Shaker Heights reviews $32 million Lee Road complete‑street plan; construction targeted for July 2026

Shaker Heights City Council members met in a May 12, 2025, work session to review the Lee Road Action Plan and engineering for a $32 million Lee Road Complete Street project that city staff say will reconfigure the corridor to one travel lane in each direction with a center turn lane, add a two‑way cycle track on the southern portion and other multimodal and streetscape improvements.

City planners said design is advancing (30% plans have been submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation), targeted milestones include 60% drawings in late June, bid documents next spring, a bid opening in April 2026 and a planned construction start in July 2026 with roughly two years of work. Staff told council about multiple funding sources but said gaps remain: about $24 million in grant funding is currently identified, a local match of roughly $3.1 million is budgeted and additional unbudgeted costs related to construction matches and utility work were cited at about $4.5 million. Road‑work items still not budgeted were described as roughly $2.4 million (about $1.2 million for construction match and $1.2 million for construction management and inspection).

The plan divides the corridor: the southern section (two blocks into Cleveland to Van Aken) would include a raised, two‑way cycle track and enhanced streetscaping; the northern section (north of Van Aken to the city boundary) would use buffered bike lanes. City staff described a border‑to‑border “road diet” with three travel lanes total (one lane each direction plus center turn lane), continuous sidewalks and planted buffer strips between the sidewalk and bikeway.

Joyce O'Donnell, a city staff member leading the presentation, told council the engineering team includes County Public Works as the lead for engineering and construction, with CVE/Schrein Valley Engineering and SmithGroup as designers. O'Donnell said the city meets monthly with planning and economic development staff to track implementation tasks, budgets and timelines and that project materials and a public questionnaire will be posted on the city project webpage after consultant presentations to residents and businesses.

Christian, a city staff member working on utilities, described a century‑old 10‑inch water main beneath the west curb line from Scottsdale to Van Aken that staff say will need relocation because the proposed curb line would be placed over the pipe. "It's over a hundred years old," Christian said, adding that the city has begun preliminary talks with Cleveland Water about funding options and possible loan arrangements but that those discussions are at an early stage.

Director Braverman said utility relocation costs are typically not covered by federal transportation grants and that burying overhead utilities would be cost‑prohibitive for the city: "It is not a physical issue... it's a cost issue. Utilities are not covered by any of our federal grants," she said, estimating burying wires would be in the millions of dollars.

City staff flagged tree preservation as a major technical and design issue. Presenters said most existing street trees are honey locusts in poor or fair condition, with problems including directional pruning for overhead wires, girdled roots and limited growing space. Staff said utility excavation would likely affect many existing trees but that new planting buffer strips and larger tree islands are planned; those strips would be more than double the width of the current planters to support healthier, longer‑lived trees. Councilmember Moore praised the attention to tree selection and urged exploring native species and pedestrian‑level LED lighting as possible enhancements.

Staff also reviewed a shared‑parking pilot implemented last year in the corridor: Laura, a staff member, said the pilot consolidated parking across nine parcels, eliminated four driveway aprons and was funded mostly with CDBG and related local funds. City planners said they will look for opportunities to reduce curb cuts and consolidate parking in other subareas of Lee Road, while noting ongoing conversations about maintenance (for example, snow‑plowing) and long‑term operations with property owners.

On zoning, staff reported they have begun work with consultant ZoneCo on zoning amendments intended to allow transit‑oriented and mixed uses consistent with the Lee Road plan; a kickoff meeting was held and staff expect to take proposed zoning amendments to the Planning Commission late in the year. The city’s Recreation Plan — which would endorse elements of the proposed Shelton Park neighborhood center, including expanded park amenities and mixed‑use development adjacent to Lee Road — was noted as scheduled for council consideration on May 27.

Council members asked about bus operations, medians, and whether the roadway width would change. Staff said the design narrows travel lanes to create space for the cycle track by moving the west curb about 10 feet and that some utility poles will be relocated. On transit stops, staff said center turn lanes typically allow motorists to go around briefly stopped vehicles such as buses and that a forthcoming meeting with the regional transit agency will address bus operations.

Staff listed regional funding sources under consideration or already contributing, including ODOT review and grant programs, NOACA and county funds, and smaller state and local grants; staff said one funding source of roughly $4.8 million requires the city to advertise the project for bid by July 2026. O'Donnell said the dollar figures are still being refined as designs and funding applications advance.

The presentation closed after council questions; staff said they will post the consultant presentation and a public questionnaire online and hold a final public meeting later this summer.

Votes at a glance: Council moved to go into executive session later in the evening to discuss the purchase, sale or development of real property and to prepare for negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning compensation and other terms and conditions of employment. The motion to enter executive session was moved by Councilmember Claytor, seconded by Councilmember Carmela Williams, and passed on a roll‑call vote of seven ayes (Moore; Ann Williams; Carmela Williams; Bixenstein; Claytor; Kaus; Malone).