TPH2

Agree x1000. I get so frustrated by this. I could understand them saying that it is "two trips" if the Red and Green/Blue lines were completely separate systems. However, RTA markets its rail transit as three (or four, or even five if you count the Waterfront Line as separate) lines within one Rapid system. They also share tracks and share three stations. I've ridden on every rail transit system on the East Coast, and Cleveland's by far is the most confusing, even to locals, not just tourists. I have no clue why there is not PoP system wide, nor why there is not a smart card yet.

Gilbert was has been playing up how great the new campaign will be over the last few months, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pretty disappointed.

Vote CLE for the 2016 RNC! http://www.gop.com/act/choose-the-city/fb?utm_campaign=GOP_convention_site-selection&utm_source=regional&utm_medium=communications&utm_content=comms_20140304_GOP_convention_site-selection_regional

From Model D: "BRT in Cleveland: No mistake by the lake" http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/brtincleveland3414.aspx The article is about a group from Detroit traveling to Cleveland to check out the Healthline. The conclusion of the piece is that Detroit should be looking to Cleveland as a model for how to grow public transit. Always good to read complementary pieces about Cleveland, but I think the article gave us too much credit. Some lines I found a bit humorous: "A word that accurately describes Cleveland's transit network, of which the HealthLine is only a small piece, is "robust." " "Four commuter rail lines that link suburbs with the central city..." "Yet Cleveland (as a region, not just a central city) chose a different fate than Detroit--one in which the region embraced and invested in public transit. "What Cleveland is doing is more innovative than anywhere in the U.S." I think Cleveland does a number of things well with transit, but these accolades only make sense when taken in the context that they are coming from someone from Detroit. Otherwise, they seem a bit silly.

I also really like the street lamps. They look just like the ones in downtown Chicago. Wish they never got rid of them (as with so many other things on Euclid Ave...)

From the Atlantic Cities: "Why More U.S. Cities Need to Embrace Bus-Rapid Transit" http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2014/02/why-more-us-cities-need-embrace-bus-rapid-transit/8480/ Doesn't specifically mention the HealthLine, but Cleveland is featured in the main picture at the top of the article.

From WKYC: 10 Reasons Why Cleveland is Cool http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/features/2014/02/21/10-reasons-cleveland-is-cool/5635881/

I thought the city had already re-zoned the building for three units a few years back

New pics

McGraw is going to be on the Triv Show talking about his article this afternoon. Didn't get the time though

I think the last paragraph of the article sums up Cleveland government so well: "A lot of jokes and cynicism ran through my head. But then I thought what Mayor Frank Jackson might tell me. He would probably shrug his shoulders and tell me at least the clock is right twice a day. And his staff and city council would probably tell him there is no need to fix the clock because it has always been that way."

They try to regularly reallocate the bikes around the city so that it doesn't happen frequently. But on Capital Bike Share here in DC, if your return dock is full, you enter your code at the station and it gives you an extra 15 minutes to find an open nearby dock. Granted, that doesn't help the fact that you might have to walk further, but at least you don't get charged extra fees for going over the time limit.

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems.

Global Cleveland's new website went live the other day: http://www.globalcleveland.org/. It's supposed to be a one stop shop for anyone who has an interest in moving to Cleveland.

Ah, now I see. Good question. I seem to remember that you have to tell GCRTA staff/police that you arrived from the Waterfront Line, and they wave you through the gate, around the turnstiles. I think.... Ok, that's what I assumed. That's so confusing, even for those very familiar with the Rapid, let alone a person visiting the city.

The magazine's "Dossier" series is primarily focused on economic development, so that's not surprising. The previous issues on Jacksonville, Louisiana, Tampa Bay, etc all have a similar focus

In that direction, it's no different than boarding a bus. You paid a one-way cash fare of $2.25. You don't need a farecard anymore than you do in riding a bus one way and paying a cash fare of $2.25. You got on, you paid and you're don't need to think about it anymore. Just like a bus. Yes, I get that. My question is if you get off at TC coming from the WFL on an east bound train and you paid a cash fair on the train already, how do you exit the station at Tower City without being forced to go through the fare gates (since you never got a fare card when paying on the train)?

But if you're boarding at a WFL station going 'eastbound', you don't get a fare card if you're only taking one trip. You have to pay exact change cash and it wouldn't make sense to have to pay for another fare card at TC. This was just a point illustrating yet another deficiency of the Green/Blue Line payment system.

Also, what happens if you get on the Waterfront Line at North Coast Station and then get off at Tower City? You have to pay when you get on the train but then what happens when you go through the fare gates at Tower City? Will the staff just let you through if you tell them you came from the WFL and that you already paid?

I first visited Cincinnati only a few years ago, so I've only seen the current incarnation of Fountain Square. In all my travels, I must say, Fountain Square is one of the better downtown public spaces I've seen in a city. It always seems busy with people and it's an attractive space to just sit and hang out . I also really love the inclusion of the video board and I think it's really neat when they play sporting events on there and have the beer truck set up. I wish Cleveland would follow some of Cincinnati's leads here with Public Square Edit: Here are a couple pics from September when they were playing the USA vs. Mexico game on the video screen

I agree, it is often hard to stomach. But it is important not to get too down it. I was just looking at pictures of the Arcade and the interiors of the old Huntington and National City Buildings. I tried to imagine my feelings looking at those pictures if they had been torn down (and American cities have torn down more beautiful buildings before, so it's not unreasonable), and it made me realize that we do have a lot of beautiful buildings left. Especially the stretch of Superior from Public Square to East 9th Street. The things I would do to still have those buildings on the west side of Superior though....

Low floor technology is finally catching on in the US. I just hope we move to a fleet that is more global in nature to prevent the parts supply issues we are facing with the current fleet. it much easier to find parts for vehicle that has sold 2000 vehicle worldwide than to use vehicle that only sold 120. Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck with our current fleet for at least 15 years (although I'm sure it'll be longer). I can't imagine RTA not trying to suck every bit of life out of the rehabbed Red Line cars before buying new rolling stock.

Jeez. RTA sure has had a rough week

I both loved and hated looking at those pictures

Those are great, DM4. It's rare to see old ground level shots of Public Square. I wish I had a time machine