On Thursday, the 60th birthday of late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Greater Cleveland Transit Authority (RTA) officials broke ground on a new $6.4 million transit center named in her honor.

"The Congresswoman was a strong supporter of transit in general and this facility in particular," said Joe Calabrese, CEO /GM of the RTA. "She was instrumental in securing funding for the building."

Tubbs Jones represented Ohio’s 11th District from Jan. 3, 1999, until the time of her death on Aug. 20, 2008.

“Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was committed to public service,” Calabrese said. “She believed, as well as practiced, service to the community, to our young people and to the disadvantaged. She used public transportation. It was not unusual to get a call from her after her ride on the Rapid from the airport with suggestions about what GCRTA could do to improve service to our customers.

“She will be remembered as a leader, a friend and a pillar of the Greater Cleveland community.”

The facility, RTA’s first downtown bus hub, is expected to open in fall 2011. In early planning work, it was known as the East Side Transit Center.