Plans are underway for the development of a US$ 15.7M DREAM 66 project in Cleveland, Ohio. Through contributions from the city of Cleveland and NOACA (Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency), $5 million was raised for the project. The funds generated comprise $3,500,000 of the city’s money and a $1,500,000 commitment from the NOACA. Whereas, the outstanding $10.7 million is expected to be covered by federal funding.
The city is working alongside NOACA to apply for a $10,732,046 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Or more specifically, the Rebuild America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Program. DREAM 66 which connotes Delivering Resilient Equitable Accessible Mobility to East 66th Street, is aimed at reviving two particularly underserved neighborhoods. Therefore, feedback on the recommended upgrades was also gathered from residents through extensive community engagement.
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According to Mayor Justin Bibb, the E. 66th Street Corridor area has suffered decades of systemic disinvestment. Consequently, the city was pushed to seek federal funding to help revitalize the one-mile corridor between Superior Avenue and Euclid Avenue. If the grant gets approved, the 10.7 million raise will enable the city to remake the street.
Development plans for the DREAM 66 project
Development plans for the DREAM 66 project include the addition of a 6-foot-wide sidewalk and pedestrian crossings. Furthermore, a multi-purpose trail will be constructed with porous asphalt to improve water quality, along with bicycle and scooter parking spaces. The project will also involve planting new trees and installing benches and trash cans along the corridor.
The DREAM 66 improvements would make East 66th Street a tributary leading to the Euclid corridor bus rapid transit line. NAOC’s executive director, Grace Gallucci, also pointed out that the project would bring connections to the adjacent St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. She further stated that this development was the first in Cleveland to comply with the “Complete and Green Streets” ordinance. Basically, this calls for designs that make Cleveland streets safer, greener, and more welcoming for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others. The city council passed the ordinance in June
