clvlndr

Count me among the group that thinks the overhead walkway is absurd. If people are too fragile to suffer our difficult weather elements in order to cross narrow Mayfield Rd. (where, no doubt, a new traffic/crossing light will be installed at the rerouted Circle Drive corner), then too damn bad... Such a walkway also will take that many people from ground level where they may frequent the ground level retail.

I agree that there has been some developmental synergy created as a result of the Health Line but that, of course, RTA is taking way too much credit in implying the HL literally caused these projects to materialize out of thin air but for the HL ... assuming RTA's where the writer got the numbers from... Once interesting dynamic we haven't yet seen is when the build-out of areas served by the HL materializes on a large-scale level, will it not directly conflict with the HL's operation slowing it down greatly. Right now a large reason why the HL is so fast (relatively speaking; compared to the #6 bus it replaced) is b/c the area is so sparsely populated. With higher density and desired pedestrian traffic, it's sure to slow down service. We're getting a little of that in CSU, but not much.

Agree totally with the Chicago comment; Little Italy, already, is one of Cleveland's densest populated neighborhoods, and UC Uptown is rapid densify-ing (new word) with all the multi-unit projects going in, along with the 23-year-old Triangle apts. The addition of the relocated Red Line stop + Intesa, if it (hopefully) is built, would make this immediate area comparable to several Chicago high-density transit areas, like Belmont or Clyborn on the North Side, ... not to mention several non-Manhattan NYC areas, esp in Brooklyn... As for the parking garage on the west side of Mayfield: I'm not wild about it, but can live with it so long as the rest of the stuff on the east side gets built. As much of a transit guy as I am, I realize that all those cars coming to the area have to go somewhere -- and I'm sure we all would prefer a garage as opposed to all the surface lots we have all around town... Hopefully they will press for a 515 Euclid-style building with street level spaces for retail, even if empty at first -- and we're seeing, of course, 515 finally getting some tenants like that "green" company (not sure of the name) and the recently announced Potbelly's sandwich shop. Btw, I like the LEM idea. Is this comparable the the tax increment financing idea that's been floated elsewhere? Do you have precedent where a transit agency used this to foster TOD? Sounds like a great idea but RTA would 1st have to own the land, right?

"Lakefront Line: Runs on weekend days. Supposed to be for visitors and local tourists to connect them with Tower City to Northcoast Harbor Attractions. Seems a little silly when the Waterfront Rapid line does exactly this." Exactly! This makes even less sense when you consider that RTA cut Waterfront Line service due to lack of funds to cover low ridership. And now you want to duplicate this service with a street-running bus just because the casino is coming on line -- with, er, the same Waterfront Line service leaving from, essentially, the basement of the casino... Also consider the superior connectability of the WFL once the Flats East Bank comes on line: connecting 3 trip-generating nodes by train in about 8 minutes... It's almost as if we're fulfilling the self-fulfilling prophecy of WFL failure... But wait, RTA did say regular, 7-day/week WFL service will return once FEB completed. That's the good news; and it'll be even better if RTA runs alternating Blue and Green Line trains over the WFL to give the line (at least) 15-min interval service throughout the day... It remains to be seen.

^We are making progress with smaller hotels, no doubt. But we still need a 600-700 room anchor hotel (at least); most likely connected with the Med Mart convention center. I'm still holding out hope that Dan Gilbert can influence new rooms in the casino area ... at some point. There's still a gaping hole over the rapid/parking area to the west of the Renaissance Hotel where an addition could be added to that historic hotel.

Man would that be sweet. X our fingers that the complex financing package falls into place.

I'm not attacking you, but you've said this in the past about other developments/areas. (east 4th vs. warehouse district). Why do you always thinks introducing new retail options with hurt or distract current retail? Why can't this additions improve the overall quality of the neighborhood? MTS I was just quoting from the article analyzing this project. I don't recall making a similar argument... E. 4th Street? I LOVE E. 4th St -- it's the best development to hit Cleveland in decades; near pefect imho. You may be confusing me with another poster. (I've heard some gripe that E. 4th creates a "cattle chute" of pedestrians down the middle of the street, ... but that ain't me)... I do think it's a legitimate concern that the retail 'alley' behind Uptown's south pavilion may draw pedestrian energy away from the street (Euclid). But overall, I really love the Uptown project. And as I noted above, the alley was probably created to integrate the south pavilion into the existing Triangle high-rises.

I've heard that the speeds have been somewhat disappointing. I haven't ridden (from Pub. Sq) to beyond CSU, so I don't have firsthand evidence of speed to, say, Univ. Circle. The buses to CSU I've ridden have been quick enough, significantly quicker than the old #6 bus the HL replaced. Certainly the transponders would have helped (hell, we've been waiting for them for the Blue & Green Lines for decades out in Shaker Hts!). But one can't argue with Health Line ridership which has been a huge success. If anything, any slowing of buses may be due to crowding more than other factors. Even when I haven't ridden at night, I've seen standing room HL buses well into the evening.

^Good points. I'd like to hear RTA's POV as well.

Thanks for the pics; very nice. The construction progress is invigorating. I'm really glad to see the completion of Perk Park; really looks nice; gotta make it down there for a brown bagger some upcoming lunch hour... Yeah, I can only imagine how great it was to be downtown on such a nice TGIF, esp with the pre/post Cavs' game traffic -- (and we whupped the Knicks!). I really wanted to be downtown yesterday. Unfortunately, obligations in the burbs prevented it. Downtown's in a nice groove right now, and your pics point to the fact that it's only going to get better... much better.

You're correct on both counts. The Blue Line was closed a month ago because a grade crossing at Van Aken junction (Shaker Blvd eastbound), was replaced; and even this seems an emergency/rush job compared to other grade crossing replacements. (and this particular closure was from Friday night through Tuesday morning -- I'm no construction expert, but that seems like an especially long time to complete a seemingly straightforward construction project) ... I agree with you, it seems that RTA shuts down Rapid service, esp Blue & Green Line service, frequently. And like the aforementioned Blue Line closure, these often occur during the Cleveland International Film Festival (with CIFF officials publicly griping about it the last time RTA shut down the rail lines during the festival); in recent years, Blue & Green Line service has been closed due to "track work".... And even though RTA doesn't control the Plain Dealer, it was disheartening to see a tiny article about the shutdown in yesterday's PD at the bottom of page B7... across from the obits ... the day before the closures! Transit riders a disrespected populace, no?

I'm sure that had someting to do with the thinking. But still, if the work can be done that quickly, which obviously it can, it's inexcusable for your transit agency to not demand that kind of quickness in order to keep disruption to its rail lines at a minimum.

CASE NO. 1 -- 2 months ago, ODOT decided to hoist the support the support beams into place for the new Warrensville Road bridge over I-480. WIDTH? The bridge spans a total of 11 lanes (8 highway + 3 marginal entrance/exit access road lanes on either side of 480, 2 westbound (entrance), 1 eastbound (exit)... In order to move the massive beams from their setup positions on the side of 480, ODOT decided to close 480. I-480 CLOSURE TIME: from 11p on a Wed. night, to 6a the next (Thursday) morning. CASE NO. 2. ODOT must move new Innerbelt bridge beams into place over the trunk mainline of the RTA eastside Rapid which carries the Red, Blue and Green Lines. WIDTH? 2 tracks whose track bed is about as wide as 2 lanes of highway, probably less (each Rapid railroad track is 4 feet 8 1/2 inches wide -- the worldwide railroad standard width). CLOSURE TIME? RTA chooses to close the entire East Side Rapid division for the entire weekend from day's end Friday, 4/20, to early morning Monday, 4/23. QUESTION: is there something wrong with this picture?

The service plan calls for the increased frequency to begin as soon as repairs to the signal system are finalized, perhaps this summer. The demand is there, so we will begin as soon as all safety factors are in place. Thanks for asking. Thanks Jerry.

Jerry, do you know when RTA plans to reinstate the 15-minute base Red Line frequencies which the agency promised late last year?

I'm more inclined to give the ATU more credit than RTA. Sounds like the union gets it re the fragility of transit finances in the current econmy, particularly in view of RTA's existence within such a stingy state, ... transit-wise, that is. If one were tied to Ohio's road building/maintence industry, she'd/he'd be living la vida loca.

Not happy to hear of Hodges' service issues. This dogged it's predecessor (Zinc) from the day Zinc openned. The food just didn't seem to worth the $$ charged either. I hope Hodges' pulls its act together quickly b/c negative buzz about a place spreads more quickly than positive buzz.

^Anxious to check out Hodges... Drove by when it was closed, Sunday, but saw the chairs and umbrellas out, ready to go. Can't wait. Don't know about Hodges' food (hope it is more worth the $$$$ than the old Zinc), but the outdoor plaza - bar, fireplace pit, tables, couches - is a superior urban space in which to dine & relax... a tribute to K & D for designing it.

^^Actually, the sidewalk/pavement in front of TC's main entrance is mostly closed/being redone...As for street repaving, how about Prospect? Driving on that damn street is like driving on the surface of the Moon.

"The concern arises over whether the activity of the shops and sidewalk cafes on the alley side will draw life away from Euclid." -- This is a concern I had, as well. However, the challenge was how to integrate the kept buildings (the Triangle apt towers), with the new mixed-use storefronts... The Alley was the answer, but I do hope it don't suck ped life off of Euclid.

^Awesome; I first noticed the sign on (on a glorious drive-thru downtown-- suprisingly lots of people out on a usu dead Sunday). Yeah, I know some will balk b/c this is a mere sandwich shop and a nat'l chain, but I like Potbelly's food and it finally brings a lively storefront to 515 after, what, 6 years of existence? This also extends the 4th Street engergy further up Euclid... All good imho.

Seems as if Playhouse square was booming!! I like it!!! :clap: Playhouse Sq. is a neat, visually pleasing anchor on upper Euclid.. The theatre facades are lovely and the restaurants always seem to have a buzz even when the theatres are dark. Playhouse Sq, while not perfect, is in a pretty good place right now. Obviously, it's a theatre district that's matched by few others around the country... All the neon and the video screens give the place an exciting, mini-Times Sq. look to it... And the coming Hanna apts, plus others, will make it even better.

Obviously, I'm thrilled with the results in KC, but our suddenly amazing bats really covered up some seriously mediocre pitching this weekend: Ubaldo was all over the lot (5 innings, 4 runs, 110 pitches and, yet, was at the right place at the right time= game winner), and Raffy Perez wouldn't know a strike zone if it was 5 feet wide -- he really needs more work, but has no options. Sat we blew a 7-run lead but still pulled it out in 10 inns... If we played KC every week (with their lousy starting pitching) at Kauffman, we'd be great, but... I think we can hit: Santana can be our horse with help from Cabrera and Choo (hopefully), Kipnis and Hafner... But we've got to get our pitching act together (besides Justin) or it could be a loooooooong summer.

... Again, I must ask the Question; why do so many RTA cops congregate at Tower City station ... often socializing, but sometimes trying to help people pay their fares? ... RTA has regular personnel for this so why are cops doing this? Aren't they supposed to be riding the Red Line/Health Line checking POP fares and (equally, if not more importantly), keeping normally unmanned stations safe? I don't know the stats, but I would guess that Tower City is probably among the safest Rapid station in the system -- obviously, it's by far the busiest... Also, because it's the only station with electronically controlled faregates, the (watched by regular RTA personnel on a computer screen at the 2 TC stations), the chances for fare scofflaws at TC seems very rare and unlikely; seems like a misappropriation of resources.

So what is the status. [*]Fare Machines: Disappointment is putting it Mildy. Why so long? Isn't there some provisions in our contract? [*]Rock-n-Roll Festivities: Why wasn't this rolled out at train stations especially the airport? A space that had direct tie-ins? The airport, Windermere, University Circle, W117, Ohio City and Tower City should have had key people dressed up. This was the perfect opportunity to introduce those to our system and to show others what an asset the rail system is. We had a great time heading downtown and (me taking a friend who'd never) touring the R&RHOF which, of course, Sat was free -- and packed; with many people taking the Waterfront Line over... We coped (weren't in a hurry), but RTA somewhat fumbled the ball... They said on the website that they were running trains till midnight, but failed to specify what the schedule was: same as usual (every 1/2 hour), which really sucks imho for a 2.2 mile wrap around line where you could walk there in less than 30 mins time... Secondly, nobody at Tower City had the answer -- 3rd there was nobody at the Info Center; really strange for a day when the City, otherwise, had it's Red Carpet out to the nation (and got tons of favorable news attention for the Induction)... RTA personnel had no clue of the extended WFL schedule or how frequently they were running... Really sloppy and inexcusable... Really, how many of these major flubs have to happen before people (not UOers) stop apologizing for RTA? You just get the sense RTA doesn't care, which may or may not be fair; but you can't change people's impressions.