KJP

Cleveland Amtrak routes surge; but expansion lags By Ken Prendergast / March 28, 2025 According to the latest data from national passenger railroad Amtrak, America’s most heavily used passenger train passes through Cleveland each night. And it, plus the other Amtrak route through Cleveland, were the two fastest-growing long-distance routes in terms of ridership last year. But getting more ridership or better departure times at Cleveland will be difficult absent new federal policies, said a nonprofit rail advocacy coalition. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/03/28/cleveland-amtrak-routes-surge-but-expansion-lags/

They did. Three were tossed, leaving four. Two more are likely to be rejected. So two finalists will compete.

Leaning laundromat of Little Italy demolition due By Ken Prendergast / March 27, 2025 Italy has its famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Cleveland has its leaning laundromat of Little Italy. But while Pisa’s was built in 1372 and is in no danger of falling, Cleveland’s 19th-century version is a danger to surrounding buildings and may be demolished soon after five years of consideration. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/03/27/leaning-laundromat-of-little-italy-demolition-due/

Responding here

Redirected.... I asked Ronayne about it and he said the courthouse candidate sites will be narrowed down to probably two in Q2.

I happened to go through Battery Park Yesterday to take pictures. I was stunned to see how many of the driver's-side rear windows in cars were smashed. I don't think these low-lifes missed a single car. There were dozens of them.

Some good news.... Here for a positive Amtrak post (hard to do today in the "wake" of the Horizon debacle), is a full year Amtrak ridership report comparing FY24 to FY23 for all routes. Remember an Amtrak Fiscal Year is October 1 one year to September 30 of the next. System ridership gained from 28,879,270 to 32,811,715--a 14.8% rise. The long-haul services gained 8.3%, the state-supported Regional trains 15.8% and the NEC 15.9%. Only the tri-weekly SUNSET and the summer-only once weekly BERKSHIRE FLYER lost ridership--ironically with the BERKSHIRE FLYER because it's so hard to book. The train is an extension of a very popular New York-Albany Empire Corridor train one stop east to Pittsfield, MA. But New York-Albany local riders to points like Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson and Albany routinely use this train year-round and fill most of its seats, making it very hard for riders in any serious numbers to book thru to Pittsfield, MA. In the SUNSET case lack of cars--particularly New Orleans to San Antonio held down usage--an eternal Amtrak issue. Yet despite meager 76,937 passengers on the SUNSET the overall National Network/long haul ridership climbed to 4,272,287. And this was with consists still shorter than was traditional pre-COVID. In the context of Amtrak this is a very positive result.

They could, or a port authority (or multiple port authorities). Lots of authorities issue bonds backed by city-authorized TIFs of city tax revenues. Cities usually don't issue the bonds or otherwise be on the hook for them.

Another cross-post, this time about the Celebrezze Federal Building

Bibb: fate of Cleveland Federal Building “concerning” By Ken Prendergast / March 26, 2025 Earlier this month, the Trump Administration offered hundreds of federal buildings and properties for sale or other disposition but quickly withdrew the list in the face of national criticism. Now, the General Services Administration is issuing a new, much smaller list of eight federal buildings to be cast off in an “accelerated disposition.” MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/03/26/bibb-fate-of-cleveland-federal-building-concerning/

I couldn't find any documentation of them getting final approval, but Pinney told me he said the project has final approval. I guess we'll find out if/when they request a building permit!

The county funds (sin tax) that are being sought are already being used for the existing Browns stadium. But the county would need to get voter approval to extend it beyond 2028. They were willing to request it for the lakefront stadium renovation but not for the Brook Park stadium. And that AI-assisted article is just too much. Blows my mind.

Couldn't be worse timing with The Muskovites lurking.... Amtrak sidelines Horizon car fleet, leading to widespread cancellations https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-sidelines-horizon-car-fleet-leading-to-widespread-cancellations/

Euclid Beach Park arch relocation ready By Ken Prendergast / March 25, 2025 Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's Office of Capital Projects is ready to start work on relocating and rehabilitating a gateway arch from the historic Euclid Beach Park to its planned new home a few feet away. That home is a new greenspace in the 15900 block of Lake Shore Blvd. in Cleveland's North Collinwood neighborhood, with trees and walkways and the landmark arch spanning the main walkway lined with benches. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/03/25/euclid-beach-park-arch-relocation-ready/

Goodwill to open at Gordon Square Rite Aid site By Ken Prendergast / March 24, 2025 On Friday, Ward 15 Councilwoman Jenny Spencer shared on her Facebook page a letter to the community from Goodwill Industries that they will open this summer a store at 6512 Franklin Blvd. in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood. The location is a former Rite Aid drug store that closed in August 2024. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/03/24/goodwill-to-open-at-gordon-square-rite-aid-site/

https://b5cch.r.sp1-brevo.net/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsDg0hDil3vMnMR8IDBqyc/-B-Wgoc-If8G Innovative new Channel Tunnel challenger announced FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday 24 March 2025 Gemini, an exciting new train operating company is being established to offer competitive fares and high-quality, frequent train services between the UK and continental Europe. Chaired by industry veteran Lord Tony Berkeley, Gemini services will run initially between London and Paris/Brussels – with further exciting destinations currently being developed. With plans for brand new cutting-edge trains and a fresh approach to sales and ticketing, Gemini has attracted a highly experienced team of rail executives and creative thinkers who are committed to bringing independently run ‘Open Access’ services to compete on cross channel routes for the benefit of international passengers. The EU is encouraging new independent commercial ‘Open Access’ operators who are free of government control. Across the continent, including in France, Italy, Spain and the UK, Open Access operators have created shift from road and air to rail, improving choice and value for the customer. With significant passenger growth forecast, the Channel tunnel route is ideally suited to ‘Open Access’ competition. Over the last 2 years the Gemini team has been working hard to mobilise these services. The team includes experts in business, finance, operations, ticketing, policy and regulation as well as very senior expertise in French and European rail markets. This collective knowledge positions Gemini uniquely to navigate the complex requirements of a new cross-border operation while also creating innovative customer offerings. Gemini has been engaging extensively with industry stakeholders from various European countries including infrastructure managers, station operators, train companies including Eurostar, plus the various governments and regulators. Gemini has applied to the Office of Rail and Road for access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills International maintenance depot. Gemini is also in discussion with key stakeholders around other train maintenance facilities. Chair Lord Berkeley said: “Our team has real strength, depth, vision and dynamism and is superbly placed to offer customers choice on what is currently a monopoly route”. CEO Adrian Quine said: "The high-speed line connecting London and the continent through the Channel Tunnel is one of the great rail routes. With a whole new generation now choosing trains over planes, there is a great opportunity to bring real entrepreneurial flair and dynamism with competitive fares to Europe's premier route". Gemini Trains website: www.geminitrains.com Email: [email protected] Adrian Quine (UK): [email protected] Francis Nakache (France): [email protected] Gemini Trains is the trading name of Gemini TOC Ltd, registered in England with company number 14

LOL!!

Yes. It was studied twice, 10 years apart. First was in 1984 by Amtrak which had only the Lake Shore Ltd service for which Amtrak said it would add 25 minutes to the trains schedule and, more importantly, Amtrak would have to restore and maintain at least several miles of Amtrak-only track and two-level station facilities in the vacated station for that one train. The second study was in 1994, I believe, by RL Banks at the request of GCRTA. I wrote an article about it for Passenger Train Journal. It primarily focused on the former coach yards area of CUT between Huron and Canal roads and was proposed to be a six-track, three-platform station -- two high-level patforms and four tracks for commuter trains and two tracks, one platform for intercity/Amtrak. The station was to be built over the tracks and platforms.

Tom Chema is a major reason why the Gateway sports and entertainment complex was built in the first place. He was also involved in a number of other public sector efforts, including the extension of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to downtown Cleveland. But most of all, he was just a nice man who was never too full of himself to pick up the phone and answer a few questions from a curious reporter. RIP, Tom. I'm going to miss our chats. https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/thomas-chema-obituary?id=57943644

A new wrinkle...

Crap, I was hoping to drop that tiny bomb after I got back from vacation. Oh well.

Bedrock at that planning commission spoke as if they are helpless in generating foot traffic to Tower City while at the same time rejecting at least two tenants who could add 200,000 people per year to the health of a property it acquired, plus an additional 500,000-1 million per Amtrak's plans (and/or comparable foot traffic from Brightline). Since US cities react to development plans rather than initiate them, it's up to Bedrock to ask the city for help to achieve its vision, as it has. And so far that vision has not included any consideration of reactivating a former railroad station despite several passenger rail expansion plans getting underway.

North Coast Yard pop-up to activate lakefront By Ian McDaniel / March 21, 2025 Like a company offering a free trial period to customers in the hopes of converting them into loyal subscribers, the city of Cleveland and North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (NCWDC) officials hope to offer residents just that: a free trial period of lakefront activation and a tangible reason to support a permanent, fully-realized reimagining of an underutilized lakefront. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/03/21/north-coast-yard-pop-up-to-activate-lakefront/

I remember it and got involved in the fight to keep the Browns name, colors and history here. I had a fax machine at home and used it to send letters to NFL team owners from me and my extended family. But I discovered in those three years without Cleveland football that there can be life without a local team to cheer on Sundays. And there have been many times, especially during the Randy Lerner and Haslam eras, when it felt like there wasn't a team here in Cleveland. There's been so many times that I've lost that loving feeling for this team. I've stopped caring about it and I don't care if they stay or go. But I know many others do care about it based on the number of views my Browns articles get. So I know they probably aren't leaving the metro area. But sometimes I wish they would so we could have a little less drama around here on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings. The average costs of going to a game has contributed to the fact that I haven't been to a Browns game in at least 10 years. And based on the estimated cost of going to a new enclosed stadium, I doubt I will again anytime soon.