advertisement

---

Earlier this week, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) board signed off on a series of initiatives.

Board members approved the 2009 tax budget, which estimates anticipated revenue. Because high fuel costs are impacting the budget, the board said it would consider implementing a 25- to 50-cent fuel surcharge and up to a 10 percent service reduction to take effect in October. GCRTA will hold public hearings on the proposal next month.

The board also added $346,000 to the design budget for a new rail station at East 55th Street, bringing the total design contract awarded to Hatch Mott MacDonald to $1.3 million. The $10 million project calls for relocating the station to the southeast corner of the Rapid Corridor and East 55th Street to make the facility more visible.

Finally, the board authorized a $1.1 million contract with City Architecture for architectural and engineering services associated with relocating the East 120th Street Station, and rebuilding the Mayfield station and track bridge.