The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (County Planning), the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), the city of Cleveland, the port of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have announced the launch of Cuyahoga Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), what they call a long-term, collaborative effort to advance TOD in Cuyahoga County communities. The initiative’s launch hosts new branding and logos, as well as the unveiling of a new website that consolidates relevant information into a centralized location.

Cuyahoga TOD aims to empower people, communities and partners to grow vibrant, connected neighborhoods along key transit corridors in Cuyahoga County. The group says that by aligning transit, planning, zoning and development resources, it’s easier to build around transit and create the connected, walkable, mixed-use places anchored by high-frequency rail and bus services that people desire.

The initiative emerged from the 2021 TOD Zoning Study, a four-part effort led by County Planning and GCRTA in partnership with the city of Cleveland and several other local communities. They note that the study examined zoning, land use and development conditions across transit corridors, revealing significant inconsistencies, barriers and missed opportunities. Through that work, the agencies agreed that a more visible presence and coordinated approach was needed to advance a unified regional effort.

“Cuyahoga TOD is a new, intentional way of working together,” said Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Executive Director Mary Cierebiej. “This partnership transcends individual projects with a long-term commitment to align zoning, land use, transportation, investment and development strategies across jurisdictions.”

The group says the launch of the website brings this coordinated approach into action. The new website places TOD resources, financing tools, project tracking, design guidance and active opportunities in a single, accessible location that allows developers, community partners and residents to navigate the region’s TOD ecosystem easily. The website can also collect and feature TOD-specific requests for proposals, requests for qualifications and available sites from multiple jurisdictions and agencies in a single location. Doing so allows developers to quickly access opportunities while providing a focused platform for communities seeking transit-related investment.

“Strong transit corridors are at the heart of thriving communities,” said GCRTA General Manager and CEO India Birdsong Terry. “By coordinating our efforts and presenting TOD opportunities clearly and consistently, we are making it easier than ever for development to occur around transit.”

The website also debuts the Cuyahoga TOD brand, a visual identity that the group says symbolizes upward momentum, seamless transit connections, vibrant neighborhood hubs and a shared dedication to growing high-quality places throughout Cuyahoga County. This logo and branding is set to be used in a variety of applications, from annual reports to outreach events and construction sites, to communicate a consistent, recognizable and highly visible joint commitment to sustained action and progress.

“Cleveland’s future depends on building neighborhoods where people can more easily connect to jobs, housing, businesses and opportunity,” said Clevland Mayor Justin Bibb. “Cuyahoga TOD gives our region a stronger way to work together to make that vision a reality. By coordinating our investments and planning around transit, we can create more connected, walkable neighborhoods and unlock new opportunities for growth along the corridors that serve our residents every day."

In the coming weeks, the Cuyahoga TOD website will highlight new opportunities for TOD as partners continue to advance transit- focused reinvestment across key corridors.

“This partnership builds on our region’s robust transit infrastructure and positions us to leverage it for future development,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “By reconnecting and uplifting communities through transit-focused reinvestment, we are creating places where residents can access jobs, housing and transportation more easily.”