KJP

I hate the word "chugging" too. While I don't write headlines, after that use of the word atop my article, maybe I SHOULD write them!

The full article wasn't on Cleveland.com? Our Sunnews.com site never posts full articles.

I was disappointed with Friedman's "Addicted to Oil." He succumbed to talking about trite, overused issues and didn't delve more deeply, which I would have expected from someone of his caliber.

Here's a graphic of the proposed Flats West Bank project (scroll right to see the whole thing)........

All of the planning/studying being discussed is what the National Environmental Policy Act requires for proposed transportation projects to become eligible for federal funding. And there is federal funding available for the CVSR extension -- up to $75 million per year through the new Transit in the Parks program at the FTA. Studies suck, I'll grant you. But until someone amends the NEPA process, they're an ugly fact of life.

We've dabbled around the edges on this subject in other threads, but now events are happening which warrant its own thread. Three years ago, while the city of Cleveland was actively developing its lakefront plan, I was contracted to prepare a report to EcoCity Cleveland and the Cleveland Waterfront Coalition for their BLUE Project. The project sponsors asked me to see if it were possible to detour all 70 daily freight trains (and Amtrak passenger trains) off Norfolk Southern's lakefront tracks. My report showed that: + up to 85 percent of rail traffic could be detoured without negatively impacting local shippers if another route comprised almost entirely of NS-owned rights of way were stitched together south of downtown Cleveland (see map below); + capital costs for such a Lakefront Bypass which detoured all intermodal freight train traffic and more than half of all general freight train traffic might be accomplished for about $150 million (a lesser investment of about $68 million could allow NS to detour more than two dozen daily general freight trains off the lakefront); + there would be numerous benefits to the community with such a Lakefront Bypass, including affecting fewer residential areas, blocking the mouth of the Cuyahoga River less often, allowing NS trains to access its Rockport Yard (near Hopkins Airport) from both ends of the yard, giving NS a more level routing through Cleveland, allowing new commuter/intercity passenger rail services to reach the lakefront and not interfere with as much NS freight traffic, and other benefits. So here's the news...... I've heard from two sources that NS survey crews are looking at a key missing link of the Lakefront Bypass. This is the only section which doesn't yet have any trackage on it -- a small industrial property beneath Interstate 77 near East 37th Street. This property is the site of a former track connection between the Nickel Plate RR and the Erie-Lackawanna RR. This connection would restore that link and make it possible for at least some lakefront freight trains to be detoured. I don't yet know how extensive this actual bypass would be -- if it would include enough capacity to be a full bypass as I had proposed. At this point, I would say probably not. The reason why I say that is it appears that NS's planning activity is the result of a truck terminal and freight forwarding facility proposed for the former Standard Oil #1 Plant site between Pittsburgh Avenue and Broadway Avenue. There is even talk of restoring the abandoned NS intermodal yard at Broadway and Orange avenues. Other aspects of this is that NS is looking to put into its capital budget (if it hasn't already) funding for replacing hand-thrown track switches in the vicinity of Rockport Yard with electrically controlled and fully signalled switches to ease the flow of traffic into and through Rockport Yard. Now, for the imagery (which are my graphics/proposals, not NS's, so please don't assume this is what NS will specifically do): Here's the overview image of my proposed Lakefront Bypass: Here's the "missing link" of the bypass (it's the missing link because a minimum extent of trackage everywhere else except here to detour at least a few trains per day off the lakefront): This is a satellite image of the same area showing how it would look if the missing link was no longer missing: I'll post more images soon. But suffice it to say, this project could be huge for the city. (SOAPBOX TIME) Remember, the NS mainline through Cleveland is a bypass in and of itself -- of the Panama Canal. Huge ocean container ships from the Pacific Rim cannot fit through the Panama Canal. They must be off-loaded at West Coast ports and reloaded at East Coast ports, with double-stack container trains linking the two coasts. The NS mainline through Cleveland (along with the CSX mainline through Cleveland) are among the few high-capacity east-west mainlines which handles double-stack container trains in significant volumes. So, in other words, what would have gone through the Panama Canal converges on rail lines through Cleveland -- and we've yet to understand that, let alone take advantage of that. If we can use the Lakefront Bypass to create more intermodal terminal locations here, we can tap into that traffic flow and boost our economy from it. (STEPPING DOWN FROM SOAPBOX)

This is a confirmed project. While I haven't spoken to Matt Howells yet, I did speak to a woman at his office who confirmed it, and that it would be condos. I left another message for Matt. Funny thing (though not for me as a Sun reporter): the woman said she wondered how the word was getting out (cough--urbanohio-cough), because she had fielded calls from the PD and others as well. There goes my chance at a scoop...

I received the press packet at the office this morning, and there is a detailed 11x17-inch diagram of the proposed development, including phasing. It looks like one of the block-sized parking areas (next to Main Avenue and Center Street) would be structured parking. I will have to verify that this evening. There also are a lot of streetscape features (walkways, promenades, etc) shown beyond the area of the new buildings shown in the PD graphic of the new buildings. I won't be able to scan the image until later this evening, however. And since it is 11x17, I will have to scan in it sections so the details can be seen better.

Here's a neat photo spread of the new RailRunner commuter rail service that just started in Albuquerque, NM... http://picasaweb.google.com/jetnash/NMRailRunnerSep06

Hey, don't blame it on the Internet. When I was at Kent State in the 1980s (prior to the Internet getting big), I was studying my true loves of transportation logistics and urban geography. But I was impatient and wanted to get out there and cause change -- I started instigating a campaign to bring passenger rail service back to the Cleveland - Youngstown - Pittsburgh corridor. My grades went down the toilet and soon I was told to go find my education somewhere else. The point being, there's a million ways to lose one's focus. But there is only one place where the blame should be targeted.

I've not see them, but I will inquire this afternoon. They're supposed to be giving us a press packet, so we'll see what goodies are in there. And Stark has never said he expects to see his downtown vision built all at once. He fully expects it will take decades to realize. But there needs to be a goal to shoot for, with a number of developers and elected officials lined to participate in achieving that goal. That's what he trying to do.

OK, so I was off by a month and a half in my article from last spring! Glad to see the groundbreaking announcement, whenever it is!

How about a thread on Cleveland taxi cabs? Post news about taxis, business changes, service changes and any stories (especially if they're funny!), praises and rants here!

I probably should have posted this here, instead of the other, similar thread.... Take a gander at these videos. Pretend this one is along the Ohio Turnpike or maybe I-71.... http://www.ice-fanpage.de/videos/video_ice3nbs02.AVI (2MB) Or that this one is somewhere in the hills between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, or perhaps on the section between Dayton and Cincinnati.... http://www.ice-fanpage.de/videos/zugbegegnung.AVI (7MB) Instead, these are in Germany, shot shortly after the Cologne - Frankfurt high-speed line opened in 2002, bypassing a slower, 200km/h (125 mph) route along the Rhine River. The new section offers speeds up to 330km/h (206 mph). The shot along the highway shows an InterCity Express at full speed, whereas the tunnel shot shows slower-moving trains in the 160-170 mph range. And there are five ICE trains per hour in each direction along the new Frankfurt-Cologne trunk line.... sigh.

One of the Cleveland papers doesn't come out until tomorrow...

it was from the subway coming up from underground i think. w25 is also like this where the subway came to the surface. Correct. I have some photos of that location on Detroit Avenue, including an aerial photo of the west end of the bridge, taken from above the Garrett Morgan water plant. The subway ramp is clearly visible.

Yes. Stonebridge is the whole line-up of apartment/condo buildings along the old Superior Viaduct. The same developers, plus David Jacobs (aka "Son of Dick"), are pushing this major expansion northward toward the lake. But we should hear more details about that tomorrow.

A Message from Amtrak President Alex Kummant Dear Co-Workers: In starting here this week, I wanted to take a moment and say a word about why I accepted this job. For me, this is more than another company. It’s an opportunity to advance and improve something I feel is very important to our country — Amtrak and passenger rail service. I have a lot to learn, but I’m a quick study. I have ideas, but I’ll need the best thinking from all of you. I have a lot of energy, but our success depends on everyone pulling in the same direction. You’ll see me around the system. I’m not someone who likes sitting behind a desk every day. I will be meeting and visiting with you in stations, in backshops, on trains and elsewhere. I want to see and talk with you. And it won’t be just one trip to check a box that I’ve been there. I’m a big believer in what the great philosopher Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by just watching.” Together, our job is to provide great customer service and run the best, safest railroad we can. That’s our goal, and in the coming weeks, I’ll have more to say about how we’re going to get it done. I would not have taken on this job if I had any doubts about the future of this railroad. Like you, I’m in it for the long haul. In closing, I want to acknowledge David Hughes’s role as Amtrak’s interim president for the past year and, prior to that, as chief engineer. During this time, he helped revitalize Amtrak’s infrastructure program, advanced our strategic reforms and improved the safety of our operations. David is leaving Amtrak, and I want to wish him the best in his future endeavors. Sincerely, Alex Kummant President and CEO

There would be a mutiny and I would probably dumped in Lake Erie wearing cement shoes.

Hi Andrew, it's Ken P here. I have a bunch of stuff on Ethanol posted here at UrbanOhio. Check the Peak Oil thread in this transportation section, or the Ohio ethanol thread in the business section of this forum. Welcome aboard. You'll find a few other All Aboard Ohioans on this forum, including Bill H.

But the "corporate culture" at ODOT may take many years to change. There are civil service folks at ODOT whose ideas are literally set in concrete.

We really need a photo spread of this neighborhood. But I never think about doing this when I have the camera with me. This is a great time of the year to do it, as the leaves are just starting to change, but the weather's still warm enough to photograph more people out walking around.

Nope. Looked everywhere. I even tried typing some possible street addresses with different spellings into the City Planning GIS site, but no images showed up. It might have been a problem with our software at work that can't handle Flash and related programs.

I guess it has to be a hugely wide road, given all the traffic that clogs the road! Of course, the road isn't busy. But even it were, when do these guys realize that the way to reduce traffic volumes is to reduce throughput capacity. Narrow the road. Add traffic calming. Preserve and promote high-density, walkable neighborhoods. I know these things aren't in ODOT's lexicon, but the 1950s have been over for a long time, and it's long past time to rewire the institutionalized thinking over there.

Who competes with roads? (besides other modes of transportation) Thank you for answering your own question in the same manner I would have.