gildone

Often, but not always. Sometimes just better frequencies are needed. The Lakewood Circulator, for example, doesn't run often enough for people who want to connect to it from the Red Line. I recall I wanted to meet up with someone in Lakewood, but the Circulator ran only every 40 or 45 minutes. It was faster for me to walk the more than a mile to the Clifton Blvd condo where I was going. Not a big deal, unless it is raining, which it was (off and on) one time. Furthermore, I was coming from Berea and wanted to take the 86 to the Red Line. It only runs every hour on Saturdays and significant parts of the weekdays. If I take the 86 to the Red Line to the Lakewood Circulator, it means walking once I get off the train at Madison/117th because the schedules don't gel because the Circulator and/or 86 doesn't run often enough. I would use the 86 more often if it ran more often-- and I would prefer to use it. A lot of times I just end up having to drive to the Red Line because th 86 just doesn't run frequently enough. Or late enough.... I also looked into using the 86 and Red Line to go to Little Italy for dinner on a Friday or Saturday evening. You have to make it an early dinner because the last 86 leaves Brook Park RTS at 9:52 on Saturday and 9:56 on Friday. Since the last southbound run is so early, it also makes it impossible to use for concerts, ball games, etc. I suppose I could just take the Red Line into the airport and hop in a cab, but that adds expense, that is if the cabbies don't refuse to take me (which some have said in the Taxicab thread that they've been refused by airport cabbies if they are only going to Berea, Brookpark, etc).

I haven't yet ridden Megabus. How would those of you who have used it compare it to Greyhound?

I can see this working in European cities where many are already more human-scale and there are a lot of pedestrians. I could see it working in areas of US cities that have a lot of pedestrian traffic and transit, but would it work on, say, Morse Road in Columbus and areas like it where development is anything but human scale and there is virtually no pedestrian traffic? I don't know...

Full article at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,druck-448747,00.html Excerpts: Controlled Chaos: European Cities Do Away with Traffic Signs Matthias Schulz, Spiegel Online Are streets without traffic signs conceivable? Seven cities and regions in Europe are giving it a try -- with good results. ~~ "We reject every form of legislation," the Russian aristocrat and "father of anarchism" Mikhail Bakunin once thundered. The czar banished him to Siberia. But now it seems his ideas are being rediscovered. European traffic planners are dreaming of streets free of rules and directives. They want drivers and pedestrians to interact in a free and humane way, as brethren -- by means of friendly gestures, nods of the head and eye contact, without the harassment of prohibitions, restrictions and warning signs. A project implemented by the European Union is currently seeing seven cities and regions clear-cutting their forest of traffic signs. Ejby, in Denmark, is participating in the experiment, as are Ipswich in England and the Belgian town of Ostende. ..."The many rules strip us of the most important thing: the ability to be considerate. We're losing our capacity for socially responsible behavior," says Dutch traffic guru Hans Monderman, one of the project's co-founders. "The greater the number of prescriptions, the more people's sense of personal responsibility dwindles." ...Drivers will force the accelerator down ruthlessly only in situations where everything has been fully regulated. Where the situation is unclear, they're forced to drive more carefully and cautiously. ...Now traffic is regulated by only two rules in Drachten: "Yield to the right" and "Get in someone's way and you'll be towed." Strange as it may seem, the number of accidents has declined dramatically. (16 Nov 2006)

Who was it who said, "When someone has a new idea, they've really just stopped having an old idea"? Air-rail connections can be very positive things for airlines. It's an old idea that's long past due in the US.

Railpax is "shorthand". It was the Rail Passenger Service Act.

So when I cut my grass, I'm subsidizing highways? I never thought of it that way! Same goes for my snow blower... Well, I have an electric lawnmower now, so I guess I don't anymore. My next mower will be one of those old-fashioned Reel mowers so I won't use any fossil fuels at all but I'm digressing... Anyway, I hope Strickland embraces new ideas like this and moves forward on his priorities. Who knows what "political realities" will get in the way though once he's in office.

What about Cincy, Dayton, and Toledo? Are these public meetings of some kind?

I wonder when the much awaited economic impact analysis of the Ohio Hub will be completed...

Has this been posted here? Sorry if it has: http://www.gazette.com/interactives/back_on_track/lightrail/ It's a two minute video on Denver's light rail system. 36,000 passengers per day...

I think this belongs here rather in the politics thread. However, if the mods would prefer to move it, I understand. These are excerpts from the following page of the incoming Strickland-Fisher administration's "transition" website: http://govelect.ohio.gov/Vision/RevitalizingOurCitiesandTowns/tabid/63/Default.aspx These are only a few of the things listed at that page, but they are things specific to transportation and urban development. Personally, I like that the incoming administration is talking about transportation in a more holistic manner and promoting the idea of intermodal connections: • Making Ohio a Gateway to International Commerce and a Hub for the Nation’s Freight A Strickland-Fisher Administration will harness Ohio’s strengths and partner with private industry to create the Ohio Gateway – an integrated network of multi-modal facilities that seamlessly links Ohio’s citizens, businesses, railways, highways and port facilities into the most advanced and efficient transportation system in America. Ohio’s location, industrial base and network of distribution and logistics assets uniquely position our state to become a premiere gateway to international commerce and a hub for the nation’s freight. Sixty three percent of the U.S. manufacturing base and major population centers of the Northeast, Midwest and Canada lie within 600 miles of Ohio. Furthermore, the state ranks 4th in the nation in the value of freight exported, third in imports and is home to a number of major air and seaports. To reach its full economic potential, Ohio must create the conditions necessary to attract the distribution and logistics industries to move the nation’s goods using our ports, rails and roads. The explosive growth that is forecast to occur in freight shipments across Ohio cannot be accommodated by our current infrastructure alone. To be successful, we must also link our many air and water ports, expand our rail network, link local communities to major rail lines, and create seamless connections to port facilities and transportation hubs in nearby states and countries. Development of the Ohio Gateway requires a bold approach to transportation planning that is closely tied to the state’s economic development objectives. By improving our rail system, modernizing our ports and building regional partnerships, we will establish Ohio as home base to the nation’s distribution and logistics industries that could potentially create 40,000 new jobs in the eight years of a Strickland-Fisher Administration. I am on record supporting the Ohio Hub, a rail system that will serve intercity corridors with integrated air, highway and transit. Investment in rail infrastructure will strengthen our state’s assets as a premiere gateway to international comers, a hub for the nation’s freight and lay the groundwork for passenger service. A Strickland-Fisher Administration will strongly support efforts to move ahead on freight rail expansion in Ohio, working for passage of pending legislation to provide federal matching funds for rail projects. We will also double funding for Ohio Rail Development Commission grants for local rail spurs and intermodal facility construction projects at an annual cost to GRF of $2 million. • Incentivizing Smart Growth and Making “Fix-It-First” a Priority for State Investments A Strickland-Fisher Administration will embrace “Fix-It-First” and “Smart Growth” principles as strategies to redevelop our urban areas. Ohio should not be using taxpayer dollars to promote unchecked sprawl or to encourage the abandonment of cities. Fix-It-First policies will allow us to, where appropriate, focus our spending on the repair of existing roads, bridges, rails, and other infrastructure. And when new infrastructure is needed, Smart Growth policies will allow Ohio to direct investment toward those areas specifically designated by local jurisdictions for growth. •Leading by Example We will assure that investments in state facilities and new leases are made with a priority on locations that are close to transit routes and in core urban areas. We will focus state resources on reusing vacant and abandoned buildings in urban cores, bringing daytime, pedestrian traffic back to our urban centers and spurring strong urban retail markets. • Supporting the Ohio Main Streets Program and Historic Preservation Tax Credits As a symbol of a community’s heritage, the health of its historic downtown district provides a visible indication of an area’s economic vitality, in turn affecting its ability to recruit new businesses and residents. In Ohio, the nonprofit Heritage Ohio operates the Ohio Main Street Program, promoting historic preservation and economic development of traditional downtown business districts. Communities selected for official “Main Street” designation undertake a rigorous program of consultation and planning and seek private investments and federal grants to redevelop downtowns into vital centers of community activity and commerce. Since the program’s inception in 1998, Ohio’s thirty-two Main Street communities have helped stimulate civic pride and economic activity, producing over $300 million in reinvestment and more than 1,800 full-time jobs. A Strickland-Fisher Administration will commit $3 million annually to the Ohio Main Street program and participating communities. Funding will be provided by reallocating resources within the Ohio Department of Development. Additionally, the Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill to provide for a State Historic Preservation Tax Credit. This is a good first step for attracting investments and supporting the redevelopment of existing communities. We will support efforts in the General Assembly to move this bill forward.

Here's my question now: if Ace gets the airport contract, can I only utilize Ace if I want to be picked up at my house and go to the airport? Or do I only use Ace when I'm going home?

I've utilized the cabs at the airport a few times in recent years. Most recently in April. I never experienced any chaos. So does this mean that I can't call up Yellow Cab from my house and have them take me to the airport? Also, your example about road contractors is, in my opinion, and apples and oranges comparison. Also, I haven't had any bad experiences-- yet-- with cab service there. No one has (yet) shown any "attitude" or refused me because I'm only going to Berea. But, I'm just now reading Musky's post. Since Musky was a driver, I guess he would know more than the rest of us....

I asked this too, at the bottom of page 2 in this thread. It makes no sense to me either.

There used to be a recorded announcement every so many minutes that said there was the RTA Red Line to downtown and where in the airport to catch it. The last time I was at the airport, the announcement was gone. I don't know when it stopped, though, as I don't fly very often.

Ok. I don't know anything about this, so I have the following questions: Why does it have to be only one company serving the airport? Why do taxi services have to go out for bid? Why can't any licensed cab company in Cleveland/Cuyahoga county provide service at the airport? What about some competition?

I'd take clean bathrooms over TV's any day. In fact, I'd rather not have TV's blaring a bunch of stuff I don't want to watch in the first place, but I'm definitely in the minority on this one. Although I can see their usefulness for providing weather or news related information that may affect passengers' trips, I don't understand why it seems that people have to have TV's on almost anywhere they go nowadays.

Sounds like KJP has the best answer. I tried to enter Biddulph @ Pearl in the trip planner and it said "unable to find location". It found Biddulph @ Fulton, though. I wouldn't be surprised if the info is old. I have discovered a couple other omissions and errors in the Trip Planner. You would think RTA would want the info in the trip planner to be as up to date as possible. Accurate, up-to-date info leads to happy riders-- and more riders. By the way Jar3232, I was on jury duty back in May and three years ago the week before Labor Day. This Friday is Veteran's Day, so not only should you have only a 4-day commitment there, the judges may begin clearing their dockets on Thursday afternoon so they don't get held up right before the long weekend. This is what happened when I was on that week before Labor Day three years ago. We were all dismissed on Thursday afternoon. Only a few who were already on trials that would run over into the following week had to come back the following Monday. I hope the weather is decent for you this week. Lunches are 90 minutes long, so you'll have ample time to wander around downtown. I walked all over downtown during my jury duty lunches this past May and rode the trolley buses. I checked out a different area each day.

According to the RTA Trip Planner, you can catch the #79 at Biddolph and Fulton and arrive at Superior and W. 3rd in 25 minutes, and it would be a one seat ride, but I have no personal experience with the buses in that area.

Sounds like Boston wasn't very smart in buying different equipment for each line. That's the kind of thing you need to consider in your planning. However, there may be more to the story here that I don't know about. At least Cleveland RTA, as many other problems they have, is looking to standardize its rail equipment as the red and blue/green line equipment fulfills its federal commitment. As I understand it, they are going to buy equipment with retractable stairs so that all equipment can run on any line. That would be great-- Shaker Square to the Airport or Brook Park to the Waterfron without changing trains.

There are more than just a half-dozen, but still more are needed. The more people involved, the sooner the date comes that we can all buy a ticket.

I certainly appreciate what you're saying. Mrnyc and I, as well as a few others, have to complain, though. If our transit systems aren't up and running well (and into the future), our respective cities come to a grinding halt. I remember reading a few years ago about a commuter rail passenger group in, I think, New Jersey, who were organizing to save the bar cars. I just thought, man, wouldn't that be nice problem to have, because that means you actually have a rail system in your state!

Yep, we're definitely stuck buying "off the shelf" (but modified to American safety standards) from Europe. Look what happened with the Acela rolling stock. We tried to do a North American version based upon a couple of different European technologies that had never been blended before. There were problems with everything from the crapper doors to the brakes. There was also something about the cars being built 4 inches too wide. This led to people on rail advocacy lists sarcastically saying things like "Support an expanded Amtrak-- even if it's just 4 inches" There was a lot of political meddling in the Acela equipment decisions though. That was a big part of the problem. We let our passenger rail car manufacturers die-- Budd, Pullman, etc and all of the good wage jobs that went with it. It's nobody's fault but our own.

No disdain here either, except for the collective myopia in our nation's and state's transportation policies. I fly from time to time too. Noozer, you summed it up well. I'm all for a well balanced transportation system that: 1. equitably includes all modes. 2. treats each mode fairly and properly funds them 3. is holistic in its planning and allows each mode to do what is does best so that each mode can thrive. AmrapinVA: This is an open list for discussion urban transportation issues in Ohio. No one is asking or expecting you to stop posting aviation stuff.

Good news, but at the same time, it's getting depressing seeing all of these advances with rail in OTHER states...