TR Advisors' parent firm, Transit Realty Associates, was formedin 1996 to be the defacto real estate department for Boston'sMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Today, Transit Realtyis in the middle of its second five-year contract with the MBTA,while TR Advisors is out seeking similar outsource and consultingassignments in other markets. Cleveland is TR Advisors first suchassignment.

Lorna Moritz, the executive director with TR Advisors, tellsGlobeSt.com that the first part of its project with the GreaterCleveland RTA will be to form some planning guidelines fortransit-oriented development that are specific to Cleveland. Zoningalso will be reviewed to make sure it supports and encourages suchdevelopment, and there will be an education program to educate thevarious stakeholders.

After that process, which is expected to take about six months,Moritz says it will be time to look at five potential sites fortransit-oriented development, all of which are controlled by theRTA. Working with TRA will be the planning firm Nelson/Nygaard andthe Cleveland-based architectural firm Van Auken Akins.