clvlndr

^Yes. I've never been a huge S&S monument fan, architecturally (it's a bit overly Victorian, if you know what I mean), although I recognize the building's importance... In the old configuration is seemed like a menacing castle that dominated its quadrant. Now it seems less for foreboding and accessible -- even people-friendly as a monument in a large plaza park... Just one of many aspects I like in the new PS.

Well, you know what happens when people assume … For the record: I was as impromptu as the parade. I left a meeting late Tuesday in Philadelphia and then ran to the dealer to get my car from an oil change and hit the road for Cleveland at around 8p (last min airl8ines tics were just too expensive – could have handled it, but why?) Arrived in C-Town at 2:15a; to bed by 3a and up at 7:45a. As a vet of these trips, I know the Zombie thing doesn’t set in till around 5p, especially this day with my Cavs adrenaline rush…. Some in-town friends we planned to meet downtown, departed early. Me and another friend who I ended up going down the celebration with, was in the same boat (he’d driven in from Chicago) so obviously we were not going downtown early. My intent all along was to attend the rally, only, not the parade. I figured, correctly, that the parade and rally would be seriously delayed by the crowds; we were following it on radio and, then, TV. I know that going to the parade meant standing in one place watching people go by and not going anywhere else because of the crazy crowds. Again, I was correct. By the time we waited for the crowds to die down and the Rapid somewhat normal, again, we departed around Noon and STILL got there to see the parade coming down Lakeside and into Mall B where the rally view stage was, where we stayed for about 5 hours… So that’s my personal story from last Wednesday. As for RTA, as one woman mentioned waiting for the Green Line said on the platform yesterday: if they had provided the level of service for St. Paddy’s day, it would have been much better. She, like me, was wondering why RTA ran 1-car Blue/Green line trains around every 20-30 minutes all day… My major issue with RTA is this: if there are just enough available, working LRT trains to run a normal rush hour and not something of the parade’s magnitude, which of course is a massive limited-time event, why not just say so? The budget woes are old news, but RTA management is ducking and dodging the question about LRT replacement and the apparently dire situation of possible Blue/Green shutdowns because of it. If that’s the case, just say it. Then folks like me would be a little more understanding instead of RTA acting as if all systems are a go while encouraging the parade multitudes to utilize their trains.

Meanwhile, back to on the ground nuts & bolts transit stuff, there's still been no explanation as to why RTA was running 1-car trains on the Shaker lines, and mostly just 2-car trains on the Red Line during Parade Day. Simply hiding behind the extreme crowds excuse doesn't cut it especially since RTA was encouraging people to use transit beforehand.

Boarding a train at 9AM for an 11AM start super parade is like showing up at the airport 25 minutes before an international departure with 5 pieces of luggage and expecting to get on without an issue. We were up at 5AM and lucky enough to have a drop-off ride downtown. When we did Macys we were up at 4AM and we had a hotel on 7th Av. Not saying RTA couldn't have handled things better but it was clear this would be huge event when people started taking spots the night before. People needed to be on the first bus or train out even if it meant getting up at an ungodly hour. Until we got the ride we were going to get up at 4AM to get the first bus off of Ridge. And we didn't arrive in Cleveland until Midnight the night before. I understand that, but we were not dead set on seeing the parade, especially given the crowd and the lack of ability to move around a lot on foot. We thought we may catch some of it but really wanted to see the rally.

^I get the impression that the Red Line was handled better than the Blue and Green Lines, even though I did hear some grumbling from West Side riders. I saw mostly the usual 2-car Red Line trains, but there were a few 3-car trains I saw later that day. Btw, after Tower City was shut down after the shooting, we drifted around and eventually went over to E. 4th to eat. We then, in the evening, went over to TC and caught the Waterfront Line down to FEB, which was busy with people... But, as usual, the WFL train was empty save 1 other couple who was staying in the Aloft Hotel. When I asked them 'why' they were taking the WFL I got the usual response (I frequently ask the few WFL riders this question) the male said, "It's so convenient; only 5 minutes and puts you right there." I guess unlike so many UOers, notably PHS14, the few minutes wait for a train down/uphill from the Flats beats zig-zag walking through the WHD then waiting at a crosswalk to cross river-wide Superior, etc... I wish more UOers would use the WFL since posters here are more transit wise.

I feel bad but it was one day. Now county residents need a discount? How about a wristband that denotes you live in Cuyahoga County so you get to go the front of the line. Or a placard over every station that says for Cuyahoga County residents only. Greater Clevelanders have a tendency to telegraph that "no outsiders allowed" mentality when things get hectic and it's caused by people coming from out of town. It's not a good look. These problems even happen in annual events like the Macy's Day Parade. I had to drive out of Manhattan during the last one to go to DC. Ended up going all the way out to the Outerbridge Crossing to get into New Jersey. People were stuck on the all the subway lines trying to get out. Same with PATH, MetroNorth and LIRR. Nobody was saying New Yorkers first and, yes, people work on Thanksgiving. RTA was absolutely atrocious yesterday, and I'm not prone to give them a bye. Yes, RTA like the City and everybody else had to act on the fly from the time the Cavs won the title Sunday night until Wednesday, but RTA could have done waaaaaay better than they did. We knew better than deal with the Green line, which we live closer to, because of the heavy end-of-the-line train packing which leaves us on the outside. So we drove Warransville over to Van Aken.... When we got to Farnsleigh at about 9a, there was an amazing, massive line of people wrapped around the now almost empty Van Aken shopping center. When we drove down Farnsliegh to Van Aken, the crowds got worse and were duplicated as we drove down Van Aken. We drove all the way to Shaker Square... same thing. It was so bad that, when we looped over through Shaker Town Center on Chagrin, crowds were leaving Rapid stops and were crowded around 14 Kinsman bus stops; folks were telling us that Rapids were going by not stopping. Some people decided to Uber into town; others simply went home to watch on TV. Back on Van Aken, there was 1 constant: no trains... until finally, amazingly, we saw a 1-car train and our jaws dropped.... Why? Regardless of the day, RTA runs 3-car trains on Blue/Green for every St. Patrick's day which, we know now, was a mere shadow of yesterday's 1.2 million (at last count). For Sunday Browns games they run, at least, 2-car Rapids; often 3. Fortunately, since we went home and saw on TV that the parade was being delayed due to the crowds on E. 9th, we decided to wait until 12:30p to ride in... It worked; the crowds died down and the 1-car trains were still crowded, but we got down, caught the tail end of the parade, watched the entire rally and then, unfortunately, caught within a few feet of the shooting outside Tower City (more on that another time).... I'm sorry, but I've had it with the excuses. This is a poorly run system that is hiding behind unions and costs. RTA encouraged people to use the Rapid and, yet, they got this crap. Joe Calabrese continues to whisper about the inadequacy of State funds, which are absurdly tiny. Local pols and transit advocates need to be raising a humongous stink about this. We just seem to be trapped in this loop that nobody can fix... It's really that nobody really WANTS to fix it; at least, they don't want to enough. We know how we got their: the combination of transit disinterest not willing to deal with good old conservative, regressive Republican politics. Regarding the disappearing LRT trains due to age and lack of parts, Calabrese reacts by saying everything is cool and attacks Ken/AAO for needlessly spreading panic... and we get yesterday. Cleveland still has a very good transit system. We have a rail system that many mid-sized cities would love to have and yet, we don't even seem interested enough to keep running. Somebody's got to stand up, or we won't have a viable transit system much longer.

This thing kinda sounds like it's being planned from the seat of one's pants. You'd think that, from the time the Cavs QUALIFIED for the Finals, plans would be in the works on a contingency. For the Cavs and their fan's standpoint, obviously I hope it all works out. The weather is supposed to be excellent. As someone noted a couple days ago, I sure wish they could have opened Public Square. It appears most of the work is finished and who cares if the restaurant isn't open, in our compact downtown with this many people there's going to be an acute need of space. The rally is going to be on the adjacent Mall plazas.

I'm almost frightened to think about RTA tomorrow. We've heard the system barely has enough rail cars, esp LRT cars, to run regular weekday service. St. Patrick's Day is already a strain on the system. Well tomorrow's going to be like St. Paddy's day on steroids... The best I've heard from RTA is that trains will operate every 10 minutes. Do they have enough to run the 3-car trains needed to handle the crush at that frequency? We're about to find out.

I hope it's just a rumor, but a friend said he heard that the City of Cleveland forgot to order portable toilets for tomorrow... Yikes!

RTA has just posted regarding its service tomorrow to the Cavs parade and celebration downtown: http://www.riderta.com/cavsparade Some are expecting 1 million, or more, people downtown and all hotels downtown and nearby are booked solid. Many downtown streets will be closed and, essentially, cars will be limited to downtown's perimeter. The east bus terminal for all downtown bound buses is E. 12 between St. Clair and Superior... a healthy distance from Public Square. People would be very, very, very foolish to drive to this celebration. The Rapid is clearly the best way to go. That said, tomorrow RTA will be taxed and tested as never before. I sure hope they're up to the task because the transit system could/should be very valuable.

^The Health Line is the national rock star among cities unwilling to pay the bucks for rail.

Consider the fact that Golden State, from the end of the Finals last year, set out to disprove the premise that: had Cleveland had Kyrie and Love, we would have beaten them last year. Well, despite running up a 73-9 record breaking season, beating the Cavs twice along the way (beating once then destroying us in the other game), having the unanimous MVP ... in the end, the Warriors failed to disprove the premise. In the end, Golden State was a failure. ... when the Cavs had their full team, Golden State couldn't win the Finals... meaning, yep, had we had the Big 3 last year, we'd have won then, too... That chip on the Warriors' shoulder? Cavs knocked it off.

If you watched the JR Smith press conference and, at least, didn't get choked up, you don't have a pulse. It was almost as amazing as the game itself. Just shows that sports is more than a game but human drama, as well.

WoooHooo!!!

Once again, Joe Calabrese giving the public the Finger.

Was thinking the same thing. They should run all night if the Cavs win...I'm still on the fence about going downtown, but if I do, I would take the Green Line, but I really want to know how late the trains will be running. This is endemic of RTA's communications problems. They should have planned for this and publicly come out said just that: if the Cavs win, the Rapids will run all night. Short of overtime (which my heart couldn't take), the game will end around 11p and you can bet, if (when?) we win, many, many people will actually be going into downtown at that hour to party. RTA's normal 90-minutes after the game rule just won't cut it tonight.

I realize replacing Fifth Church is inevitable and, I guess, unavoidable. I still hate losing such monumental and beautiful piece of architecture. Cities lose a piece of themselves when buildings like these are destroyed. And no, incorporating some of the Church's elements into the townhouses isn't the same.

^^ Absolutely take the Rapid. Driving downtown tonight will be foolhardy. The City and the cops have already said parking will be limited and security will be high. I hope RTA is up to the task because it's going to be a madhouse tonight either way. They need to run extra trains/cars regardless. And if we win, RTA should be prepared to run trains all night because people will party till daybreak downtown. Tonight, RTA is as much on the spot as the Cavs.

^I'm absolutely thrilled with what we've done and where we are right now; amazing... That said, this is going to be a nerve-wracking 24 hours.

We've got to limit Love's minutes tomorrow. He's the only starter in Game 6 that had a minus +/-. Love is a good player and valuable against most teams, but NOT against the Warriors. Numerous Bay Area sports reporters have written/said the Warriors prefer Love. The best thing that happened to the Cavs in this series was when Love was out for Game 3 and limited in Game 6 with fouls. I'm not just trying to beat up on Love but, rather, looking at the facts and what's best for us to win a Title tomorrow night. Lue has got some tough decisions to make with everything on the line in this one, single game.

^Pretty funny.

Nice story about Mr. Alkayali and Algebra. I've seen this place many times; next time I'll stop in.

On deck Sunday: Cavaliers vs. Forever

Lue is getting quite a bit of praise on his defensive plan against GSW's guards, especially Curry. Steph has largely been a non-factor in the Finals, save Game 4. JR's been catching a lot of heat, but he's given us a lot at the defensive end even when his 3s aren't burning the nets. One stat I hope works for us: almost every game in this series we've had 3-days rest, we've won. The exception is Game 1 where, really, we came out looking shell-shocked but, even then, still caught and led the Warriors late in the 3rd, until we fell apart after the Delly-Iggy altercation, officials' 15-minute brain lock... I think the extra day's rest benefits LeBron who, not only is older with an absurd amount of miles on him, but who always carries the lion's share of the load in finals series... these last 3 games, assuming there's one Sunday night, are all 3-days rest games... ... Hey, might as well grasp at straws...

I had no idea the San Joaquins were Amtrak's 5th busiest route, especially since they don't directly serve a major-city downtown aside from Sacramento.