Polis

Roads are flexible, by nature they have lanes and you can move about them. I'm not talking about running times as far as flexibility goes, I'm talking about mobility and ability to move around the many Hight St. obstacles that come up not frequency and reliability. Buses and trolleys can have the same frequencies, poor or great, I don't argue that fact. My point is the bus trolley would be cheaper, quicker to implement, flexible as far as mobility is concerned, and can be used elsewhere during off peak times or construction. What if the trolley fails!? Then we are stuck with it and political skirmishes start. Also, where has this been tried and failed? I'm sure it has but probably not because its a bus trolley, probably because it was put into an already dying area and a true trolley would cost too much. They are cheaper and more likely to be utilized as an experiment in dying areas thus showing that they fail more than very costly trolleys which are usually put in areas that have high potential for growth, excluding historical ones. I don't quite see why you said it will fool people, are you really that sure that a trolley is going to be better transportation than a trolley with wheels? Is a bus trolley not a testament to the midwest, ohio inparticular as it has a rich history in automobiles, as a place of autos and innovation? I dont see how a trolley relates to us at all, unless we attach horses to the front and pretend its 1880. Again, I don't buy the whole "not knowing where it is going". I find it an excuse unfounded in reality. The argument is that tracks exist so they know where they are going, but what if a trolley line ran the length of a full dedicated bus route. You don't know where the tracks go now, once they turn a corner or are out of your neighborhood. Its a bunk excuse comparing a full length bus route to a short range trolley route. I dont buy that its easier for the disabled to use, all of COTA's buses have ramps and osme of the buses can kneel for the elderly and those that need it. Now don't get me wrong I'm all for doing something to boost the economic growth and communities along the proposed trolley line. I just don't think it is the best use of our dollars. I agree with Jmecklenborg that High St. should be turned into a slow traffic, community and shopping oriented strip. Some of our money can go towards diverting traffic instead of spending it all to build a trolley line that iwll create more traffic and have to spend more later fixing that issue.

This argument is used again and again but its not really a fair comparison. A fixed route trolley bus would serve the same purpose as a streetcar and look like one. The path would be the same on usual days as would the frequency, but it has the ability to go around any issues in the way and can be put into play alot faster. Bus routes are only circuitous due to route design not because of any inherent characteristic of the bus. The #2 is a prime example of a bus route that is frequent and highly used. The street car's use comes from its easy access, frequency, and open design not because it runs on rails. Can't really call a bus route that goes up and down a small portion of high street circuitous. I'm not 100% convinced the research conducted for the streetcar is unbiased enough. I had to read some of it and it just seemed like they found data that screamed for a street car over buses, and other alternatives; ignoring alternate research. I really think using a fixed route bus trolley would be better overall, not only would it be more flexible but it wouldnt cost the huge infrastructure cost of a street car and would be more easily supported by politicians and the like.

Actually the majority of the buses that COTA uses in Columbus are tinted so you can't really see who is inside. I'm sure they have some sort of definition for "good", most engineers can't stand abstract definitions such as that. I don't really buy into the whole "people only want what they think is best for them right now" argument. This may be what is translated from how the general public acts but then again the general public has little knowledge on how much transportation is factored into how they live. Sure they drive cars but do they know why the road is where it is and the ramifications of driving so many hours on a certain path per day? or how streets play into neighborhood design? Really I think that the lack of information presented to people is an issue. There are plenty of "open to the public" presentations but really is the average person going to go to one of those? Not likely because in general the public does not think about the secondary and more abstract effects that their actions cause. I am hoping that if information is brought to people they will become more aware and thoughtful about their actions. Obviously some people will not change, in fact most people will not change, immediately but over time they may make more "beneficial" choices. This makes me wonder if the assumed lack of true local community in sprawling suburbs contributes to the "selfish" mentality, reinforcing the inefficiencies of the typical sub(ex)urb.

Not quite true, the streetcar could not replace the service on High St., perhaps make it more streamlined but it would still have to run down High. The #2 also serves Main St. so people wanting to go from north of the street car service area to main street wouldn't want to transfer two times just to finish their trip. All in all I don't see the streetcar alleviating too much pressure off of the #2 since most of the business comes from commuters going to work and not other trips and most of those people come from the north. It certainly would fill in for the less frequent weekend service of the #2 but next year COTA is suppose to expand its service, which includes revamping service along High st, 4th, and 3rd. I could see the streetcar serving as a mini-collector for people wanting to use the #2. Eliminate some bus stops along the streetcar route and pick them up in a few places so the bus can travel faster than the street car. Really I don't support a street car on a dedicated track idea but rather a dedicated street car bus that looks similar and serves a similar purpose but doesn't function on a dedicated track. We can even make it electric but it would be able to change its route if anything were to happen that required a change. This would be easier to not only put into effect but maintain.

Thanks for posting this, I'll circulate it around some public transit folks.

It is true that COTA has new buses coming in this year and the next 7 years but has no new drivers to drive some of them; union negotiations are crawling by. Also, it was not all Lhota's decision to not pursue light rail, COTA spent alot of time studying the possibility but the board also found the no build option suitable. THe issue over the past 7 years has been dwindling funds coupled with not so great leadership. With the new levy passed and the funds starting next year hopefully COTA will be able to, once again, look into other options besides buses. Anything with rail requires HUGE amounts of start up costs with a fair amount of maintenance every year. Putting more service on the track is relatively cheap but the start up is horrendous. Buses, on the other hand, have next to no start up cost since they don't require any additional infrastracture unless the county is some how convinced to add more and more bus lanes. Remember we are in a midwest city with midwest mentalities, its hard to change the car oriented thought when we have had no other alternative that has presented itself as a viable option. Buses run to infrequently in nearly all of ohio's cities to gain the confidence of the general public.

Don't point too many fingers at COTA. The bus system used to be decent but since the levy before this current one did not pass COTA has been in dire straits. Even now with the new levy passed it is becoming increasingly difficult to improve bus service as quick as promised. The drivers union currently is bogging down the progress of COTA. COTA has to serve certain areas and were forced to combined routes to keep service, so sayeth the feds. On a lighter note COTA does have 40 new buses rolling in every year, anyone want to drive them for the union determined starting wage of 11/hr.

Pedestrian/Automobile environmental interactions are part of the planning cirriculum at many schools. However it is not mandatory to take a class soley on this subject at OSU, its merely an option. We did get a taste of it in a class designed to touch down on all sorts of human-built environment interactions, but we did spend a few weeks discussing this topic.

Good news everyone! MORPC is funding a study to look at possible places for bike lockers and bike racks. COTA is assisting in preparing data for them to utilize. Currently COTA's bike boardings are over 35,000 a year and is expected to increase; the hope is MORPC's project will identify areas of high bike boardings. COTA is having trouble finding bus drivers so increasing frequencies by adding more buses is going to take longer than expected, as is adding new routes. Also, splitting up routes that were merged over the past decade is going to take some time. Park and ride locations are also expected to increase within the next 5 years, as of now places in Hilliard, Dublin, and Clintonville are being looked at. Sites have been selected but not purchased as of yet.

I had a class in and about Over the Rhine last spring when I went to Miami University (currently a graduate awating the start of grad school at OSU). The neighborhood is in a pretty sad condition. We were on 14th st and Vine and I can say that there was a good deal of drug dealing happening across the street at the local corner store. During the semester experienced gun shots outside of our room, various arrests, and a few fights. There is alot of loitering and most of the people loitering do not even live in the neighborhood but come there to deal drugs. The citizens are fed up and are afraid to leave their own homes at night (especially the elderly which comprise a fairly large percentage of residents I believe its int he 20% but I would have to check my census). The crack down by the county deputies is generally seen as a volatile move but at least something will be done, probably not enough but something. The neighborhood itself has alot of character (Italianate architecture, old german communities, lots of churches, a nice sized public park and of course Findlay Market) and the people that live there are generally nice. Generally the neighborhood is bustling with activity both illegal and legal until nightfall when it mostly all turns into illegal activity. There is a non-profit business backed development company called 3CDC that is coming in to gentrify the neighborhood in a "better" way. The plan is to keep the area mixed income and work with HUD to develop a strategy. There is little worry of displacement since the vacancy rate is nearing 70% or may have exceeded that arleady. However the condos are reaching upwards of $170,000 per unit, but 3CDC swears they are selling. Another great aspect of the area is that it is choc full of non-profits and church organizations that are seeking to better the area. Overall OTR has the potential to come back but it will take time and require alot of people to risk alot of money.

The point is to encourage the GREATER METRO AREA, as i mentioned above, to pitch in for Cleveland arts. Also I put "unfair" in quotes to denote taxes that targetted groups see as unfair (i.e. smokers and sin taxes on cigs). If this tax was passed and I was a smoker I would definitely head to the next nearest county and just buy a carton (assuming I smoked a pack a week or somewhere around those numbers) to avoid the tax.

Thanks for the welcome. I really do believe that voluntary donations would increase alot if some of our "unfair" taxes were reviewed and turned into donations instead.

I wouldn't be against this if they also slapped a tax on alcohol not served at bars and restaurants but the city seems to think forcing taxes is a great way to make money. I think that if there was a voluntary monetary donation on yearly taxes for the greater metro region it would bring in alot of revenue.

I don't believe a slogan can capture all that Cleveland is. Cleveland does have its population, crime, and education problems but it does offer a fertile ground for future growth. The relatively low cost of living is a big attraction; however some of the "condos" being built are outrageously expensive for the location and townhouses tend to be in locations far away from basic accomidations such as grocery stores but this can be remedied. There is a fairly vibrant culture scene in Cleveland, and one that is very proud of its location. The various museums in the university circle (including the award winning art museum now under rennovation), the play house, severence hall etc. are destinations that do not seem to be as advertised as the rock museum and stadiums to tourists or even prospective citizens. Cleveland is a relatively old city for an American city and has a rich history, everything from some of the first automobile manufacturers to the mob to Millionaires Mile on Euclid Ave. Of course Cleveland's history is obscured from most people but I really think that would be a strong aspect to emphasize. Heck even the public transportation can be decent at times, and with an increase in the city's population will come an increase in RTA funding.

Act I definitely agree. It's also pretty crappy that outer suburbs zone out any possibility of section 8 or other low (or even middle) income residents. I would love to see an affordable housing development with Section 8 recipients and working class families built in Pepper Pike or Hunting Valley- open up Orange Schools to people who could really benefit from the change of scene. Actually alot of suburbs are required to have a % of their housing stock be affordable housing. TO go along with this post some people are confusing section 8 housing and with rental vouchers handed out by section 8. The subruban bungalows in Old Brooklyn that are deemed to be "section 8" actually are land lords that accept section 8 vouchers (since it is gauranteed pay) and have a decreased rent per month. Generally the voucher will cover anywhere from like 30-80% of the rent depending on income, family size etc. Mixed income neighborhoods can work, just look at Chicago's Lakeshore mixed income projects ( i think that is the name) and Cincinnati has City West.