KJP

^ Tell that to my editor! :type:

HAHAHA :-D

I would take pictures of that situation on Public Square and send to Joe Cimperman (use regular mail because if I were a councilman I would be nervous about opening an attachment on an unsolicited e-mail), and to the Downtown Cleveland Partnership at: http://www.downtownclevelandpartnership.com/contact.html By the way, when I was downtown this morning, I saw two Ambassadors, both on bicycles, and both said "Good morning" as they rode past me. When the second went past, I said "Hello Ambassador" and she chuckled. It was a nice little touch for them just to say hello. I wish the cops did that. A little thing like that can mean a lot.

I remember hearing something about a workshop, but I don't have any details on it (that I know of!). I'm on a bit of an information overload right now. Sorry!

Boy, things sure were busy on this thread today! I see some merits to SYC, most of which have already been discussed here (providing some retail choices that aren't now available in the city, giving basic jobs to those having a basic education, etc.). I also like the fact that First Interstate will extend the Towpath Trail 1 mile northward and build a station on the extended Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Now, here's why I don't like SYC -- it takes up way too much room, certainly more than it needs to. Here's where a denser retail complex would have been perfectly sited, combined with structured parking, some affordable housing, day care, live-work spaces, business incubators with a publicly accessible communications center, and maybe even a charter school, occupational/tech college and the like. In essence, it would be a one-stop shopping area to move up the ladder of success. There, someone could move from public housing, to affordable housing, work at a store during the day, attend continuing education classes at night while the kids are in day care, and put those skills to work at the business incubator in starting the next small business in Cleveland. That's what I would have done with SYC. Fortunately, First Interstate still could, what with those huge parking lots...

Hence the term: Rust Belt. BTW, Magyar, you know this site is equipped with a spell checker, a feature that apparently is not gratuitous.

Great article. Reconnecting America does some excellent work. Check out some of their research at: Reports- http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/html/RATN/news.htm Maps&Tables- http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/html/RATN/maps.htm And their collection of TOD, transit and transportation news articles at: http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/html/RA/news.htm

Here's a summary of new rail transit services in the U.S. set to open this year (one has already happened). Some openings are tentative and could slip later, or even into 2007.... - On June 25, Chicago CTA will reopen passenger service on the Paulina Connector, a remnant of the original Logan Square/Humboldt Park branch from Harrison and Paulina Streets to Lake Street, approx. one mile long. It was kept open for deadhead moves because it was the only track connection between the Dearborn St. and State St. Subway Lines. It will be part of a new all-L route called "The Pink Line". - In early July, NJT will open a one-mile extension of the Newark City Subway, between Penn Station and Broad St. (ex DLW) station, linking the two major commuter rail stops in Newark. The line is double track and mostly on surface (including one couplet alignment segment) and has a short tunnel segment connecting to the existing tunnel, a round trip ride will cover all new mileage. - July 14 Rail Runner will open the first northerly segment of their new commuter rail service, between Albuquerque and Bernalillo. After signaling is installed between Isleta and Belen, the southerly segment with the new mileage should be ready by September and certainly by the time of annual Balloon Fiesta in October, the first special service opportunity for this new carrier. - On September 18 Nashville's new commuter rail service, Music City Star, will open service over 32 miles east of Nashville. Using rehabbed F40's and Metra gallery cars (thus keeping the project budget under $25M to stay below FTA's New Starts funding threshold), the service will run on shortline Nashville and Eastern with mostly peak weekday trips. Note that this line is also covered by Tennessee Central Railway Museum trips several times per year (info available at www.tcry.org). - In late September (tentative), St. Louis will open Cross County Metro, nearly 9 new LRT miles between Forest Park (east of downtown) and Shrewsbury. From the new junction the line angles east to Clayton, then south along the east side of a freeway in Clayton, then into neighborhoods until reaching the terminus with a large P&R. - In October (tentative), Sacramento's Regional Transit will open the new .5 mile LRT extension from K St. Mall to the Amtrak/Capitol Corridor Sacramento Valley Train Station. This will eliminate turning trains on K St. and I believe the line is mostly single track, with a convenient transfer to trains and Thruway buses at the depot. - In October (tentative), Tri-Met will open the final .6 mile segment of the Portland Streetcar, south to the current terminus of the Willamette Shore Trolley in the Riverplace area. The line was act ually built last year but service has awaited the opening of several residential developments. The line will also connect to the Portland Aerial Tram (think ski lift gondola), which has started construction but has funding issues, which will be used to carry students of a local medical college up/down a steep hill above I-5 (ski lift mileage does not count!!). - On November 17, the largest single LRT system expansion in over a decade will enter service as Denver's RTD inaugurates the T-REX project. With 19 new miles and 33 new LRV's, the project also includes the new Elati shop (on the existing line), and a branch on I-225, which will form the basis for another new line during FastTracks project development. The new line starts at the current Broadway station, angles southeast to I-25, then runs on the west side of I-25 to the end. A complex I-25/225 LRT junction has been built near Tech Center and RTD plans to run service on all legs of the new system, includ ing an I-25/I-225 route. Experience shows that suburb to suburb service routes do not always survive, so if you want to ride all possible routes I suggest visiting Denver within the first 6 months of service. - In December (tentative), Little Rock's CATA will open a double track 1 mile River Rail extension from the current downtown Loop, via Third St., to the Clinton Library. The project includes 2 new Gomaco trolleys and the agency is currently determining whether to alter the current loop service route, use a shuttle car on the extension, or both. - In December (tentative), S.F. Muni plans to open the Third St. LRT Corridor, south from 4th and Townsend to the City line near Candlestick Park and Caltrain's Bayshore station. This extension will add about 5.5 miles and has several little-used UP and drawbridge crossings, causing design complexities which have slowed down the opening timeline. A future northerly extension will provide a subway into and un der Chinatown, and MUNI's venerable 15-Third Street bus route will probably be altered or even eliminated by the new line, which also provides a new shop south of downtown.

As opposed to an above-ground subway? :-D I know, I know... NYC calls even the elevated portions of their rail transit system the subway, just as Chicago calls the subway portions of their system the El (as in ELevated railway -- the subway portions downtown were added 40+ years after the elevated loop was built). We had one, but the only section that got built and used was the lower deck of the Detroit-Superior bridge. It has subway stations at both ends of the bridge. It can be said that the Rapid system has a couple of "subway" segments -- the entrance into Hopkins International Airport and the portion through Tower City Center. BTW, MGD, really nice pics! :clap:

Yes, the exterior is finished, although I believe some interior spaces aren't yet done (at least they were lagging the last I'd heard).

Excerpt From Don Phillips column in the latest issue of Trains Magazine. I find no reason to comment further as he summed it up well-- especially the part about Americans wanting something for nothing: "The European Union and almost all European countries take transportation seriously. They are willing to be taxed and to spend money to buy their mobility. A recent survey showed that Europeans have no inclination to protest huge gasoline taxes that leave European gas costing the equivalent of about $6.50 per gallon. Europeans understand that mobility costs money. Americans, on the other hand, seem to want something for nothing. And the current set of U.S. politicians is willing to feed the fantasy that they can get it. As someone once said, you can pay me now, or you can pay me later, but eventually you will pay."

I don't care for Pinnacle either. Looks like it's unfinished.

So I should be making dinner reservations -- for 2013?

Sorry, but the building on the left doesn't do anything for me. I would much prefer a replica of the building on the right. The beauty of architecture, like art, is always in the eyes of the beholder...

Article was already posted in a separate thread in the Restaurants, Entertainment, Travel & Relocation Assistance section -- http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=9481.msg107521#msg107521 -- with discussion following. Gotta be quick around here!

You'll be able to spot wimwar easy. He's the guy in the combat helmet nervously looking around him as he tiptoes off the front porch.

I don't agree that we're lacking in jobs. A quick search of some employment web sites reveals there's an impressive (at least to me) chunk of openings -- notably in the health care and computer programming/tech fields. But, it was also pretty depressing to me since I'm not trained for either field! There are jobs out there, but not for the kind of laboring that this town is used to. It will take a while for labor force to become retrained for these fields. But given the aging of baby boomers and always continuing advancements in computer technology, those seem safe to keep growing for years to come. And, by the way, no matter where you live, as long as you have a computer in your home, a communication line hooked up to it, are computer literate, and have an ability to market their skills, there's no reason why any motivated person should be without a job.

uhboy... But if you look real carefully to the right side of the picture, you see...OH MY GAWD, BOYZ IN DA HOOD!

Here's a blast from the past I came across while surfing the web.... _________________ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0D8123EF933A05751C1A966958260 Focus: Cleveland; Bucking the Trend on Shopping Malls By JENNIFER STOFFEL Published: December 30, 1990 WHEN banks in Cleveland were approached in 1986 to invest in redeveloping 34 downtown acres into an ambitious mix of shopping, restaurants, offices and a hotel, they reacted cautiously. As in most cities, suburban shopping mall development had for several decades drawn business out of the city's center, and attracting new retailers and bringing shoppers back to downtown was clearly going against the tide. Yet the downtown project was attractive to bankers because they were already heavily invested in this city's turnaround. Crowned by the landmark 52-story Terminal Tower -- since the 30's a prominent office building atop the central transit station -- the redevelopment was seen as crucial to revitalizing a much-beleaguered city center. Its site spans several blocks between the Cuyahoga River and Public Square. ..........

Is that a gas emitted by prostitutes? Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all the week.

Another is First & Main in Hudson ... http://www.firstandmainhudson.com/ Unfortunately the website doesn't have too many pictures of the development. There is a map of the development which gives some indication as to its integration with the historic business district on along Route 91. Too bad the traffic in Hudson is awful -- a proposed commuter rail service would use the tracks that form the southern edge of First & Main where the old depot still stands. Oh well.

Wow, even families are using it! :-o

Htsguy, a big reason (if not the biggest reason) why people seem less critical of the Pesht and Flats West Bank projects is because there are no detailed site plans as yet to be critiqued. Like you say, it's easy to support a broad-brush idea. But I also think that some are opposed to the demolitions of some historic structures Wolstein will need to do. And, at least for me, I find it very puzzling why Wolstein needs Shaia's parking lot so he can keep it a parking lot. It's especially curious when Shaia's offer appeared very accommodating to Wolstein's plans -- including offering his land as a construction staging area and to provide enough public parking for FEB. And asking a cash-starved Cuyahoga County to underwrite the bonds for even more parking, I would hope the public stops to ask why. People often don't agree on a project's design and other subjective features of a development. But when a developer seeks things that contradict common sense, then questions and even criticism will naturally follow.

http://www.riderta.com/ro_bike.asp Riding Options: Bike Bikes on Transit 100% of RTA buses have bike racks. Just signal the bus driver before boarding and load your bike. For the rapid transit just roll your bike on and stand with it (this is not available on weekdays during rush hour or during special events). On the RTA Rapid Transit An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 18 with bicycles. With 100 percent of buses sporting bike racks, RTA officials want to allow more bikes on the Rapid Transit lines. The times when bikes are prohibited has been decreased from four hours to two hours. Bikes are prohibited on the Rapid Transit from 7-8 a.m. and 4:30-5:30 p.m. each weekday. Bikes are also prohibited during special events and whenever bicycles cannot be reasonably accommodated. No tandems, recumbents, mopeds or tricycles are permitted. At the Tower City station, bicycles may enter and leave by taking the elevator between the station level and Prospect Avenue level (3rd floor), using the Prospect Avenue doors to the left and right of the elevator. Bicycles are prohibited from all other areas of The Avenue at Tower City Center, including stairs, escalators and retail areas. At Tower City, cyclists can transfer between Blue, Green, Waterfront and Red Line Trains using the fare gates designated for wheelchairs. At Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, bicycles may be locked outside in designated areas. For safety reasons, bicycles are not permitted inside terminal buildings. Bicycles are not allowed on the escalators at any station. Cyclists must use stairs and elevators only. No more than two bicycles are permitted per car, with space available on a first come, first-served basis. Like other passengers, cyclists must yield to wheelchair passengers. Cyclists must board the train after other passengers, and must stay with their bicycles for the entire ride. Bikes must not block aisles or doorways on RTA trains, and must be securely held or tied in place. When on the platform, please keep your bicycle well away from the edge at all times. Cyclists will obey all posted signs and instructions from all authorized personnel, including RTA Transit Police, Service Quality Management, Rail District operating and supervisory personnel and municipal police.

Here's how I learned the circulator route: in basic, it makes a circle of the city with half of the buses running clockwise and the other half running counterclockwise around the circle. The tricky part is in our neck of the woods, where an appendage to the circle goes to/from the Gold Coast. The problem comes when drivers forget to change the destination sign on the buses at their layover point at the Rapid station and at Winton Place. At least for me, a real simple way for RTA to ease the confusion is for them to get rid of the street names on the destination signs and replace with "Clockwise" and "Counterclockwise." The signs wouldn't have to be changed anywhere. Thus, if a bus shows up in the Gold Coast area and has a destination sign say "Clockwise" then it's going to the Rapid station. If it says "Counterclockwise" then it's going down Detroit Avenue.