JeTDoG

crap, I'll have to pass, as I'll be in Pennsylvania this weekend :-( enjoy, all...

rockandroller, I believe carolecohen's comment was more directed toward obtaining accurate passenger counts. Along those lines, I will say that I have sometimes seen operators (especially at rush hour) wave past large numbers of people with monthly, 7-day, or all-day passes, which don't need to be debited, but can be visually validated. However, in these circumstances, the operator MUST record the passenger manually on the farebox keypad. If this isn't happening, there's a problem, and we need to know about it. BuckeyeB, you raise some interesting policy points, but I have to disagree with regard to the trolleybuses. You may just be trading out one infrastructure (diesel engines) for another (overhead catenary), and I'd have to think the retooling costs would be substantial. Also, trolleybuses are not an option for commuter/Park-N-Ride style routes that run on highways, they are best suited for in-town, neighborhood transportation. Finally, any kind of fixed-route infrastructure like that makes adapting to changing population distributions well nigh impossible, since the only thing less relocatable than overhead catenary is the combination of overhead catenary and steel rails. Does anyone have any figures on how many trolleybuses Dayton currently runs, and what routes they run on? I could find no specifics on their web site.

from the looks of it, all the fountain needs is a couple of sea lions, and I'll feel like I'm back at the New York Aquarium...

That is an unfortunate limitation of the classifications available in the Google Transit Feed Specification (http://code.google.com/transit/spec/transit_feed_specification.html#routes_txt___Field_Definitions). Given the available data types, type 2 or 3 are the only ones really relevant in this case, and type 2 seemed more suited to something like the oft-discussed proposed Cleveland-Lorain commuter rail. I am, however, open to changing it if the subway designation proves to be confusing.

I SO need to check my MegaMillions ticket when I get home tonight... that looks like it'd be a SWEET address...

http://www.riderta.com/pdf/maps/System_Map_Rapid.pdf link is on the Timetables, Maps & Schedules page of riderta.com

absurb micro-managing/consensus building, to-may-to/to-mah-to... let's NOT call the whole thing off, I appreciate the educated banter...

A reasonable suggestion, but the direction I might actually prefer is to keep consistent with what's already there (Rail/Rapid Transit Schedules), and use the term "Rail/Rapid Transit System Map". Also, to address an earlier question, the HealthLine will ultimately be present on the rail/rapid transit map (since it is, as we've stressed, BRT), though most likely not with all of its platforms represented due to space limitations.

and just like that, the omission of parking designations on the Green and Blue lines has been fixed... it was in inadvertent oversight caused by the mis-stacking of layers in the source document... our graphic artist is flogging himself in shame as you read this :-) removal of the specifics of connecting bus routes was done for two reasons -- one, the clarity of the map itself, and two, the reduction in labor costs in case changes result in addition or deletion of a connecting route (x minutes to replace a map * x number of maps to replace * x occurrences of substantive changes happening = $$$); with an interactive online map, the labor costs are minimal (bits is cheap), so that is likely the direction you'll see more detail being focused on...

KJP, MTS, clvlndr, jpop, Straphanger, et al: Thanks very much for the feedback, the examples, the input, and all. I'm actually very glad that something like this stimulated this level of response. I will be reviewing your comments and providing some answers later in the day. I'll also be sharing suggestions and recommendations with the appropriate parties internally to see what motivated certain decisions on our part, and how your suggestions might be able to be accommodated. In a nutshell: interactive maps? yes (and KJP, the examples you've provided were MOST helpful, thanks for doing some legwork on this) charging for parking? I can only say that in the current state of economic conditions, I don't think anything is off the table (though your comments about possible negative perceptions are also well received)

Well, I'm not sure who poked who, or if it was completely coincidental, but just as I was reading this, I received from our graphic artist a new, simplified Rapid system map. It has now been posted, replacing the old, confusing, numbered-stations map. You're welcome :-).

Mayday, as always, your photographic skill is breathtaking... that shot will look even more awesome when the barrels and snowfence are gone and there's nice shiny RTVs packed with people on either side of the platform.

Going car-free is exactly the reason why I'm in far better financial shape than damn near anyone I know. Dumping $$$ into investments rather than a car payment, gas, repairs, insurance, etc... will do that for ya...

First off, let me say KJP, GREAT article series it looks like you've got going there (and a nice contrast to PD's sturm und drang). I'm looking forward to seeing more. I was also glad to see this thread move into the social ramifications of being car-free. I've been sans auto my entire life, and while it has been a bit stressful from time to time, I look at it as my choice, therefore my consequences. It is amazing how many supposedly progressive, "forward-thinking" people will turn off from you socially when they find out you don't have a vehicle. AMN, I feel your pain. Oh well, their loss, not mine. On that note, if anyone knows a nice girl looking for a late thirties car-free fella who is otherwise gainfully employed and a homeowner, with a nice, big... retirement account (I don't know WHAT any of you were thinking :-) ), have her drop me a line...

Having lived with a system (Buffalo, NY) where POP was the norm on their light rail, and it was, in fact, a split POP/free system based on location (above-ground "trolley" portion was free, and that above-ground placement was blamed, in part, for killing downtown - but that's a story for another thread), I can say that riders take to it pretty readily, and enforcement was strict but fair. Honest mistakes were dealt with accordingly, as were persistent scofflaws (who the fare-checkers got to know on sight). Surprisingly, it wasn't the teens that caused the most problems, but the occasional white-collar "oh, I'm only going three stops, I'll risk it" rider who seemed to be the most frequent variety of offender, based on my obsevations. As mentioned by X, there's an easy way around dealing with any violations - just pay your fare.

Oh the torture...where's the link? right here: http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1176 I'll pick on Jerry for this a little later... :-)

As has already been mentioned in some of the cleveland.com blog comments, plan on getting yourselves to the hearings that will be held prior to any activity taking place. I'm sure a number of folks who get their news solely through that source will be present at these hearings, and it would be to everyone's benefit to have informed members of the public, such as those on urbanohio.com, countering the ill-informed. This will also allow for any intended adjustments to be made in the most efficient, least impactful way possible.

To satisfy my own terminal curiosity (and a jonesing for a tabbouleh and tuna salad from Juji's :-) ), I took a walk out Euclid Avenue today at lunch, from Public Square to E 12. I was at a loss to discern any areas where newly-paved roadway was being ripped up. There was sidewalk work happening between the Square and E 4 (and the crew was careful to maintain access to the important things, i.e., the Charter One ATM and Starbuck's), and some utility accessways (manholes) being laid in at various points on the roadway, but it didn't look like anything too major. If you saw something different, do tell... Also, on my way out of the Statler, the concrete crew was back pouring additional roadbed at E 12 & Euclid.

I'd agree with your assessment of Long Island, but only so far as LIRR is concerned (Nassau/Suffolk County local transit are entirely different animals), and I'd disagree when it comes to Westchester (I'm a Yonkers native originally) -- public transit there serves much the same variety of purposes that it does here, albeit for a denser population (no jokes about use of the word "denser", please!); commuter rail from the northern NY suburbs is provided via Metro North, again, a horse of a different color

You've got questions, we've got answers (ya know, that would make a good advertising slogan for someone :-) ). Straight from the project officer: to answer your first question, pedestrian traffic will not be affected, the sidewalk in the construction zone will be extended if necessary as for the second question, per the resident engineer, Stokes will be open southbound through the Euclid intersection and access to parking lot will be maintained so, there you have it...

Let me just weigh in to say that I don't think it's a ridiculous notion. In fact, it is a desirable goal. However, as your second sentence suggests, oftentimes noble goals have to be tempered by economic reality. If this sentiment was in any way miscommunicated by any of the posters on this board, I'd like to apologize on their behalf. If an area has a sufficient population density to support an urban transit model, then working toward that model should be encouraged, regardless of whether it's a one-mile radius or a twenty-mile radius. Keep in mind, though, a circle of one-mile radius has an area of ~ 3.14 square miles, while a circle of twenty-mile radius has an area of just over 1,256 square miles. If you have 12,000 people living in that one-mile radius (a density of ~ 4,000/square mile), you'd have to have slightly over 5,000,000 in the twenty-mile circle to result in the same density. Also, assumptions that the density is evenly-spread over a given area (another factor that weighs in to efficiency of service provision) become less realistic as the area increases. Finally, regardless of frequency, regular and reliable are goals that should be pursued by any transit agency. If the bus is scheduled to arrive once an hour, it needs to be there once an hour. Such reliability is even more necessary as the scheduled frequency decreases. If we're not putting out the service we've advertised, please let us know, and we'll work to correct that. And to reiterate what MayDay said: PLAY NICE, or no cookie :-D

clueless, or had they perhaps had a vist with the Earl of Bud? in which case it's doubtful any amount of "instruction" would have helped them... I sincerely feel that "ride public transit" should be on one of those "50 things everyone should know how to do" lists, somewhere between "fillet a fish" and "tie a bow tie" :-)

John Campanelli at the Plain Dealer put together a very nice "RTA basics" article in today's PDQ section: http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/living-0/121422210840960.xml&coll=2

FYI for those traveling in the University area, numerous construction-related raod closures and traffic shifts coming up: Effective Monday, June 23, 2008, the southbound lane at Adelbert Road will be closed to large trucks and buses. These vehicles will be detoured to Cornell Road while the new concrete crosswalks are installed. This section will reopen Tuesday, June 24. Effective Wednesday, June 25, 2008, Euclid/East 101st Street will be permanently closed to through traffic. This closure is part of the final construction stage in this area, thus eastbound Euclid Avenue through traffic to East 101st Street will no longer be accessible. Effective Wednesday, July 2, 2008, Euclid Avenue through traffic between East 105th and East 107th will be closed for roadway reconstruction. Eastbound Euclid traffic will need to use Chester Avenue or Carnegie Avenue as an alternative route. This section of traffic will reopen within six weeks. Effective Wednesday, July 9, 2008, the traffic lanes between the intersections of East 107th Street and Mayfield Road will be shifted to the South side. Median landscape work and roadway pavement construction to the North will occur. One lane traffic will be maintained in each direction. For more information, contact the project office at (216) 771-4144.