The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s Brookpark Rapid Station in the suburb of Brook Park could soon be home to a Greyhound and Barons intercity bus stop, too. Negotiations are underway on an agreement between the transit providers to make this happen (Tom Horsman). CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Inner city transit center no longer planned
The Cleveland Browns aren’t the only ones considering a move from downtown Cleveland to the suburb of Brook Park. Now the Greyhound/Barons intercity bus lines could also move to the western suburb near Cleveland International Hopkins Airport.
A spokesperson confirmed that the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is negotiating with the statewide and regional bus operators to move their shared station to GCRTA-owned property between Brookpark Road and Interstate 480. The neighboring interstate is in Cleveland, showing how close the 18010 Brookpark Road rapid transit station is to the region’s capital.
“The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is pleased to have been a team member to assist Greyhound and Barons Bus in finding a new location for their customers,” said Robert Fleig, GCRTA spokesman. “Our Brookpark Station overflow parking lot will provide Barons Bus with the space it needs to build a new transit center where customers can purchase fares, board, disembark and wait for their bus.”
However, there are two overflow parking lots at Brookpark Station. One is on the west side of the platform and the other is on the east end of the GCRTA station lot next to I-71. Fleig looked into which lot would be suitable. The two bus companies together handle 30 buses arriving and departing from Cleveland in a 24-hour period.
Overhead view from earlier this year of the Brookpark Rapid Station in the suburb of Brook Park. The Greyhound/Barons bus stop will be built on one of two overflow parking lots on the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority property (MyPlace.CuyahogaCounty.gov).
“An agreement between Barons Bus and GCRTA is currently being reviewed and will be processed through normal procedures,” he noted. Dallas-based Greyhound would serve any station selected locally by Barons. Barons’ corporate headquarters and bus garage are just down the street at 13315 Brookpark in Brook Park.
The future location for a new Greyhound/Barons bus station has been uncertain since Greyhound’s parent company First Group PLC. sold its 1948-built, Art Deco-style Downtown Cleveland train station1465 Chester Ave., in 2023 for $1.72 million. It was part of a sale of 32 Greyhound stations across the country to real estate development firm Twenty Lake Holdings of Stamford, CT for $140 million.
Twenty Lake then sold the 2.25 acre Cleveland property and the 3,300 square meter station building. It was purchased by the Playhouse Square Foundation purchased the station earlier this year for $3.35 million, according to Cuyahoga County land records. Sources say the foundation is securing additional property around the station for redevelopment that includes renovation of the historic station.
“We look forward to sharing our plans for the space as soon as they are concrete,” Cindi Szymanski, senior manager of brand marketing and communications at Playhouse Square, said in an email to NEOtrans last spring.
The historic Greyhound bus station on Chester Avenue at the east end of downtown Cleveland has not been owned by Greyhound for years. It is now owned by the Playhouse Square Foundation, which wants to expand the theater district northward (Google).
Greyhound/Barons originally targeted the GCRTA’s Puritas Rapid Station as the site for relocating their Cleveland station, while potentially retaining a curbside boarding point in downtown Cleveland. The possibility of a downtown curbside boarding point is still being evaluated. The Puritas Station is located at 4200 W. 150th St. in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood.
But city and county officials said they wanted the main train station in the city center. In April, Fleig confirmed that the 14-year-old, but almost empty Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center2115 E. 22nd St., Downtown, has been considered for the Greyhound/Barons station. A Greyhound spokesperson told NEOtrans that the current Downtown Cleveland station in Chester will not be closed until a new location is found.
“After working closely with the City of Cleveland and local authorities, Greyhound can confirm our ongoing operations at the terminal at 1465 Chester Avenue as we continue to work toward the move to our future location,” said Courtney Castaneda, senior manager of communications and events at Greyhound.
The 14-year-old but largely unused Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center on East 22nd Street at Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland was considered for a Greyhound/Barons bus station, but was apparently scrapped, with Brookpark Station currently under active discussion (Google).
“The teamwork of GCRTA, the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County created a shared responsibility for negotiations and land search that now allows Greyhound and Barons Bus to advance their plans to serve their customers today and in the future,” Fleig told NEOtrans.
“Ensuring public transit to downtown remains a key focus for the City of Cleveland and RTA,” he added. “These buses are an integral part of our transit network and provide residents and visitors with an accessible, affordable and sustainable way to travel to and from the city. We are actively exploring opportunities to work with partners to establish curbside stops downtown.”
Further details about the Greyhound/Barons station at Brook Park, including what types of passenger amenities (waiting room, restrooms, heating/cooling) might be offered, are currently unknown, he said. “All of your questions are valid, but it’s too early in the process to answer them,” Fleig noted.
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