KJP

There was an effort in the early 1990s to restore the Midwest-Florida Auto Train service, but the capital cost ($200+ million) and a lack of federal funding for Amtrak caused the idea to fade away. BTW, here's something from NARP on Amtrak service during the last Colorado blizzard and the current one....... Amtrak kept running during last week's Denver blizzard. Some of you complained that the media didn't pay enough attention to this. The ABC television news did have a good segment which gave Amtrak credit. As of Thursday it was still viewable at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2744510 Last week, Amtrak apparently added no extra capacity; NARP complained. Now, with another blizzard bearing down on Colorado, Amtrak has added some Chicago-Denver coach seats.

Thanks. I would give the folks at Zaremba a call. And I would like to give you a call about a possible article on your group's efforts.

Last summer, when at Amtrak's request she traveled to Ohio and Louisiana to talk about starting a train service, she began each presentation with the same line: "I don't come from this business. No one in my family ever worked for a railroad. I don't have a toy train in my basement." I don't remember her coming to Ohio. And at Amtrak's request? To start what train service?

From Bay Village and a couple months old, but worth posting to show what officials are saying in one of the West Shore suburbs in Cuyahoga County. These are minutes from a City Council committee of the whole meeting, on October 23, 2006... _______________ http://www.cityofbayvillage.com/government/files/Committee%2010-23-061.doc Update – Lorain County Community Alliance – Commuter Rail Law Director Ebert reported on a meeting he attended on Friday, October 20, 2006 at Lorain County with many public officials from Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties in attendance. Mr. Ebert stated that he did indicate that we are not opposing commuter rail as long as it doesn’t affect the agreement with Norfolk and Southern Corporation. Mr. Ebert stated that it is his opinion that commuter rail will not happen in the near future, due to the amount of money required which must be privately raised. Some of the communities discussed putting a fee on redevelopment by builders to help raise the funds. The amount of $2 to $3 million is suggested from each community for seed money for commuter rail. Mr. Ebert commented that the agreement with Norfolk and Southern Corporation has been well documented, is in place, with full awareness of everyone that it is in existence and must be worked around as talks go forward regarding commuter rail. The agreement has been discussed at every meeting. Quiet Zones Mr. Ebert stated that he has asked Norfolk and Southern Corporation for a meeting concerning quiet zones. We have applied for the money to the rail administration, even though we are low on the priority list. The least expensive way would be to install concrete barricades to the railroad tracks, which is not feasible in Bay Village. The quad gates are feasible at an average of about $400,000 per crossing plus additional costs for updating the hardware. Mr. Ebert stated that when he meets with Norfolk and Southern Corporation regarding the quiet zone he will also speak with them in theory regarding commuter rail to be sure that Norfolk and Southern would not look at the discussions as voiding their agreement or interceding their agreement whatsoever. The agreement with the Westshore communities has no sunset date; the City of Cleveland’s agreement did. Mayor Sutherland noted that it is hard to justify spending a few million dollars for five train whistles per day. Mr. Ebert stated that future commuter rail meetings will be held on a regular basis. The officials are also looking at creating stations in various communities, and while there is interest in other communities Mr. Ebert noted that Bay Village does not have the type of undeveloped land to create parking. Mr. Cruse commented that something of this nature could tie in with the Park-n-Ride station on Columbia Road and a little station at Dover Junction could be interesting to bring foot traffic in to the center of town. Mr. Ebert noted that the problem with federal funding for all the communities is the years required and seed money just to get the analysis done. Another ten years would be required to get 50% funding for the project. Mr. Young commented regarding the commuter train travel in Chicago to the downtown financial district. There was a growing population, with a dramatically expanding community in order to create the system and northeast Ohio is not a dramatically expanding community. Mr. Ebert noted that this is a well organized effort, with many people involved, and he will keep Council posted as future meetings are held. Mr. Ebert stated that he attends to be sure our agreement with Norfolk and Southern Corporation stands in place and is not going to be jeopardized. Mrs. Barnett asked if the railroad crossings are shared with the City of Westlake. Mr. Ebert stated that they are within the jurisdiction of Bay Village, and were our major taxpayer before the second track was abandoned. ###

Park gains 63 acres from donation Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune, 12/14/06 The Seneca County Park District board Wednesday accepted the donation of a 63-acre nature preserve west of West Lodi by John “Jeb” Bowen. An estimated value is not yet known, pending an appraisal scheduled for this morning. A survey and final paperwork also must be completed before the donation becomes final. Bowen, an archeologist with the Ohio Historical Society, created the natural area. He lives there and is to have a life lease. Upon his death, seven more acres are to become park district property. The area — on the north side of CR 38 — contains grasslands, wetlands and woodlands. “All we have to do is develop trails,” Park Director Roland Zimmerman said.

One early effort will come from Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Fredericksburg, who wants in HB1724 to tie the issuing of building occupancy permits to transportation with impact fees. The bill calls for two-thirds of such fees to end up in the transportation trust fund and a third to remain locally. The fee amount varies with building value, but is generally capped at $20,000 per structure. Now THAT is a fascinating concept for funding transportation improvements -- especially the non-highway kind! The fact that it would be done by the state makes it less prone to create inequities between one city or another.

No excuse! A hangover didn't stop Pope from attending! What a trooper, that guy! (Of course, he's pretty experienced in functioning with hangovers...)

I also loved the picture of the girl. Aside from the fact that she's very pretty, it's good photography. BTW, I think she's legal -- BARELY! Well I think it is really the "El" We're getting into transit semantics. For those who care, the El is considered "heavy rail" due to the weight of the rails, and/or the weight of train equipment, and/or the extent of infrastructure, etc. etc. I used the "and/or" because sometimes a rail service has some hybrid features that even a rail expert may get fooled into thinking something is "heavy rail" or "light rail." As for electrical power, heavy rail trains are usually powered by electric third rail, but not always (variations abound). For example, Cleveland's Red Line is heavy rail, but is powered by overhead electric wires. Light rail is just what it sounds like -- lighter weight rails, and/or lighter trains, and/or less extensive infrastructure. But not always in all cases. Light rail can also be elevated (see what Seattle and Phoenix are building), or operate in subway (see St. Louis, Los Angeles and many other cities). There are always exceptions. After a while, an experienced observer can usually tell which is which just by looking at the tracks, trains, stations and such. But, like I said, even the experts can be fooled at first glance by some systems.

Went by the museum yesterday. The house is a lone gem on a street of eyesores. Some of the homes are literally falling down. And last year, I did an article about a huge tire dump that had been piling up since the 1950s. Turns out it's down the hill behind the Christmas Story house! I hope more investment comes to the neighborhood soon or the Christmas Story house museum may be a flash in the pan. Perhaps it's proximity to Steelyard Commons will help?

Now I understand why the railroads aren't bitching. Thanks for the clarification.

That's only one of many Zaremba companies. Zaremba Inc. builds commercial projects. Zaremba Homes Inc., which is developing the Avenue District, builds housing and now mixed-use stuff. Their headquarters will remain downtown.

They started to renovate the bank building across the street, but stopped for some reason. It's been sitting with boarded-up windows for at least a year now.

That's actually a scary building. You ride past it on the Red Line, and you can see the wall facing the tracks starting to bow out toward the tracks! The vibration from the passing Red Line trains, and especially the passing freight trains on the adjacent NS tracks, can't be helping.

The "turnpikes" across Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania allow long combination vehicles (full doubles, or short-trailer triples) by permit only. When these truck exit the turnpikes, they have to be broken up into smaller combinations. See the following for Ohio Turnpike regs.... http://www.ohioturnpike.org/pdf/double_provisions.pdf

RTA, union local target of dissident candidate's complaint The State Employment Relations Board expects to settle claims of unfair labor practices by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 268 and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, at a hearing likely to occur in February. After an 11-month investigation, the board voted unanimously in November to issue a complaint against the union and regional transit system because of “significant irregularities” that likely occurred during a Dec. 20, 2005, election for Local 268 president. The local represents about 2,300 bus and train operators, station attendants, mechanics, maintenance employees and some supervisory and administrative staff who work for RTA. William Nix, a Local 268 member who led a preliminary election for the president’s office, claims his union and the regional transit system colluded to keep incumbent president Gary Johnson in office during the run-off election. Nix lost that election by 14 votes. ###

I remember seeing a video of one of these "four ways" driving on a breezy day. I don't know how the last trailer was able to stay upright. But anyone driving in the second lane wouldn't have been able to drive past the truck. I'm surprised the American Association of Railroads didn't mount an aggressive campaign like it did 10-15 years ago when this issue came up before. I'm sure many of us remember the TV commercials the AAR paid for, showing the mother driving her children and looking nervously at the monstrous truck filling up her rearview mirror.

And they use them across the Australian Outback -- again another remote area where other traffic is scarce. I had no idea the trucking industry and some shippers slipped this provision into SAFETEA-LU. Nice job Congress. If a member of Congress who supported this stupid provision gets clobbered by a fishtailing truck combo, it would be poetic justice. Unfortunately, the odds are that an innocent motorist getting killed is much greater. Yet another reason why I hate politicians...

Are you kidding? Looks like only one runway is cleared in the blizzard image. Plus, the blizzard image looks like someone plastered the whole landscape. Takes a lot of snow to create that effect.

I'm a Myers alum, and I'm very disappointed with all this. Feingold's delusions of granduer and his misadventure with the University Club is partly to blame. But this goes back longer than that. Ten years ago, Myers got a huge donation, remodeled its downtown location on Prospect at East Second, and was on sound footing. Then they bailed out of that building, added suburban locations and then got into the University Club BS. Time to simplify, maybe even go back to the way Myers use to operate, OK Scaldini?

They almost certainly got a 15-year 100% tax abatement for renovating the building. But couldn't they have gotten the same abatement for renovating it with for-sale units?

Especially if the radio announcers say "....broadcasting live from our studios in the Galleria" all the time. It will be free advertising.

Palace Theater in Lorain = That makes sense. Ha, Dead Kennedy's! Was a big fan back in the 80s, too. Still have one of their albums.

Thanks for the description!

It really is a mixed-use center these days, that tries keep its few retailers ticking by snaring some customers as make their way to the food court. If you're a retailer on the second level, best of luck to ya! I wonder what impact the Avenue District will have on the Galleria?

I'll wave the next time I'm strolling by. :wave: