GISguy

Saturday: (nothing special tbh, but I'll post because we haven't had a photo in like 4 hours) Euclid Beach Park:

That's pretty wild. I can't speak to why google is like this BUT the county flies aerials every year if there's a way to import them into GE. We should have another high quality flight delivered soon that will also come with building footprints among other good stuff. Also, if you want to build your own models the state recently completed 3DEP QL0 (pretty much highest quality) LiDAR flights for Cuyahoga if you feel like searching that out. I played around with it w/Progressive Field and the Guardians and it was pretty, pretty awesome.

I'm obviously not a fan so take my comments with a grain of salt but I haven't heard many people (in my circles at least) celebrate the OC. The reviews I hear revolve around all the backups and traffic jam-esque nature of the road and hold it up as an example of induced demand - you can't see in the photo yesterday but it was probably 5-6 cars blocking the (relatively major) E79 intersection after the light went red. The OC is more direct to the Clinic/UC/UH than the other alternatives but (as someone who doesn't drive that way in the morning) is it actually faster during peak times? And if it has solved a major traffic issue, I'd like to see the city/ODOT work to remove lanes from the other urban freeways (Chester, Carnegie, etc.), put their $$ where their claims are. A few other gripes - the bike path is useless and dangerous/covered with glass, and cars routinely knock over poles/crash because it's designed for 65 and not the posted 35. (I know I'm kind of rehashing discussion from when it was built, but I'm not ready to celebrate it either if you couldn't tell). As for what's built on it, we knew it was going to be industrial, (and I'm not trying to be a jerk here) but as far as the residential projects you mentioned - would those have been built even without the OC?

lol explains all the unnecessary highway work they always seem to find. I swear half of the projects on local roads are going on just to spend money. Meanwhile any meaningful bike/ped infra is like pulling teeth. I know it was kind of a pipedream from the start but the 490 bridge is about to get rehabbed and Bike Cle had a writein campaign to get some infrastructure on the redone bridge. It was shot down almost immediately, despite a big campaign. I get ODOT exists to move cars as fast and efficient as possible, but having driven that bridge plenty of times during our "rush hour" losing a lane isn't going to hurt anyone.

After being passed by a few cars 50+ (and one trying to drag race) it pretty much is. Only difference between this and the Rt. 2 redesign by Edgewater is that there are lights on OC (and a terrible bike path) - same speed limit of 35, though. Hot take: ODOT has no business designing urban roads, they only make things worse.

This road was such a waste. This is from yesterday- traffic backed up, light pole knocked over, no traffic in the eastbound direction. So much Opportunity.

RTA trustees boosted general manager’s pay, now they must demonstrate it was a good investment: Editorial Trustees for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority recently approved a new 5-year contract for General Manager India Birdsong Terry boosting her pay by $56,000 a year and creating potential performance bonuses. Birdsong Terry’s salary climbed from $278,512 to $335,000 a year. She will be eligible for performance bonuses worth up to 15% of her pay – more than $50,000. https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2023/08/rta-trustees-boosted-general-managers-pay-now-they-must-demonstrate-it-was-a-good-investment-editorial.html From Axios- never really looked at the comp numbers but lol how does our transit chief make more than Chicago's?!?!

With updated ticket prices, it'll be the only people who can afford it. If/when the browns get better (maybe?)/new stadium people will be in for a shock w/ticket prices. You used to be able to scalp Bills tix for nothing, now to get in the stadium it's like $150-200+, it'll only go up with a new stadium/reduced capacity. Looks shockingly similar to FES/Browns Stadium hah.

The feds next door are going to be so jealous watching these folks lounge/wfh all day lol

Also don't forget about the observation area on the ...10th(?) floor of the library.

Farmers are also poisoning Toledo's drinking water on a pretty regular basis with their 'stewardship of the land' re: fertilizer use and eutrophication. If special interests want to protect a friggin' great lake, I'm all for it.

What gets me is him using his official capacity on campaign letterhead, making it sound like this is the states response. MF be one or the other, or at least don't act like you're a neutral party. Once again, state leadership is embarrassing us.

I wonder how much (and what % of) RTA Execs take the bus/train to get to work or go places.

Matt Huffman says the issue will probably be back in the ballot AND the cost of the election was worth it, "they just didn't have enough time". Our politicians don't represent the people. “I think you’ll probably see the question coming back,” he said, although he later noted it might not be this year. And Mike Gonidakis from Ohio RTL: “You can spend $50- to $75 million and convince anyone that what’s right is left and left is right,” he said. “That’s what they’re doing right now. They’re going to continue to do it in November with weed and abortion. And they’re going to do it next year, [former Ohio Supreme Court GOP Chief Justice] Maureen O’Connor, with redistricting. And then the minimum wage. And then our family farmers.” https://www.cleveland.com/open/2023/08/state-issue-1-is-probably-coming-back-in-the-future-ohio-senate-president-says.html

Polls are open, if you haven't already get out to vote!

Ah yes, that's definitely it, not like idk, the consequences of capitalism but hey moving on. I've been on the train when the stopped it to tell someone to stop hucking goods (he was selling like candy), she warned him a few times over the PA and he actually stopped. RTA Police employ ~120-130 cops, maybe they can get out of their massive SUV's and do something.

As promised:

Waverly and Oak from the back:

Gotta say, y'all have some nice cameras! Despite the hazy summer everyone's shots look great. Here's a few cell pics (finally got flickr back up!):

It's way too big for a soccer stadium. Even rocket fieldwhatever feels cavernous for monsters games. I'm not advocating for a dome, but there aren't many uses for an open air stadium. Honestly idk if there's many uses for a domed stadium either (like, what things do Detroit/Indy get that we could get too).

That bar at the back/no noise dampening for ppl talking up there kills it. Every darn show you just hear talking, it stinks.

This thread is going to get shut down but I'll pile on against better judgement. Don't you live in Collinwood? One of the few areas of the city that has ample (and a ton of private) lake access? All the beach "clubs" are busy all summer long I'm sure. Allowing the public to have more access to an amazing inland sea is only right. Condos/neighborhoods don't belong everywhere. There are like 5 bars/restaurants on the lakefront in the county, in the city? We have the metroparks and private marinas. I always talk with my urbanist friends about how it sucks that there are so few access points to the lake within city limits (that aren't Collinwood or Edgewater). The 55th/72nd Marinas are bumping in the summers, likewise E9 Pier is nuts with people on summer nights. It'd be nice if these spaces weren't just big parking lots with very little lake access - more like here! watch the sunset from your car at 55/72. As for Canada, I've biked around the lake- there are fishing towns/ports spit here and there along the lake but the vast majority reminds me of where I grew up in WNY - fields and more fields. The largest city you come across on the Canadian side is maybe Port Colborne, otherwise its a ton of small areas and cottage communities. It's prime agricultural land - just look at land use on Canada's Pelee Island vs the US islands. They also don't build their roads up to the lake that often because they understand erosion is a real problem (disappointing when the goal of your bike trip is to see the lake). If anyone wants to read my musings while on the bike, have at it: https://dgutl.blogspot.com/2014/05/first-post.html (it looks like crap on mobile btw).

Put it on the Transport Road site...if it's good enough for a jail it's good enough for a stadium!