TPH2

New piece from Ginger RTA puts city on the hook for $12 million federal clawback; Public Square debate moves to the legal realm By Ginger Christ, The Plain Dealer Email the author | Follow on Twitter on January 04, 2017 at 5:00 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio - The federal government is demanding repayment of $12 million in grant funding given to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, and RTA claims the city of Cleveland is liable for the money. Cleveland has come under federal scrutiny after closing Superior Avenue through Public Square. In not permitting buses to cross the square, RTA is in "breach" of a funding deal it made years ago for the Healthline that stated that the bus rapid transit line along Euclid Avenue would end in Public Square, the Federal Transit Administration asserts. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/rta_puts_city_on_the_hook_for.html#incart_river_home

There was a proposal very early on that called for building a raised mound over Superior, but that was dismissed as an option pretty quickly because of the much higher cost

Yours Truly at the Halle Building opened up today. It's a pretty cool space. They are open 3-10pm on Tuesday and go to normal hours starting Wednesday.

From this morning:

It was the mayor's directive in the first place!!! This is from a June 14, 2012 Plain Dealer article: "Silliman said the mayor is satisfied with the study's results, provided that Superior be redesigned to look like a plaza that blends with the rest of the square's streetscape when it is closed to traffic for special events." https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B16RJdSArUFaeFNDeTQ0dXhjTm8/view?usp=sharing

It last happened 2014-15 and then they cancelled last years just a few weeks before saying they couldn't secure enough sponsorship money because of the RNC. It was supposed to come back this year but there has been no word about it at all, so it's not happening .

^ Can't say for sure, but my guess is that they won't install any infrastructure for mobile payment until they transition it into a permanent system. The Passport app was just a free trial, I haven't heard anything about where they are with the process for a permanent contract.

^ I don't know the specifics off hand of what would need to be approved by whom and when, but the project is technically being headed by the Euclid Avenue Development Corporation

It would be 1,200 beds, not 1,200 units. But yes, it basically doubles the on campus residential population of CSU.

No, it would technically be on campus housing. But CSU contracts out the construction and operation of its residence halls. American Campus Communities manages manages Fenn Tower and Euclid Commons.

Signal priority has been on for at least a year now. There was no announcement made about it though

A large organization is always losing employees to retirement or quitting. That means large organizations are always hiring. During this finals week, I'm tempted to drop out of grad school and apply for my boyhood dream job -- an RTA Rapid driver.

I think the authenticity of the West Side Market being a market that hasn't been tainted with tourist-trap stuff is a lot of what makes it a tourist destination. I would be wary of messing with that. Anecdotally, whenever I bring visitors to the WSM for the first time, they almost always comment on the lack of prepared to order food available. They all think the place is cool, but don't really see a reason to spend much time there besides a quick walk through.

I don't know that for sure. More should be coming out about it soon.

A couple things happening in the Circle. Forgive me if these have been mentioned elsewhere. -The Center for Dialysis Care at 11717 Euclid Ave is moving to a new location in UC and UCI will be taking over their property. -CIA will likely be building a 4 story dorm on the Christmas Tree lot at 11734 Euclid Ave.

Latest word is that there is finally going to be some movement on this project next week

Update on Yours Truly at the Halle Building: They were holding interviews for staff positions today and the paper covering the windows has come down. I snapped these tonight-

I don't often hear Joe talk specifically about rail operating costs, but this is the line I hear him repeat every chance he gets: "The truth is that more than 45 percent of RTA’s capital budget is allotted to rail, yet rail serves only 19 percent of RTA’s customers." http://www.riderta.com/news/nov-6-2015-statement-rta-gm-joe-calabrese-about-rail-funding

Jackson's staff and Calabrese left after the hearing concluded, before public comment began. They didn't miss part of the session. Joe had a trip to DC scheduled, why would he be making that up? And for the record, Freddie Collier, the city planning director, was present for the public comment section, as was RTA's marketing director. Edit: I don't want to come across like I'm defending the city. I think their arguments were mostly ridiculous and this whole situation is absurd.

Tweet from Michelle today when asked if there were any updates on nuCLEus. Not sure if that means anything. mjarboe[/member] @leerucker Not yet. Possibly soon.

Car-free in Cleveland: Letting go of the wheel of the personal vehicle By Ginger Christ, The Plain Dealer Email the author | Follow on Twitter on November 27, 2016 at 5:30 AM, updated November 27, 2016 at 5:33 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio – From the Shoreway on the West Side to the Inner Belt Bridge, Cleveland, to many, is a city of highways. Criss-crossing freeways bring suburbanites downtown and city dwellers to the burbs. Tree-lined boulevards lead families to the park and friends to the beach. Day in and day out, steel boxes fill the roads and bridges of Cuyahoga County, taking their occupants to work, to school, to the store. But that's not the reality for all Clevelanders. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/11/car-free_in_cleveland_letting.html

^ One of the biggest events of the year is downtown today and our major rail line goes down for most of the afternoon. Not to mention that all the buses are rerouted near Public Square, so the normal rail replacement shuttle station is not in service. Not good.

Track 8 at Tower City will be reopening on Saturday. (The article says Monday, but RTA has since stated that it will open early). http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/11/westbound_tower_city_track_to.html Here's a pic I got of the new track last night

^ I feel bad for the small business owners who will lose out on the gameday revenue. I have zero sympathy for Auburn Hills or Oakland County though.

^ You have to be freaking kidding me. So our city government is screwing over our transit system by keeping Pub Sq closed indefinitely, yet they're engaging in discussions about a useless skylift that has no benefit to most residents? I've about had it with this town.