urbanlife

That is a good question. Will certain routes (especially west side routes such as the 22, 25, 81, 26, and some of the east side routes such as the 1 and 3) be rerouted to terminate at (or at least pass by) the new transit center? in my understanding, the short answer as of now, is that not much will change on public square as a result of stj transit center. basically, any bus that now passes through or terminates around CSU will be redirected to layover and stop/start at the new center. this will be a few of the buses that pass through public square, but right now, there really aren't that many buses that layover on the square - there are just a lot of bus stops. Most of the layovers occur on prospect.

the redline and trolleys should all have automated human voice recorded announcements now - if not, then something is broken and consider reporting train number or time/day/direction. blue/green lines and healthline automated human voice announcements should be coming as well. the ARRA funds that RTA received recently for the enhanced turn signal warnings is the same type of equipment (mainly external speakers) that are needed for external stop announcing. once the speakers are fully installed, i expect you will see external stop announcments as well. CTA has had this for a while.

Joe C has come out in strong support of the 3C corridor, however he also accurately states that funding for the 3C while decreasing local public transit to access the 3C doesn't make a lot of sense. At the end of the day, he is trying to find money for RTA first. The local MPO meetings are very instructive about public transportation funding with a widespread attitude that we can't afford these investments, roads in my county need repaved, no one will use the train, etc. These meetings - or meeting with the representatives from the various counties - are one way to at least get Northeast Ohio on board with transportation investments. Despite some opposition, RTA has been able to get significantly more money from CMAQ and other NOACA "pots" that weren't previously available. However, these are band aids and not a long term funding fix. IMO, the real problem is as KJP pointed out - a very strong anti-urban, anti-public transit attitude among our state's elected "leaders" at many different levels. Ohio also has more urbanized areas than a lot of other states, making the problem worse as disinvestment now occurs in the 3Cs, Dayton, Toledo, Akron, Canton, etc. and not just 1 or 2 big cities. Having lived in a couple of states with only 1 or 2 major cities, I also think it can be easier to get behind supporting projects in X state's big city, instead of spreading them out statewide. What is Ohio's flagship city? RTA had a pretty aggressive advertising campaign for the past few years, using the Join the Ride slogan. There were TV spots, billboards on all the major highways (facing stop and go rush hour traffic), newspaper ads, etc. They also used testimonials from the same people you reference - showcasing people in the community that use RTA, students, office/legal/healthcare workers, etc. RTA also heavily marketed the HealthLine. Some of this is still going on with limited print ads and an occasional radio spot. You can see some of the short spots on youtube if you search Cleveland RTA ads. But, RTA also gets beat up over spending even a dollar on adverstising when they are cutting service - time and again, whether at a public hearing or through a local tv investigative reporter. IMO, there isn't widespread community support or understanding why RTA should advertise. Rather, there is strong community sentiment that RTA better do everything in its power to keep my route before trying to attract new riders to the system.

the DCA people driving the ford escape are all off duty police officers, so they would still have some arrest powers and could conceivably give you a ticket, but i'm pretty sure they they don't carry a ticket book. the law must have recently changed in Ohio, b/c now when you see an off duty officer doing a security detail in a car, they can use the red and blue lights as well - used to have to be yellow or green.

OMG as a musician I love that!!!!!!! It would be interesting if they were able to pull something like this off - piano keys were put on stairs and linked to audio.

RTA hasn't "accepted" the system, so it hasn't actually paid the final bill. They are aware of issues - reliability, usability, dual-language, etc. They are holding out final payments until the system is corrected. The machines do need a lot of work.

for me this was an ie8 issue. choose "compatibility view" next to the address bar.

APTA has published some info on fare recovery by agency: http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/NTD_Data/table26_fare_per_passenger_and_recovery_ratio.xls International perspective here: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/55CF12C9-9D4E-4762-A27A-407A44546BE2/0/TrasitFareboxRecoveryandSubsidiesSynthesisKTaylorFINAL2.pdf More APTA publications comparing transit agecies here: http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/NTDDataTables.aspx not sure about wages, but cost per service hour is somewhere around $110 for RTA.

It was moved from the TAC to the full Board with staff reccommendations that it be placed on an illustrustive project list amended to the TIP. If 2 specific criteria are met - full funding from the feds AND a plan showing operational funding through 2030 - then it can move from the illustrative TIP to the financially constrained projects TIP. As it is worded now, a federal grant of $450 million would not move this to the TIP. My understanding is that other MPOs are considering/have passed language placing the 3C quick start directly onto the financially constrained TIP and skipping the illustrative project TIP step. Basically, ODOT testified at 2 different meetings that this project should qualify for the TIP based on a "funding strategy" that is consistent with the TIP process. NOACA staff either disagrees with this, or doesn't want to try something different, not sure which, but "traditionally" was thrown around a bit. In the end, the TAC followed staff recs. There may be an opportunity to amend this at the full board on Dec. 11. All Aboard Ohio's statement was passed out and referenced, and there was 1 public comment. This is open to comment before Board action, so i would encourage others to at least submit written comments, or attend the Dec. board meeting. It is good that it is moving forward, but, imo, it is a pretty weak statement of support from NEO.

the airliners.net forum here http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/ has a feature like this, and it seems to work well. basically, instead of having stars or post count, you would also have a "Respect Rating" or something similar with a count. It is pretty helpful determining who actually knows what they are talking about.

a few updates: - all of the fixed line routes - healthline, red, blue, green and trolleys will have human voice announcements. it is on the red line and trolleys now. - fare machine software is being redesigned and rta has not accepted the equipment or software from the vendor - so the vendor hasn't been paid yet. there are 2 major issues: reliability (giving right fare media, change, etc.) and usability. both are being worked on, but the vendor wants to fix the reliability issues first and then work on usability. originally, new software with far fewer screens was to be done by Jan 1, however, the vendor was recently sold and although there is still some sort of progress, it has been delayed. - machine heights. this is a pure cost issue. a machine at each station has to be ADA accessible, and at stations with 2 machines, if 1 of the machines is off line, then no ADA. so, a decision was made to make all machines ADA compliant. there should be some usability improvements as part of the software redo (bigger buttons and text, button numbers "R5" on the actual screen, fewer screens). There is also a proposal to redo the front of the machine signage to introduce a "1,2,3" fare purchasing approach with 3 different colors. This is last on the list after reliability and software updates. - RTA also recently completed some focus groups from riders on the redline - and got a lot of valuable info. biggest complaint: fare machines. - smartcards - were supposed to be rolled out to rta employees this summer, and then to the regular public later in the year. with the reliability issues of the ticket vending machines, this has fallen down the list for implementation. haven't heard a new date, but they still plan to offer smartcard in the future - if only for monthly pass holders and employees.

this is the same type of construction they used on the 4 story dorms/apartments in downtown akron, on south main street, also similar to construction on downtown oberlin project.

Can't argue with you... Actually, I thought I'd read RTA is moving ahead with the Brookpark Rapid station rebuild w/o the planned TOD, hoping that TOD happens later. The A/E design award was given at the June board of trustees meeting. Design goes until Aug 2010, construction award in Dec 2010, and construction complete sometime in 2012. Here is the presentation given at the planning committee meeting: http://www.riderta.com/pdf/presentations/2009-06-02-Brookpark.pdf

it wasn't torn down - the owner actually had it disassembled (warehouse, racks) and shipped to texas, iirc.

This is Burke's website: http://www.clevelandairport.com/site/470/default.aspx There is a link to a website and master plan at the top. edit: but after exploring the site, it doesn't appear the actual final report is posted. it does provide a contact though.

but at least the beeping buses are going away. plus, these new speakers have focused sound projection, automatic ambient noise detection, and only activate when the wheel is turned 45 degrees - so no noises when lane changing, or waiting at a light with the turn signal on. there should actually be a significant reduction in noise - at least from the current set up.

my understanding that even if it was approved by some city agency there wasn't any money to actually buy the property from RTA, and RTA wasn't/isn't going to give the buildings/property away or pay for demolition (except if they have to like is happening with a portion of the buildings) one group of investors who is loosely affiliated with dunham (but not part of dunham at all) sumitted a grant for clean ohio funds to demolish and turn into a park. that was discussed on the board somewhere. those grant awards are announced next wednesday.

this property is owned by RTA. the roof had a failure a few weeks ago and the building was condemned and had to be immediately repaired or demolished. RTA board approved ~300k in emergengy spend to demolish on Sept 15. http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1343

i stopped in yesterday at ohio city burrito and was impressed overall. good burrito, lots of hot sauces to choose from, cozy space. i'm excited to have this new option in ohio city and hope it does well.

this stop is actually in the area of phase I of the Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) grants that were made last year. i don't know where RTA and the local sponsor are with respect to starting/finishing this particular location, but if it was recently removed, my guess it is in anticipation of a new shelter, benches, scheduling info, trash can, and other TWE elements being installed at that location.

i believe this is the reconstruction of the two chutes that exit from tower city. they are being completely rebuilt. Any idea why they need to be completely rebuilt? something was wrong with the concrete plinths on the one chute - not sure exactly. as this section is less than 15 years old, it seems like an early failure. it is a pretty steep incline though, so maybe something is shifting on the hill, idk. here is the language from the press release from the board meeting: "2009-82, RTA will spend $350,000 of federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to rebuild the outbound chute on the Waterfront Line. This is a safety upgrade on the section of track from Tower City to Robert Lockwood Drive. Delta Railroad Construction of Ashtabula will do the work. Four Disadvantaged Business Enterprises will share 11 percent of the project, or $40,500. Work will be scheduled so as not to interfere with Browns’ games." http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1344

i believe this is the reconstruction of the two chutes that exit from tower city. they are being completely rebuilt.

any update on the street furniture that was supposed to be part of this project? perhaps they can borrow some from e12, where there are literally 100 chairs bolted to the sidewalk.

the 19actionnews link above has a link to this hosted document that provides more detail: http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/woio/pdf/nutica2.pdf

the union members, including drivers, are also working without a contract....expired july 31...and doesn't seem too close to being resolved although there is a mediator involved. i believe a notice to walk off/strike was also filed in august at some point, but haven't heard much that this would actually happen, probably more of a negotiating tactic and keeping options open.