RTA moves West 25th bus rapid transit design forward amid continued concerns from Ohio City businesses
MetroHealth Line BRT design advances as corridor debate continues
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is moving ahead with design work on the MetroHealth Line bus rapid transit project, a planned overhaul of transit service and street operations along a roughly four-mile stretch of West 25th Street. The corridor connects Downtown Cleveland to multiple West Side neighborhoods, including Ohio City, Clark-Fulton, Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn.
Project schedules released by the transit authority show the work in late-stage design, with 100% design targeted for March 2026 and construction planned across 2027 and 2028. The project’s planning materials describe a combination of bus-priority treatments, upgraded stations and shelters, accessibility adjustments, and changes to traffic signal timing, including transit signal priority.
What the project would change on West 25th Street
The transit authority has described the MetroHealth Line BRT as a set of infrastructure upgrades intended to improve reliability and travel time for bus riders along West 25th Street. Planning documents also reference curbside station concepts and lane configuration changes, with segments that prioritize buses during peak periods and include signal improvements.
At the center of local debate is the project’s approach to dedicated bus lanes in Ohio City’s Market District area, where the corridor is heavily traveled by buses and also functions as a commercial destination. Public presentations in 2025 indicated the transit authority was leaning toward making curbside bus lanes “continuous” through the Market Square area, rather than mixing buses with general traffic in the busiest stretch.
Why some businesses remain opposed
Some business and property owners in Ohio City have continued to press for changes to the dedicated-lane concept, focusing on the loss of curbside parking and curb access, as well as concerns about pedestrian safety in an area with high foot traffic. A petition circulated by business and property owners asked agencies involved to reconsider a plan that would install dedicated bus lanes along West 25th Street from Detroit Avenue to Monroe Avenue.
During public discussions in 2025, business representatives raised concerns that removing on-street parking could affect customer access and change the street’s traffic-calming dynamics near the West Side Market. Safety concerns cited in meetings included crossing distance and vehicle speeds in the Market District.
How the transit authority is addressing tradeoffs
The transit authority’s materials and public presentations have pointed to mitigation measures that could accompany dedicated lanes, including design elements intended to reduce speeding and clarify lane use. Concepts discussed publicly have included raised crosswalk elements, warning signage, and physical separators in sensitive locations. Project descriptions also emphasize upgrades that improve accessibility and rider amenities at stops.
Key milestones still ahead
Completion of final design targeted for March 2026
Construction planned during 2027 and 2028
On-street traffic, parking, and loading impacts expected to remain a central issue as designs are finalized
As design work advances toward completion in 2026, the project’s final lane and curbside access decisions will largely determine how the MetroHealth Line balances transit speed, business access, and pedestrian conditions in Ohio City’s busiest blocks.