KJP

I think the Avon/SR83 area would make a terrific station site. But I believe the Avon depot is used by someone else. I'm not aware of a trackside platform, however....

Welcome aboard BuckeyeB!

I sent an e-mail to the Chronicle. But I see from their website that this reporter wasn't listed. I suspect that means he's either a freelancer or he's just new and the website listing hasn't been updated. By the way, if you care to chime in on that article... Patti Ewald Managing Editor Chronicle-Telegram [email protected]

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060430/1025330.asp Car lovers beginning to flirt with trains, buses and car pools $3-a-gallon gas prices get area motorists thinking about ways to save on fuel costs By STEPHEN WATSON, MARK SOMMER and STEPHEN WATSON News Staff Reporters 4/30/2006 When it comes to high gas prices, consumer anger is rising right along with the scrolling numbers at the gas pump. But beyond anger, motorists seem to fall into two main camps - those who are thinking about making lifestyle trade-offs to save money and those who already have. Ridership on Metro Bus and Metro Rail is up. Fewer people are buying truck-based sport utility vehicles and pickups. Some people are car pooling. And more people say they are bicycling and even walking.

^ Impressive! Until I quit, I just drank at home to save money and to avoid killing myself or others in walking/driving to the bars. I will be at the UrbanOhio meet. Just tell me where. Although I no longer drink, I can visit bars, but prefer those with decent food and Diet Coke or coffee.

Thanks, but I just put Wimwar's and X's idea down on paper (digital or otherwise). To answer your question, yes I send some to various folks around town. But since I generate a lot of these renderings and such, and since I have a different full-time job, I don't get to do as much campaigning of them as I would like. However, by placing them here, I hope that some of the renderings interest people who view this forum enough so that they can consider them. And I've become aware that folks from ODOT, RTA, NOACA, Cleveland city officials and others visit this site and some are members. Unfortunately, some of my renderings are so radical or outside the current thinking of some agencies, that they have trouble getting any legs. My only hope is that, since many who visit this site are young (and ambitious, thankfully), by the time they get into leadership positions and grow in power, that they will remember these ideas and renderings and seek to implement something like them. It won't be too late, either, not unless the ground on which I would like to see these things built disappears by then.

And he said I was an advocate of roads? OK, I think we all agree.... flog him. :-o

“This project can give more people purchasing power, especially the urban poor, and can disperse sprawl,” he said. That's not what I said. What I said was that rail service can get the urban poor to suburban jobs, that region's purchasing power was being dispersed by sprawl and that this rail project can concentrate development around stations to give the poor easy access to jobs at stations. I didn't realize what I said was that complicated. No wonder why people hate the media.

Please read this and, just as importantly, please share this with others.... http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/4/26/121441/891 Published on 27 Apr 2006 by The Oil Drum. The politics of oil: the discourse must change by Editors Leaders of both political parties are expressing concern about the high price of gasoline. President George Bush announced yesterday that he was suspending deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to make more oil available to consumers as well as putting on hold the traditional regulations requiring additives to make fuel burn cleaner during the summer driving season. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have had their own response to rising gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced his support for the Menendez Amendment, which would "provide more than $6 billion in relief directly to the American people by eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days." Senator Charles Schumer recently called for a federal investigation to determine whether oil companies are withholding gasoline production, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has blamed high gas prices on the administration's cozy relationship with the oil companies, price gouging, and royalty relief.

Thanks. It was the first PowerPoint presentation I've ever attempted. I wasn't even sure I had the software on my computer!

I just did some rudimentary calculating.... Routing I-90 over I-490 and then north on I-77 and a new right of way through the park and the old public housing means a trip that is 0.75 miles longer than the more direct route via the Central Viaduct and Central Interchange (17,000 feet vs 13,000 feet). That might mean a trip that's some 45 seconds longer than at present to go around downtown. Let's see -- a huge swath of land just south of downtown is gobbled up by a massive highway interchange so motorists can save 45 seconds. Only in America, I guess.

I am advocating this service with the assumption that RTA would not be asked for any financial contribution. I am doing so because I anticipate RTA would never offer any -- other than perhaps access to their West Blvd station and maybe a fare-free transfer to/from it.

Thanks Noozer. I saved the PowerPoint presentation as a PDF, and have saved it at the following location (Warning to dial-up users, this is a 3MB download!) .... http://members.cox.net/neotrans2/WestShoreGreenway.pdf NOTE TO MEDIA AND OTHERS: DO NOT QUOTE ME FROM THIS REPORT OR OTHERWISE USE MY NAME IN ARTICLES. HOWEVER, YOU MAY QUOTE ALONG THE LINES OF "...according to a NEOtrans report. NEOtrans is the consulting arm of the nonprofit All Aboard Ohio." CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I've often thought about starting an Internet-based "newspaper" called "Cleveland Core News" or something like that. It's tag line could simply be "We get to the core of Cleveland." My vision is that its editorial content and advertising focus would be geared toward downtown and the immediately adjacent neighborhoods. But that would take some up-front financing -- something I lack. By the way, the PD isn't hiring. But this really needs its own thread.

Hope they offer subsidized, affordable housing there, because I'm going need it if my condo gets taken away from me by the end of the year if I can't find a better-paying job soon!

I ran some back-of-the-envelope numbers, and estimate that this development, if built in the manner proposed, could generate 125,000 to 175,000 additional transit trips per year. Much of that would likely be on the Blue Line.

This morning, the Cleveland Landmarks Commission nominated the Broadway Mills building and the Central Viaduct remnant for inclusion as historically protected properties. Just by having them nominated, that means ODOT must thoroughly review all alternatives to demolishing them before they can be demolished. ODOT will probably say their consultant, Burges & Niple, has done that, but Citizen Hauser has a lot of documentation which suggests that may not be the case. Next step is for the nomination to go to the planning commission and then to City Council -- still very tenuous as to what will happen there, although Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland (who succeeded Frank Jackson in that ward) supports the historical nomination. Plus, as you may have seen earlier, I came up with a drawing based on the ideas of others here, that could get ODOT around these issues. I am posting it again below for review.... Which was posted here at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=8230.msg88493#msg88493

Here's some pictures of the port area: Lonely Cleveland Browns Stadium.... This is where the city's first and second Union Depots were. The first was from 1853 to 1864, and the second from 1864 to 1930. Pennsylvania Railroad continued to use it from 1930 to 1964 when it ended passenger service to Cleveland from the southeast. It's where the Port Authority is proposing its huge parking deck, truck staging area for the lake ferry and, on top of it, where buildings and an extended West 6th Street can be built.... Another view of the port land, from the intersection of West 9th and Front Street, looking northwesterly.... If Stark or whomever builds over the tracks, it would have to be on a gradient, much like this northernmost section of West 9th Street....

Some VERY GOOD news! ______________________ April 26, 2006 CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR SAY OHIO NEEDS PASSENGER & FREIGHT RAIL PLAN “Ohio Hub Plan” Gains Support (Columbus) – All Aboard Ohio’s Second Annual Rail/Transit Legislative Summit got an unexpected highlight today as gubernatorial candidates Ken Blackwell and Ted Strickland both voiced support for the Ohio Hub Plan and the effort to secure funding to move the plan into the important Programatic Environmental Impact Study (PEIS) phase. The Ohio Hub is the Ohio Rail Development Commission’s (ORDC) plan for a statewide network of high-speed passenger rail service and expanded capacity for rail freight. It has been in the planning stage for three years, but could take a huge step toward becoming reality if federal funds can be obtained to begin and complete the PEIS. A funding request for $5.8-million dollars over two years is currently before Congress, through Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), Chairman of the House Railroads Subcommittee. “I’m very pleased to hear these candidates support our efforts” says ORDC Executive Director Jim Seney. “Redeveloping and expanding the capacity of Ohio’s railroads under our Ohio Hub Plan creates jobs, economic development and, at a time when gasoline prices are very much top of mind, rail is the most fuel and emissions efficient way to move people and freight” says Seney, “and that’s why it must be a major issue in this year’s election campaigns.” The Blackwell endorsement came in faxed announcement that was read to over 100 attendees at the Rail / Transit Legislative Summit held by All Aboard Ohio, the state’s only passenger rail advocacy organization. Strickland’s support of the Ohio Hub Plan was announced by Columbus City Council member Kevin Boyce, speaking on behalf of the Strickland campaign. State Senator Joy Padgett, the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Jim Petro spoke in favor of rail development to promote new business and jobs though not specifically endorsing the Hub Plan. The Blackwell statement reads: “Secretary of State Blackwell supports advancing the Ohio Hub passenger/freight rail plan through the programmatic environmental review. Ohio will benefit from this action by keeping the plan moving forward toward a funding ready project in anticipation of approval of national passenger rail development legislation.” Kevin Boyce told the audience that Congressman Strickland has a history of showing support for passenger rail as a Member of Congress and supports the Ohio Hub Plan “because good public transportation connects people with jobs and jobs with people.” ORDC Director Seney also addressed the audience, thanking All Aboard Ohio and other rail advocates for their support of the Ohio Hub Plan. He also asked them to show support for two concurrent resolutions in the Ohio House and Senate asking for Ohio legislators to support ORDC’s funding request in Congress. The resolution’s sponsors are State Senator Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) and State Representative Larry Flowers (R-Canal Winchester). (The Ohio Rail Development Commission is an independent agency operating within the Ohio Department of Transportation. ORDC is responsible for economic development through the improvement and expansion of passenger and freight rail service, railroad grade crossing safety and rail travel & tourism issues. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit our website at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/ )

I thought this was already posted?

Glad to hear about the new jobs. Not glad about where they will be put.

^ Not to my knowledge they haven't. In fact, some at RTA are noting that, while fuel prices go up each penny, RTA loses another $54,000. None of that cost has been felt by the rail system. And, another thing to note is that while RTA buses average 24 boardings per trip, RTA trains average more than 50 boardings per trip. That results in more productivity per labor hour and, increasingly, per unit of energy. And that's for an underperforming rail system. Imagine how much better those numbers would be if areas around stations were developed with mixed uses and walkable settings to increase rail's utility. The basic numbers are there for making RTA more efficient -- all that's needed is the will to capitalize on them.

It's in the site control stage. Stark wants control of (or at least a stake in) the site for Phase 1 by the end of May. BTW, as an aside, he's told me on Wednesday that one lender he's spoken with found this downtown development more palatable than Crocker Park because the urban-like Crocker Park was "out of place" for its suburban surroundings. The lender said what Stark is now proposing belongs exactly where he is proposing it.

Whoops, here's another RFP...er, RFQ. And this one is a big one! Shaker Heights on April 10 issued a request for qualifications from developers interested in the 60-acre redevelopment zone at the east end of the Blue Line at Van Aken, Warrensville, Northfield and Chagrin. Here's is link to the 11-page RFQ from the city.... http://www.shakeronline.com/Media/PDFs/Uploader/413200694237WvA_RFQEmail.pdf

This sure as hell IS being marketed by Stark as a neighborhood. Who in the world told you it wasn't? Listen carefully to what Stark says about creating an urban wholism, a community, a context. Give him that and then decide what you think this project, and Stark, is or isn't. I can tell you from speaking with him a number of times that his first priority is to look at an urban area as an organic whole, and that restoring downtown Cleveland's viability is an essential piece of restoring health to the region. That restoration comes from making downtown an enjoyable place to live, work, shop, play, dine, socialize, meet, learn and grow as a human being in one dynamic setting. He understands that this is why cities exist. To say that Stark just wants to build some stores downtown is a very unenlightened statement.