FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 15, 1998
Contact: Velvet Snow
Tel.: (202) 366-0782
FTA 15-98
DOWNEY ANNOUNCES $1.8 MILLION GRANT FOR CLEVELAND TRANSIT
Deputy U.S. Transportation Secretary Mortimer L. Downey today announced the award of $1.8 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to extend the Waterfront and Blue light rail lines. The Blue Line extension will improve transit service between the Greater Cleveland National Empowerment Zone centered on Euclid Avenue and near suburban Cleveland job centers.
"Transportation alone doesn’t solve anything if it doesn’t take people where they want to go; economic development can’t achieve its promise if people can’t get there," said Vice President Gore, speaking at the Community Empowerment Conference. "This grant will improve access both to markets and to employment centers, generating jobs and expanding economic opportunity throughout the Greater Cleveland National Empowerment Zone."
"President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to revitalizing America’s cities and rural towns, and transportation can strengthen communities so that they become the kinds of places people go to -- not just go through," Downey said.
The Greater Cleveland National Empowerment Zone is one of 15 areas designated by President Clinton as national Empowerment Zones. Empowerment Zones focus on community-based revitalization strategies with targeted federal assistance, including grants focused on job creation; tax benefits for businesses; assistance in overcoming regulatory impediments to redevelopment; and special consideration in competition for federal funding.
The $1.8 million grant awarded today will fund preliminary studies for the extension of the Blue Line from downtown Cleveland to suburban job centers. It also will support studies of a Waterfront Line extension from Northcoast Harbor to the planned Euclid Corridor transit project.
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