CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority plans to reopen Public Square to buses in less than two weeks, if all goes as planned.

During an RTA board meeting today, RTA CEO Joe Calabrese said he hopes to have buses running on Superior Avenue through the square by March 6.

That is one day before the final deadline given to RTA by the Federal Transit Administration to reopen the square to buses before it will enforce a $12-million fee.

Calabrese said he thinks that will be enough time for RTA and the city to make all of the traffic and safety changes needed to reopen to square.

"If both parties work diligently, it can get done," Calabrese said.

RTA and City of Cleveland officials on Monday began test runs of buses through Public Square. They were testing, among other things, turning radiuses and clearances, Calabrese said. The three buses running on Superior Avenue through the square were out of service during the testing.

"I think yesterday was educational," Calabrese said. "We learned a lot."

Mike Schipper, deputy general manager of engineering and project management for RTA, said the transit agency was testing maneuverability around potential barricades the city and RTA might put in place to deter other vehicle traffic from entering the square.

"We were testing different arrangements," Schipper said. "Whatever we implement on day one, probably won't be the final."

At least at first, there could be something as simple as orange barrels. Eventually, there could be something more permanent, like planters, Schipper said.

The square will be closed in preparation for the reality show American Ninja Warrior in May, and RTA could use that period to reconfigure the square, if needed, Schipper said.

Of all of the buses that will cross Public Square, half will stop at bus shelters in the square, while the other half will travel directly across Superior, Schipper said.

More test runs of buses through the square could occur in the coming weeks as the city and RTA prepare to reopen the square. And bus drivers will need to be trained on the new routing, although most of that training will take place off of the square, Schipper said.

Before reopening the square, the city and RTA are reviewing the traffic and safety studies that have been completed on the square and are working to put into place safety and security measures that address concerns outlined in the studies, Calabrese said.

To improve pedestrian safety:

The city and RTA will develop and implement a plan to enforce bus-only traffic through the square and to deter jaywalking.

The city would add double yellow and white lane markings to Superior Avenue through the square.

The city would add more pedestrian crossing signs.

A temporary, removable railing system to channel pedestrians to crosswalks would be designed and built.

RTA would need to provide training to all bus operators.

The city would need to improve ADA-compliant pavement markings.

The city and RTA will need to coordinate the street's reopening with special event organizers.

The city and RTA also are developing a plan to increase security on Superior Avenue.

What's been happening

Public Square has been closed to buses since early 2015 while the square was under renovation. However, it was scheduled to reopen Aug. 1, 2016.

At that time, Mayor Frank Jackson chose to ban buses in favor of a unified Public Square. Jackson has said he would reopen the square to bus traffic if there were no way to keep it closed without harming RTA's operations or bottom line, and if RTA addresses the city's safety concerns.

RTA is on the clock from the FTA to either reopen Superior Avenue through the square to buses or to repay $12 million in federal grants it received for the the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project.

Because the city will not permit buses to cross Public Square, RTA is not upholding its end of the funding deal it made for the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project, the FTA asserts. The Euclid Corridor Transportation Project established the HealthLine, which runs down Euclid Avenue and ends in Public Square.