JDD941

My vent is about the sheltered suburbanites that are so "afraid" of everything! The other night I was at the Map Room on West 9th. I was meeting a friend of mine there, and I told him I was taking the 55 bus down there because it is cheap and beats driving...he did the same. A few girls overheard us talking about how easy and cheap it was...beats a DUI and Parking prices....she was like..."Wow, you took the bus down here from Lakewood/Edgewater area? Weren't you SCARED? What an idiot!!! She even stated..."I wouldn't even know how to use the bus". She said if it were more like Chicago, she might use public transportation. I laughed and said that IT IS. Just a smaller scale...but then again, Cleveland is a smaller scale. I mentioned that if we had trains like NYC I wouldn't even use a car around here. She said.....it is too scary to use trains in NYC!!!! Goes to show how sheltered and stupid people can be around this region!

This was such a big issue/debate...but since these appeals were filed, has anything happened? I know up here in Cleveland nothing seems to be happening..what about other parts of the state? Will the courts put all the appeals together and make it one case? Any info?

^LOL

^^I wonder how it compares to the money going to Niagra Falls, Detroit, or Windsor?

Oompaloompa is hard to not notice..(in a good way)...but that damn little pic she has up freaks me the hell out!

This looks to really be a cool looking area...How awesome would it be it light rail was running down the tracks at the North end!?!

I have to think that if there were an alternative that people KNEW about, then traffic wouldn't be a big deal. A lot of people coming into the city have no idea of the construction and traffic patterns during that time. "Traffic" in Cleveland is a joke anyway...it is not a bige deal here. I DOUBT that closing off the square to any traffic is going to spell dooms day for the city. I have read of tying in the shoreway all the way to the square and using subway UNDER the square....which sounds great...but we are dealing with Cleveland, RTA, and ODOT....so that most likely will never happen. Why not redirect traffic around the square? not a BIG deal

Typical...if I don't get mine..then nobody does! Who cares who gets the damn things "first"? When Ohio finally allows it, don't you think Cincy will get them as well, eventually? Instead...let's just kill the idea for the whole state....

I would replace any and all highways within 10 miles of downtown Cleveland and replace them with rail lines....I hate highways cutting the city apart!

I can't wait to ask, or hope that someone will ask, WHY there is no plan to incorporate RAIL into this plan!!!! You are taking a heavily traveled corridor, that directly links the most densely populated areas of the region to downtown, along with projects that will cut down on parking lots downtown.....and you AREN'T promoting public transportation with rail???? Makes no real sense to me. This new Blvd will be a parking lot every morning and evening. I hope someone is there tht can TRY to convince me that there will be some "really cool BRT".....F that. This is a great chance to expand rail to an area that would actually USE IT and it also has potential for TOD..... I am not a city planner nor am I an expert on transportation....but this seems to make sense to me. I would love to hear some of the resident experts chime in with their opinions.

GREAT for the owners to do that....shameful for the city to have not already done it!

I wish Jackson would pull a Mayor Daley and trash that waste of space.....divert to Cuyahoga Co airport and Hopkins....

I am glad to hear you liked the area!!....I hope you realized (a lot of out of towners don't) that the parking meters are free after 6 pm and on weekends....just some info for the next time you are here.

Indoor football...YAWN.....should I watch that or the Indians this year..what a toss up

Yes, if you take that line due West, I believe Cincinnati,KY...I mean Ohio would fall below it! :-D :-D :-D

I bet if Cleveland had beeter placed lines instead of hiding them, the ridership would be better. If you had lines (either El, underground, or whatever) through the Clifton(and integrated with the NEW shoreway blvd proposed) area, W25th/Pearl, and maybe St Clair or along 90/rt2 E...it would be visible AND be where populations are. RTA could even get crazy and have a line along 271 to 480 to connect all the lines on the outer ends. The East side lines do go through some populated areas, but THE West side line survives IMO because it goes to the airport. for regular everyday use, it seems hidden in back yards and behind a bunch of factory buildings. I wish Cleveland lines were more visible and promoted like Chicago's rail service.....just my opinion

Can't believe I am saying this....being a Clevelander (even though parents from greater Pittspuke and speak with words like yins and WaRshington...which I do NOT)....but DAMN that is great looking downtown! Beautiful city...wish Ctown planners would take a few lessons!

I apologize..I didn't realize this was free. I of all people am for that...my motto is"if it's free, it's me"!

Holy Crapamoli....Euclid used to look like 5th Ave or Michigan Ave(pic in the PD).....it would be SO nice to see something like that return....

^Thanks man!

Can't wait to watch TV through black marker graffiti on the screens! Why didn't they spend the money on installing ceiling to floor turnstiles, fare card and fare refill machines similar to NYC/Chicago(at least we can watch TV while everyone pays ON the train!), and maybe even automated voice stops and messages on the trains. On another note...is RTA and the cab companies working together somehow? I never understand why train or bus lines stop running BEFORE the bars close on the weekends. I love taking the 55 downtown when I go out, but unfortunately is stops running before I go home! It would be a nice to see RTA back an advertising campaign against drinking and driving and encourage people to use public transit to AND from downtown. Just a thought....

^ I have to wonder myself if the idea of "community" rather than isolation in section 8 housing has really worked so far. Not to be a dick, but I would personally not live near/next door to section 8 housing. Not saying that all people that live under those guidlines are bad, but it just seems to draw a bad element from what I have experienced so far. I hope that the "new" Tremont area, and that project slated for W.28th works out well for all involved. I DON'T, however, believe that the WHOLE city should be subject to that type of developement. There has to be some areas that should be attractive to those who want to live in the city, but may be hesitant to live near section 8. I know that the idea of class/social/income segregation may not seem right.....but it IS part of life. I would LOVE to live in a house on Harborview Dr, but I don't feel they need to build something in my price range there because I feel excluded. SOME mixed income is nice, but not the whole city. I think sometimes people have become TOO sensitive to the haves and have nots. Starting from elementary schools where games of elimination are all but banished to public housing. I believe everyone should have a chance....but people still need to realize that hard work and effort are the pathways to reward. (just a thought...please try not to be TOO brutal on me)

I was hoping the W was for another "WHOOTERS"...oh wait, that would be Hooters......

I have to agree with the idea that streets should be eliminated THROUGH public square. That area is basically the epicenter of the ctiy and brings both sides of downtown together. Mall "C" looks nice but is very sterile and isn't really used that much. North of Mall "C" is ex mayor Jane's idea of a GOOD idea..but it really isn't. That is a park space close to nothing at all. It is a waste of space....not close to any major residential areas, most businesses aren't close, and it is too far from the bars for the panhandlers to set up camp....but hey, it's right next to city hall! At least in about 10 to 15 years the trees will be big enough for the Browns fans to stop and piss on after the game as they pass through from the stadium! I say make it like a Bryant Park in NYC, or maybe even a Millenium Park in Chitown...

MTS...WHERE is your sense of urbanism!?!?! We should keep all the wires, and while we are at it...give residents free pairs of shoes to toss over the wires as well! Keep the wires so Cleveland can look like the neighborhoods in NYC...wait...I mean Chicago...uh, wait....I mean DETROIT! :) As a firefighter, I hate those poles, wires, and above ground utilities...they get in the way of fire ground operations. Beyond that though, they just look plain ugly and pose potentia hazards.