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Every time I see a new FEB post, I hope its an announcement for Phase III going forward ... only to be constantly disappointed... ... I'll definitely check out Magnolia. Sounds like an interesting departure from the status quo...

I understand if you took the USA women's medal count, alone, it would be the equivalent of the 2nd place country... For all the gripes and fears of viruses, danger and unsanitary conditions in Rio, these games turned out extremely well -- Ryan Locthe aside. Personally, I was really into these Games and will miss them.

^^^I thought most cities' rail cars were interchangeable. I know RTA once was using old Toronto streetcars -- originally bought by Toronto from Cleveland -- as a stop-gap on the Blue & Green lines after the crush of new traffic following RTA's creation and low fares. Also RTA sold SEPTA the Red Line's old CTS Blue-colored cars for use on its Norristown High-Speed Line where, IIRC, they were also using old Chicago L cars as well. I also know cities have joint-ordered cars in the past, which is why the Baltimore and Miami Metro rail cars are identical... In addition, I believe Cleveland and Philly put in a joint order for their Red Line and Broad Street subway cars, respectively, in the mid-80s; although they are built by different companies (Tokyu for RTA and, I believe, Kawasaki for SEPTA) their dimensions and operation appear similar if not identical.... I do know some systems were constructed as incompatible. I know Philly's Market-Frankford el and BART have wider (than standard) gauge tracks, so they're trains are not be compatible with most systems which use the internationally standard 4 ft 8.5 inch tracks.

More on Nashville's transit expansion plan: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson%20/2016/08/17/metro-recommends-6-billion-transit-plan-nashville-region/88870010/

^Another city poised to put Cleveland in it's rear-view mirror as RTA muddles along with disappearing funds and rail cars it can replace and no concrete plans for future development to make the system viable...

Friday, August 19, 2016 Nashville transit plan proposes LRT and commuter rail expansion Proposals for a 46-mile light rail network and a second commuter rail line for Nashville have been included in a 25-year transit strategy for the region, which was presented to the boards of Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (NMTA) and Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) on August 17 following 16 months of public consultation. http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/nashville-transit-plan-proposes-lrt-and-commuter-rail-expansion.html?channel=55

^That's quite a bit of infill... the melding of Ohio City and Detroit-Shoreway continues.

I'm excited about it. I think it's going to be a great movie. It's really well done, high quality. And it follows the tradition of coming-to-age urban films. And with the soundtrack being so star studded with so many different big hip hop artists on it, this movie has the potential to really be embraced by the Hip-Hop community. I'm very excited about it If you really want to see Cleveland on screen in a very different way, this is the film in which to do so... I saw the movie at Cedar-Lee and very much enjoyed it. While some critics have been tough on the film from telling a time worn story of good kids with few opportunities being lured by crime (ie "Boyz in the Hood"), others liked its fresh POV. I agree with the latter. It was both hard, poignant and funny, too. I felt this film's take as well as its characters were very fresh... ... and oh yeah, it really captured Cleveland well. Not just the locales we all loved seeing: The WSM, Lakeview Terrace, the Lorain-Carnagie Bridge, the Detroit-Superior bridge subway, the old Max Hayes vocational HS (Director Steven Caple, Jr's alma mater), the Rapid (several shots), Terminal Tower (several shots), many Detroit-Shoreway neighborhoods, abandoned factories (one of which hosted the coolest scene, visually, in the entire film ... you just have to experience it), etc... More importantly, though, "The Land" captures the mood and feel of Cleveland. It's palpable and UO'ers will instantly feel it... from the multicultural nature of the near West Side (whites, Blacks, Puerto Ricans, etc) and the general down-to-earth Midwestern openness that defines this city-- they even showcased the annual Puerto Rico Day which, of course, is a very big deal in Cleveland. Many critics lauded the hard urban Cleveland locale as fresh and different from the typical New York, LA, Chicago setting moviegoers are so used to seeing. I heartily agree... with a touch of bias, of course. A number of Hollywood heavyweights were involved in this film: Kanye West (music), Erykah Badu (great score and as well as playing an interesting part in the film), Michael K. Williams (Omar from "The Wire"), Machine Gun Kelly (Shaker's own), and Kim Coats (who is hilarious, from "Sons of Anarchy"), and others... I met the director, too... Definitely worth seeing. Check this film out...

^I'm sure. It's not their fault, only the public suffers (not train drivers and, certainly, not management) and I'm sure the union wouldn't allow otherwise. As usual, RTA's reason for this latest inconvenience is not entirely clear. On the Red Line, it says work on bridges over E. 79 Street and MLK Blvd. We know the E. 79th bridge is being rebuilt... Why it would take 2 entire weekends and a day cutting off East Side service completely, is beyond me. But what work are they talking about at MLK? And why do these massive shutdowns just seem to come out of the blue? For the size system Cleveland has, it is the shut-downiest rail system I've seen. Why is this?

Buses to replace RTA trains during upcoming rail repairs By Ginger Christ, The Plain Dealer Email the author | Follow on Twitter on August 19, 2016 at 10:46 AM, updated August 19, 2016 at 10:47 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio – Three upcoming rail maintenance projects will change how riders catch RTA trains in the next few weeks. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/08/buses_to_replace_rta_trains_during_upcoming_rail_repairs.html#incart_2box

Hope you're right. I've never cared for the Dolans but refuse to let them dull my interest in baseball or the Indians. I think the team has been making some nice moves in recent years, especially in signing guys like Mike Napoli, and the farm has been producing solid to great players like Naquin and Lindor... I've been sold on the team since they hired Tito Francona, the most qualified hire at head coach any Cleveland team has made in a long while (obviously Tyronn Lue hasn't turned out too bad, and Hue Jackson seems like a catch, as well)... The Indians seem to be a part of the recent renaissance in Cleveland sports; I just want the Tribe fans to start showing they are All In and voting with their feet.

Just 14,371 attended Progressive Field for the Indians' (Cody Allen) 9th inning grand-slammed collapse last night. The team is still 6 full games in 1st place over the Motor City Kitties and, yet, is still drawing paltry attendance; 2nd worst in the MLB behind the sorry Tampa Bay Rays... Indians' fans' disinterest in going to games, especially given the great season the team has which, barring a major collapse, will result in a playoff berth, remains a mystery.

Fascinating set, thanks... Bustling, interesting city though the graffiti is absolutely hideous and really detracts.

^You mean no more garbage can with a broom on it blocking the elevator door!? Jeez...

I'm pretty sure that guys m.o. is simply to stir up commentary. He's a paid troll. I think you're right.

^ "This [the FTA threat] is a good thing. It will keep everyone focused on passengers, not on picnics on the square." Nice-- let's now tacitly vilify the families and others who are now enjoying the well-redeveloped Square as a bunch of idle loafers standing (or sitting) in the way of progress, or at least RTA's beleagured passengers... Us against them; so what else is new?... Mark Naymik rarely adds anything to a discussion; just usually lobs grenades. :-o

Then add something. Wikipedia is group edited.

Something just doesn't smell right about the letter, RTA and this whole business... I have to look at the letter more carefully (no time at the moment), but I'm not clear on the Downtown Zone is and what FTA is calling crosstown buses, how they relate to the closing of Superior through PS and how the Health Line isn't being run properly in violation of some kind of contract between RTA and FTA. As great as Public Square's redesign is -- and I really love it -- it just seems like this whole thing is becoming a mess.

That's why I said light industrial. People feel the same way about the area in/around E. 79, Woodland and Buckeye, but some businesses have moved in the area and, supposedly because of the OC, more may come.

I disagree for a coupl reasons. First as I noted, in not building an elevator, you're suddenly not only making it more inconvenient for those who do use the station who aren't disabled, you're making unsafe for them and inconvenient for those (like me) who use the line to-from downtown (and beyond) in having to slow and wait for those who cross the tracks. Second, more people are using this station by the day... don't look at stats from a few years ago, look at usage today. I think it's a by product of the fact that rail usage is going up (for a number of reasons-- including greater health of downtown/neighborhoods near rail and the closing of so many bus lines that are forcing more to use rail, etc...). It seems more CCC students are using the station, despite its poor location... I don't think it would be that big of an inconvenience to walk to the platform. And I just don't see how you can justify spending millions on an elevator that would barely ever be used. And I haven't seen any numbers to indicate that usage is up at this station. Ridership on the light rail is down and last I checked, Red Line ridership was slightly up, but barely. Really!? You don't see the distance walking down this hill is as opposed to just walking down the current short flight of steps to reach the platform as a major time waster/inconvenience? I'm not talking about overall ridership, I'm talking about ridership at this station; I would be shocked if it hasn't increased in the last year or so. And why not spend money for the elevator? You haven't addressed the fact that RTA has just built 2 at Lee Road and is about to install a 2nd at E. 105, which has ridership parallel, if not worse than E. 34... If you're building elevators there, why suddenly go on the cheap here? Because you (RTA) are simply mad because grass-roots forces demanded you (RTA) not close the station as you (RTA) wanted to. That seems pretty petty and silly to me. Also this new design is a space-waster too... why build such a sprawling (silly looking station) that forces people to walk across live HRT and LRT tracks? Suppose there is some kind of light industrial (or other) type of TOD that could be built on this hill. By building a station in this way, you completely negate such development.

^as the saying goes: RTA is robbing Peter to pay Paul; only in this case the robbing of Peter is far greater than the paying of Paul imho.

I disagree for a coupl reasons. First as I noted, in not building an elevator, you're suddenly not only making it more inconvenient for those who do use the station who aren't disabled, you're making unsafe for them and inconvenient for those (like me) who use the line to-from downtown (and beyond) in having to slow and wait for those who cross the tracks. Second, more people are using this station by the day... don't look at stats from a few years ago, look at usage today. I think it's a by product of the fact that rail usage is going up (for a number of reasons-- including greater health of downtown/neighborhoods near rail and the closing of so many bus lines that are forcing more to use rail, etc...). It seems more CCC students are using the station, despite its poor location...

Stop right there. This is the flawed type of thinking we get from RTA especially when it comes to the Rapid ... We know RTA's desire was to simply close this station (although of late, I've seen more and more people using it). So instead, because of public outcry, RTA has elected to rebuild but in the cheapest way. Now, in making it ADA compliant, they are rebuilding the station that will make it less convenient to the majority able body constituency, by forcing them to walk up and down a long hill (and crossing a live track) just to reach the trains... and oh, by the way, making the train line itself less efficient as trains must now slow down and/or stop for a passenger grade crossing. Yes, the station should have been moved to a better location, but RTA apparently was deaf to this (as it is to most expansions or improvements to rail). Instead, they have created what I see as a lose-lose solution for everyone using rail... at the very least the East Side division of the Rapid. Put it another way C-H-E-A-P...

Elaborate 1. You're forcing people to walk up/down a long hill which, itself, makes the street distant from trains. An elevator should be built right at the head of the platform at the bridge so the distance from the street-to-rail is closer. (and who/what entity, what standard, etc. determined that putting an elevator here is not cost efficient where 2 just went in at Lee Road, and 2 are about to go in (a 2nd one that is) at E. 105 which, from my unscientific visual observation, is serving the same or even less than E. 34th currently at its current (agreed poor) location? 2. the hill is so long, you need to build "rest areas" for people. 3. You're forcing people to walk across the tracks of live rail in the busiest stretch of RTA rail, which will both slow rail (I've seen how slow it is at the present Brookpark temporary station where there's a similar grade crossing for heavy rail and where trains must wait for peds to cross -- and now we try this on a main trunk-line rail stretch serving 3 different lines) and make it semi dangerous for pedestrians. 4. Overall it just looks like a cheesy, cheap solution -- something rail riders have come to expect from RTA from the beggars-can't-be-choosy playbook. I'm sure there are other reasons I dislike this, and I'll share when they come to mind.

The design of the new 34th St. Station is absolutely horrible in every conceivable way.