety and vibrancy.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT
The East 66th Street Corridor is home to many important community spaces and places, including
- Historic League Park and Baseball Heritage Society
- Fatima Family Center
- Chateau Hough Winery
- Fannie M. Lewis Community Park
- Birthing Beautiful Communities
- Cleveland Foundation
- MidTown Collaboration Center
- Cleveland Public Library - Hough Branch
Pictured : Proposed district expansion of the area surrounding historic League Park
SIMULTANEOUS INVESTMENT
Several projects are planned along the corridor, providing additional investment in the neighborhood. These include:
Completed:
- New Cleveland Foundation headquarters at E. 66th & Euclid
- Midtown Innovation Center at E. 66th & Eucli
- New Cleveland Public Library branch at E. 66th & Lexington
- Allen Estates residential project
- Neighborhood smart parks network
- New linear park connection to Dave's Supermarket
- Expanded park area at Dunham Tavern
In Progress:
- Hough Cultural District master plan
- Dunham Tavern greenspace improvements
Pictured : Proposed district expansion of the area surrounding historic League Park
WE ASKED STAKEHOLDERS
Which of the following areas of focus are most important to you?
Focus Groups
Community Leaders of E. 66th Street
Mothers from Birthing Beautiful Communities
Residents of E. 66th Street
Seniors of E. 66th Street
Women of E. 66th Street
Youth of E. 66th Street
narrative consistency
- A street that attracts youth & families
- A street that unifies all of Hough
- A street that feels like "Black Avenue"
- Murals/words of affirmation and culturally-responsive images
- Tables and benches
- Outdoor workout equipment, basketball courts, and open green spaces for play
- Mounted barbeque pits
- Walkable, with a section with no car entry
- Bicycle trails
- The return of a recreation center
- Street well-lit
The E. 66th Street team is committed to making sure the parties who benefit the most from this project are the entire Hough Community.
This is why we have continued to hold virtual and in-person focus groups and meetings, taking community concerns, questions, and ideas into account for every decision we make - the community is our first priority in this process!
To that end, we've included in interactive map below - powered by Remix - where you can add comments to specific sections of the corridor.
INTERACTIVE MAP
LEAVE A COMMENT
More to add? Pin your comment directly to the map below!
AN EXCEPTIONAL GROUP OF
PROJECT PARTNERS
