clvlndr

Every once in a while he says something worthwhile! :yap: :yap: :lol: :evil:

Wow, a George Forbes citing! This Constantino's will be a major boon for him/his family as his 20-year-old Mcmansion is just a few blocks away... C's looks pretty neat; busy... Great stuff, Clueless.

I don't think so. Remember, East Side Red, Blue and Green trains all share a single pair of tracks from E. 55th to Tower City. Therefore, trains from each of these lines arrive at Tower City in timed intervals, meaning that inbound Blue and Green Line trains unload then board passengers and depart for the Waterfront prior to a westbound Red Line train entering Tower City... Keep in mind, this system worked fine for several years after the Waterfront Line was built -- from 1996 until about 2006-8, when RTA began reducing Watefront Service... First, running half-hourly trains during rush hour, only. Then, around 2010, when RTA cutback WFL service, again, ... this time to half-hourly service during the daytime (6a to 6p) on weekends, and special events (like Browns' games) only. ... Thus, the issue was never about congestion. It was only about low ridership & money, at least, according to RTA. Even though IIRC RTA once reported to the PD, they were saving less than $1M a year by limiting the service... ... again, in fairness to RTA, they have stated that they will return M-F service once the Flats East Bank development opens next year. RTA has exhibited good faith in returning more frequent base bus service (ev 15 mins) on heavy lines, like the HL and Routes 22 and 26 and pledged to do the same for the Red Line. I just think that, once WFL service is returned, it will only be effective it is every 15 minutes running during the same hours as the regular Blue and Green Lines.

I agree, that does seem kinda cart-before-the-horse-ish, but I'm just glad to see this project moving forward.

That's good to know. I was beginning to get a little nervous about this project. Even though it's fenced off, it looks about the same as when I drove by about 3 months ago -- site cleared, but no equipment or sign of any discernable progress from 3 months prior. We know how vulerable the housing market is. I'll breathe much easier when these buildings start sprouting from the dirt.

I can't see how they are connected, but ya think Constantino's consciously decided to delay their opening to coincide with the opening day of the Casino?... or is it just pure coincidence? I does seem like they've could have open some time earlier, at least a week ago, based on the stocking of their shelves and other finishing activities... just curious.

Thanks for the pics, Murray. That Marriott is really going up quickly. It will be a major asset to the area.

I know some time ago, (over a year) I did see cops checking farecards on an inbound (from the airport) Red Line train... I also saw one on a Health Line run, again, over a year ago. I have seen them appear at W. 25th during the shoulders or rush hour. I remember it made me rather queasy to see the cop squeezing through the crowded train with 9mm Glock brushing up against passengers -- would much prefer the on-board/fare checking cops to be unarmed... but that's just me. .. As to train frequency, I hope per Jerry's comment, that the Red Line reestablishes a 15-minute base train frequency. I don't quite understand it, but Jerry indicated that the Lightening-damaged signal tower in Brook Park has prevented this from happening, to date... ... Also, I really hope, when the Waterfront Line is brought back full time, when the FEB project is completed, they quite that every-30 minute non-service. I see no reason why both Blue and Green Line trains aren't run through to the short, 2-mile WFL run. Half-hourly trains are absurd on such a short run, one where an able-body person can, casually, walk from, say, E. 9th (North Coast) to Tower City in about 15 mins. Moreover, I can't see RTA saving but relative pennies by extending all off-peak trains over the WFL. Heck, I sure RTA spends more $$ producing/airing those cutesy commercials on TV and radio... Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the commercials (you don't often hear transit commercials in cities), but I'd much rather that money go towards reestablishing full, through WFL service, once it's restarted... Either run every 15-min trains (through Blue and Green Line trains), or don't tease the public with the 30-min interval trains... Makes no sense.

I'll take any "updates" to downtown cleveland, but I would be interested to see what they look like at night (before making a final decision) :wink: . When you understand urban architecture and realize that certain buildings, in themselves, are highlights without additional, artificial adornment such as these lights, you don't have to wait until the night to make an assessment. :wink:

Based on my experience with them on W. 9th, that seems to be their speciality.

I'm not so sure about that. Playing up the fact of free parking at Rapid stops isn't geared toward those directly served by Rapid Lines, but by those who aren't , but can draive and park. Your Mentor example is exreme (althought even these folks have the option of driving in on I-90 and parking at the Muny Lot and take the (less than) 10 min ride to Tower City. I've already read and heard people from places Like Richmond Hts, Parma and North Olmsted mention their intention to use the Rapid, even though the Rapid lines don't directly serve them.... ... You may be surprised. I think the constant pounding in the media about limited/expensive parking options once the casino opens may scare more than a few people to try transit. And hopefully, if RTA can make their experiences pleasant enough, they may get into a habit of using the trains to head to the casino... as well as other, non-sports downtown attractions.

I think the white lights may be a bit of overkill. They work beautifully down the street, E. 4th givning the Bourbon Street effect... Here at Tower City? Seems gaudy imho.

He lay on the tracks for 11 mins. with a late, casual response by RTA cops. A terrible, but lucky story... Lucky? Guess we should be thankful for the Red Line's weak (every 20-min) frequencies, as well as the ridiculous every 30-min/train weekend Waterfront Line schedule. Otherwise, this poor fellow would have been doomed... Interestingly, Mr. Sheth said the same thing I've been saying: these transit cops appear solely focused on apprehending fare jumpers at the expense of helping someone in need. I still don't get why these cops congregate in the free fare zone inside the Tower City mall. Many more cops need to be on the Tower City platforms, on the trains and at the neighborhood stops, deterring crime as well as enforcing the POP fare policy. Obviously, this high-profile TV news story, and the upcoming lawsuit based on it, are not the kind of publicity RTA needs... Excellent reporting by Channel 5's Ron Regan, btw.

No question about it, whether you like casinos or not, (or whether some of the PR misteps have irritated you) you'd have to agree that this project certainly appears to be first class. Can't wait till Monday night.

Yeah, that kind of makes me feel that, in a way, RTA is undermining the success of this Rail Line, which it's previous admin invested so much in. The Waterfront Line is the most efficient way to travel to/from the Muny Lot to the casino, there's no debating that... It would be nice if RTA solicited businesses to subsidize the Waterfront line ALONG WITH the trolleys.... Pittsburgh does that with it's light rail (the T), which is why it's free in its subway/elevated line through the Golden Triangle (downtown).

Clvlndr, I can't speak for ODOT (the decision-maker insofar as the Saturday shutdown is concerned), but I can say that, were I responsible for a project such as this, I'd likely build in a little "pad time" with weekend work to ensure that if anything Saturday didn't go as planned, I could use Sunday to complete work and/or back things out/revert to prior conditions in time for morning rush hour on Monday. Most projects of this caliber tend to do "heavy lifting" on Saturdays. Thanks for the explanation, JetDog... makes more sense now... I do think it would be helpful if RTA could give a seasonal (ie late spring/summertime) schedule of closures ahead of time, so folks could plan... I have friends coming in from out/town this weekend, and I'd hope to show them downtown via the Rapid... Now, that's out the window. We were hit by this at the last min; if I'd known, ahead of time, I may have planned to have them in another weekend. Now, we're either going to have to fight the parking wars downtown, ... or avoid downtown all together; sadly, probably the latter.

[NOTE: all East Side Rail will shut down on Saturday instead of (light traffic) Sunday, for some reason-- no, I doubt traffic will swell for Mother's Day] May 11-13: Rail Construction Projects CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) continues its rail grade crossing construction this weekend on the Blue Line at the Avalon station on Friday evening, as well as replacing all East side rail (Red, Blue and Green) with buses for an ODOT project on Saturday and Sunday. Blue Line Avalon project, buses replace rail between Shaker Square and end of line Starting at 8 pm Friday, May 11, until the end of service Sunday, May 13, 2012, all Blue Line service between Shaker Square and the Van Aken/ Warrensville Station will be replaced by buses. Replacement buses will stop at all stations and maintain a schedule similar to rail service. Travel may be slower due to traffic. East Side Rail project for ODOT, all rail service replaced by buses On Saturday, May 12, buses will replace all rail service east of Tower City on the Red, Blue and Green lines. This includes: All Red Line service between the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere and Tower City. All Green Line service between the Green Road Station and Tower City. All Blue Line service between the Van Aken/Warrensville Station and Tower City. Red Line service on the west side will not be affected. Customers are asked to allow extra time to reach their destinations during these projects. All regular rail service will resume at the start of service on Monday, May 14, 2012. RTA regrets any inconvenience to its customers during this time. http://www.riderta.com/newsroom/releases/?listingid=1729

You're correct. According to a Thomas Ott PD article this morning, Rock Ohio is appealing the loss of FCE's potential federal tax credit loss, due to the skyway's alteration of the historic Higbee's building facade. Wouldn't that mean that it is still an "if"...... if they are in the appeal process? What about the City? The federal tax credit loss is only one hurdle. Did the planning commission and any other necessary agency already approve the skywalk? I thought the issue was tabled last we heard. I was also wondering if the city had already agreed to the skywalk; I don't remember. if not, then i doubt it will happen. The casino will have no leverage. With the building open and hundreds of millions of dollars invested, horseshoe cant threaten to walk like they did in the Columbia meetings. In fairness to Gilbert, of all the casinos I've visited -- and I've been to them from LV, to AC to Detroit, Connecticut, Indiana, Carribean etc -- None have forced people to walk outside from the main parking lot. And as the article above notes, this connects with a casino's main constituency: seniors. I did hear Gilbert on a radio show, yesterday, stating they were looking at an underground connection to parking, although I wasn't sure whether it was from Phase 1 or Phase 2.

You're correct. According to a Thomas Ott PD article this morning, Rock Ohio is appealing the loss of FCE's potential federal tax credit loss, due to the skyway's alteration of the historic Higbee's building facade.

I think such comments are an exaggeration. If someone bathed in the fountain, it was rare -- I sure as hell never saw it. (I've seen more middle-class, frat boy types peeing against buildings in the WHD than anything similar by homeless people; not to say all homeless are saints). And as for drug sales, ditto. I passed through PS and waited for buses there daily, and never saw such activities. Random drug sales can happen anywhere. Anyone could be an undercover cop, so anyone openly selling drugs is a fool. Were/are there homeless people on the Square? Sure. There also are homeless people soliciting at E. 4th, Ohio City and the WHD (to name a few)... It's a big city. Get over it or stick to South Park or (name the homogeneous) mall in the burbs... Obviously, with a whole lot of people walking around with a whole lot of $$$$ at all hours of the day (and night) in the center of town (at the center of its transit hub), heightened security is a must. But let's not go off the deep end about how horrible PS is (just b/c certain people either may not like the Square's design or, more hideously, the people who catch buses there). Remember the name: it is a PUBLIC Square, and we need to be careful of pre-determining who does and who doesn't have a right to be there, so long as they are law abiding -- in other words, law enforcement officials, leave your stereotypes at home. I realize the casino is a big deal for the City with a lot of potential for things to go wrong. But amping up fears (I don't mean UOers) will be counter productive.

Sears Tower is now the Willis Tower. It has glass-floored observation balconies; breathtaking... John Hancock building, which is on the Magnificent Mile, has the Signature Room (restaurant & cocktail lounge) on the 96th floor... Romantic; fab views of the city esp at night... You must call early and make reservations; tought to get a table otherwise.

^ I think you mean Thang 1 or Thang 2.

... If you're a jazz fan, as I am, you may want to check out Andy's just north of the Loop across the Chicago River -- It's kinda hidden away, near Hubbard and Wabash IIRC... They have food, nothing fancy, but filling -- hey, you go for the live jazz (7 days/week I believe) and the atmosphere... Andy's is w/in walking distance from most downtown points.

^I 2nd Hyde Park. Compared to most of Chicago, it's laid back, hip and liberal (I like). Great old architecture (lovely old homes), compact with tons to do... Many museums -- of course Science and Industry (a little overrated these days when you consider the expense and what you get, but still interesting), and the University of Chicago's Oriental Museum (great archaeological collections, and it's free!-- there's an empty fishbowl at the door where they ask for donations). UC's interesting in itself, its old architecture is modeled on Oxford and Cambridge. There's lots of low, key, inexpensive quality restaurants in the neighborhood; some are geared more to students, many are not. And, well, if you're interested in touring Pres. Obama's, there are paid tours (about $30 a pop -- I like Obama... but not that much) -- it's a short distance away in Kensington -- there's a train stop there, too (47th Street; see below). You're also a short walk from Lake Michigan amongst some high-rises. Transit? The METRA Electric commuter train -- a rapid transit-like service (it's of course electric, high frequency of trains), is the way to go... a 15 min ride with a couple stops right near the heart of Hyde Park 55th or 59th). Even though it's a few bucks more than the slower CTA bus, it’s worth it for the speed and comfort. METRA Electric’s downtown terminal is below Millennium Park off S. Michigan Ave. I agree w/ TBideon about the Green Line L, it really serves the areas adjacent to Hyde Park rather than HP itself; and those areas are sketchy at best. METRA Electrict's much quicker and more direct.

I hear you, and I'm sure it's going to have it's own personality (diff from MGB or Bier Markt) and will greatly enhance the Market Square District... Someone earlier had mentioned they'd miss the edgy crowd the Garage attracted, and I understand that. Diversity is the spice of urban life.