Feds Want Their Money Back After Cleveland Changes Public Square Plans

The city of Cleveland knew that the Federal Transit Administration expected buses to run through Public Square. Now that there will be no buses, the FTA says there will be no grant money.

1 minute read

December 30, 2016, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cleveland Public Square

Kenneth Sponsler / Shutterstock

"The other shoe has finally dropped on the closing of Public Square to buses," reports WKYC Channel 3. The article by the television news station breaks the news that "the Federal Transit Administration has sent a letter to the Cleveland RTA, demanding the return of $12 million in the next 30 days."

As reported when the city closed the Public Square to buses in a controversial decision November, the grant required buses to run on Superior Avenue through Public Square for as part of a federally funded downtown transit zone.

"The letter accuses the RTA of a 'breach of a grant agreement' since the square has not reopened to traffic, despite $50 million in total renovations," according to the scoop. 

Thursday, December 29, 2016 in WKYC

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