KJP

I hate to sound like a broken record, but my proposal could address this problem with continued access to Carnegie/Prospect! KJP

BTW, it's interesting to note that, in a PD article today (9/11), CMHA honcho Phillips said five sites are under consideration for the Riverview Hope VI project. But Phillips "declined to identify" the fifth site.... http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1126431131238770.xml&coll=2 KJP

While the retail component of Tower City has been pretty dull, they have done a pretty decent job regarding keeping office space filled. The Landmark office towers seem to have a pretty good occupancy rate, and of course, Terminal Tower remains as one of the pre-eminent office buildings in Ohio. Then there's the Skylight office buildings.... I think one of the best-kept secrets of Cleveland is that Chase Financial relocated hundreds of jobs from New York City to the Skylight Office Tower. One of their employees (a former New Jersey resident) bought my parents' house in Brunswick and was telling me that Chase liked Cleveland for its costs of living and the air service to New York. He said my parents' house in Brunswick is twice as large as the one he had in New Jersey, but cost less (though he's paying more for commuting here). But, since the media here tends to focus only on bad news, Chase's relocation of its processing functions to Cleveland seemed to get the ho-hum treatment. I think the Higbee building would be a terrific location for Quicken. So, what other large blocks of vacant space in downtown buildings needs to be tackled? I'm sure there's others. My desire is to halve the vacancy rates to below 10 percent downtown to warrant the construction of a new office building -- to get rid of that friggin' eyesore parking lot on Public Square. It is the embarassment of Greater Cleveland. KJP

"It costs me how much to drive my car - I thought I just paid for gas??" -- conventional un-wisdom ____________________ IRS raises auto mileage rate Tax collector says higher gasoline prices boost per-mile rate to 48.5 cents; 2006 rate delayed September 10, 2005: 6:30 PM EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Internal Revenue Service has increased a mileage rate used to compute the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business due to the sharp rise in gasoline prices. It also delayed setting the 2006 rate, saying gas prices may decline before the start of the new year.

One of the interesting things VIA Rail Canada does is to run some of their trains through Toronto to serve suburban stations on the opposite side of the city. While the goal is to increase the access points to the intercity trains, it also has the effect of offering additional commuter/regional rail service in Metro Toronto. The latter benefit is enhanced by VIA honoring GO Transit tickets on those suburban segments. Noozer mentioned California, where Amtrak honors Metrolink tickets for travel within metro LA on Amtrak trains. In fact, the first "commuter trains" in LA were Amtrak trains, including a short-hop train that only went as far south as San Juan Capistrano (I believe) on the route toward San Diego (which now has 13 weekday round trips on it, not including another dozen or so Metrolink commuter trains!). Going back to the Toronto experience, consider how it could work in Cleveland. A train from Chicago doesn't end at Cleveland, and instead becomes a commuter/regional train to Akron or possibly Canton. A 3-C Corridor train to Cleveland doesn't end at a North Coast Transportation Center and instead becomes a commuter/region train to Mentor. A train from Toronto pauses at downtown Cleveland before continuing on to Hopkins Airport and possibly Elyria (folks from Erie Pa or Ashtabula would like that, as they are often isolated by lake-effect snowstorms and there is lousy air service at Erie). The end result is that if, say half of the proposed 5-8 daily round trips did this, the frequency of service in metro areas would greatly increase. And, it would allow the Ohio Rail Development Commission to tap federal transit funding that otherwise cannot be used for intercity rail. Until the federal government provides a capital program for intercity rail, this may be the only way we'll get federal dollars for the Ohio Hub system (unless someone like Steve LaTourette goes out and gets some earmarks for Ohio -- certainly not out of the realm of possibility). KJP

Thanks MayDay. I totally forgot about using the Tremont Circulator to access the area. I wonder what other bus routes would be routed through the site? Looks like the 23 and the 81 are likely candidates. The 81 comes from the West Boulevard Rapid station (via West Blvd., Denison, West 65th, Storer and Trowbridge). The 23 comes from Parmatown Mall (via Ridgewood, Stumph, Snow, Hauderman, Tiedeman, Biddulph, Williamston, Memphis, Ridge, West 73rd, and Clark). All three should give decent transit access to the site from near-West Side neighborhoods. KJP

I think Noozer makes an important point. When someone advocates for rail investment, a strange thing happens in some people. I don't know if it's because they're accustomed to transportation monopolies (first railroads, now highways), but they seem to think we rail advocate want to swing the pendulum back to the other extreme. I think the goal is to get the pendulum as close to the center as we can, where a mix of interconnected modes of transportation are available so each can serve travelers in the most economically efficient way. I will never suggest that high-speed trains will replace airplanes over distances of 400 miles or more -- because they can't. But the only reason why there are six or seven daily round-trip flights between cities like Cleveland and Columbus is due to the lack of a federal development program for passenger rail. If we had such a program, airlines would book their connecting passengers on trains over such routes (like Continental does to/from the Newark NJ Airport station, from/to points all along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor). As you know, such short-haul flights are loss-leaders for the airlines. I did an estimate last year which showed that, if an airline tacked its own rail car to a 100-plus mph passenger train on a populous, short-haul route and connected its passengers directly with its flights at an airport rail station, the worse that the airline would do is break-even. On the high-end, the airline could earn a profit of up to $2 million per year in the scenario I envisioned. The reason why is the incremental cost to both the airline and the railroad for adding just one more car to a train is very small. I fear the airlines are getting into the same marketing myopia that hurt the railroads in the middle of the 20th century. The railroads saw their mission as running trains, rather than serving customers' needs. Now, the railroads own trucking companies, barge lines and communications operations, all of which is still connected to their core business. IMHO, the airlines need to make a similar re-evaluation of their marketing mix and determine how best to serve their customers best while achieving the greatest return for their shareholders. I suspect that, when they look at their balance sheets, NYMEX energy futures, the proximity of rail lines to a number of major airports, and talk to their customers about what they want when it comes to travel, they will expand their horizons to form partnerships with their one-time arch rivals -- the rail industry. KJP

It would be nice if the West 117th/I-90 retail development is done in a similar manner. It's such a close walk from the Rapid station. On the other hand, Steelyard Commons is accessible only by car, for now (but will be accessible by bike path and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in the near future). The Rapid station, however, is there now and will go under the reconstructive knife starting next month. KJP

Exactly. That's why I suggested doing something unique with the convention in my earlier message posted at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1782.msg46897#msg46897 I just think that downtown Cleveland needs something other than just a place for conventions and trade shows. It needs to think more creatively and responsively to the region's needs -- not try to compete with other, better-positioned cities in a nationally stagnant convention marketplace. To me, this whole thing sounds like Cleveland officials saw what Pittsburgh has built, or what Cincinnati is building and said "I want one of those, too!" I had hoped they would have looked at their own facility and its environs and said, "what can we do to convert our convention center from a place where people around the nation come to meet, to one that's uniquely ours, where Clevelanders come to meet, collaborate, innovate and build a better community?" That's the question they should be asking. KJP

The roster at the top of this string was updated today with the addition of a new site for the CMHA residential tower, atop the West 25th-Ohio City station. I suspect the site is actually going to be adjacent to the station building, but possibly above the station's trackside platforms. There also is vacant land immediately west of the station platforms, where the western approach tracks for railroad passenger trains to Cleveland Union Terminal once were. Does anyone have more information on this? KJP

Is that the "afterthought" elevator shaft? KJP

I dunno. Biodiesel is fine, but the amount of energy it takes to create ethanol ends up using more, meaning it has a negative energy return on energy invested. It's not a solution, but it could help Ohio farmers, which is always nice for an elected official to make him/herself feel good and look good to voters. KJP

I would think that connecting the lakefront to the business district is a more pressing issue, especially under this administration. KJP

Very cool. But I'm surprised they don't have a model showing the development for the north side of Detroit Road, where Fairchild Chevy's new car showroom and service department were located. According to Rysar's website, that's where the street-level retail would be located, with the housing above, as well as a plaza opening toward the brownstone apartments to the north. I'm anxious to see a 3-D representation of it. KJP

Very true. I didn't mean to give the impression that Tower City would be the station for the Ohio Hub System...not when restoring a single train station would cause the Ohio Hub system's total $3.2 billion cost to rise by as much as 15 percent! I'm pretty sure I've posted this image on the forum before, but for those who haven't seen it yet, here it is again. This was a rendering developed by an RTA consultant who conducted an analysis of sites for a North Coast Transportation Center.... Here's some other images of potential station designs for a lakefront station that were part of an early concept for the convention center expansion.... Plus, here's some images of the East 26th Street Yard (what's left of it) that Noozer spoke of. If the original, much larger yard was restored, it should have the capability for handling the storing and servicing of all Cleveland-based Ohio Hub trains, even at full build out.... I hope this helps provide a little more focus to the vision and the plan. If not, just let Noozer or me know. KJP

Yes, by all means, do contact them. Particular attention is needed on state legislators.... http://www.house.state.oh.us/ http://www.senate.state.oh.us/ And, by the way, I've pondered a way to get intercity high-speed trains back into Tower City Center. It would require relocating the Red Line off the Cuyahoga Viaduct. Instead, it would have go north on West 25th Street (post light-rail conversion) either as a streetcar or as a subway. Then use the subway deck of the Detroit-Superior bridge to regain access to Tower City. The Waterfront Line would have to have at least one of its access tracks realigned. Perhaps the Waterfront Line needs just one access track to Tower City? That would avail the track spaces necessary for intercity high-speed rail to enter Tower City. I think six through tracks and three platforms would be sufficient. Half of the underground parking deck where the tracks used to be would have to be ripped out, with a replacement parking deck likely built above the old railroad coach yard, which today is the open-air parking lot between Tower City and Canal Road. I suspect that all of this would probably cost at least $200 million and maybe as much as $600 million. This doesn't include access tracks from the east and west sides, but at least the right of way is still there. Mostly anyways. Nothing is impossible as long as someone can be found to write a check that's got enough numerals on it! KJP

I always liked that FORUM vision for the center. But there's nothing that would have prevented building high-rise housing atop some of the parking facilities. If I recall, that plan also would have rerouted the Waterfront Line around the north side of the center, next to the lakefront. Alas, it wasn't to be. If the riverfront site gets the nod, FC better make sure the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad station can be accommodated. I've even pondered a way to get intercity high-speed rail back into the station -- despite the construction of the Federal Courthouse Tower. But I'll discuss it at the Transportation section. KJP

Here is the press release of All Aboard Ohio (the group formerly known as the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers)... KJP __________________ A L L A B O A R D O H I O FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dominic Liberatore September 1, 2005 Executive Director (614) 204-4628 All Aboard Ohio praises Cleveland Mayor Campbell for endorsing high-speed rail CLEVELAND -- All Aboard Ohio, a nonprofit organization, gratefully welcomed today’s endorsement by Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell of an achievable plan to develop high-speed rail service in Ohio and adjoining states. She was joined by longtime rail supporter Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Painesville), chair of the House Railroad Subcommittee, in advocating for high-speed rail as the next big transportation investment for Greater Cleveland. The detailed plan, called the Ohio Hub, is proposed by the Ohio Rail Development Commission to be built in phases, beginning with 79-mph trains using existing, high-quality freight tracks to Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Toronto and Chicago. Cleveland will be the hub of a network of rail services, with train speeds safely increased to 110 mph with additional investments in infrastructure. For links to the Ohio Hub plan and maps, visit www.allaboardohio.org. Both Campbell and LaTourette said the 21st-century rail network would create thousands of new jobs, increase mobility and provide an affordable travel choice in an era of rising gas prices. “The success of the plan depends on having the endorsement of Cleveland’s mayor, since Cleveland will be the focal point of the Ohio Hub,” said Dominic Liberatore, executive director of All Aboard Ohio. “We are grateful to Mayor Campbell for her endorsement of a rail system that will bring Northeast Ohio into the 21st century. We are entering an era when regions reap the greatest economic rewards by being smarter in their use of natural resources.” Liberatore similarly praised Rep. LaTourette for his ongoing commitment to improving passenger rail services. Most notably, Rep. LaTourette recently introduced House Bill 1631, called the Railroad Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century (RIDE 21) which would provide $60 billion in federal funding for high-speed passenger rail and freight railroad infrastructure nationwide. All Aboard Ohio, formerly the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers, advocates for passenger rail and transit improvements as part of an interconnected, multi-modal transportation system for all Ohioans. END

Oh, and to bring us back to this thread's original topic... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/westsidesunnews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1125000446237130.xml&coll=3 Station to be replaced Thursday, August 25, 2005 By DAVID PLATA West Side Sun News The aging Regional Transit Authority station on West 117th Street will be torn down beginning in about a month, then replaced with a new and larger station. The RTA board on Tuesday awarded the entire $4.6 million contract to Ohio Diversified Services Inc. The amount is 8.8 percent lower than an earlier $5.1 million estimate. The station, at West 117th and Madison Avenue in Cleveland, bordering Lakewood, was built in the 1950s, when the Red Line, moving passengers between downtown and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, was built. Officials first intended to replace the station more than a decade ago, but the project was delayed while work went ahead on the Waterfront Line, the Triskett Station renovation and other projects. Former Lakewood Mayor Madeline Cain, at the time an RTA trustee, four years ago dismissed an early design as too futuristic, looking like a space station. The new plans, with design cues taken from the UCAR Building across West 117th Street _ made of red brick with rounded windows _ were drawn up by Bialosky & Partners of Shaker Square. It's supposed to look like an early industrial building or a power plant, said Maribeth Feke, RTA director of programming and planning. That's sort of what it's reminiscent of. It does fit really well with that building. Feke said the station will remain open during the work, which will be completed in about two years. It'll be tricky, because we have a lot of construction phasing, she said. It's going to be very difficult to keep that station under operation, but we are. She said the existing station is small and somewhat hidden by the rail bridge over West 117th. She said the new station, taller and rounder, will be more visible. The bridge itself will be repainted, she said. And she said the ugly canopies along West 117th Street will be removed and replaced with landscaping and new shelters on both sides of the street. We worked with both the city of Lakewood and the city of Cleveland on the station, Feke said. The station is used by about 700 rail passengers every day, said Jerry Masek, RTA spokesman. Feke said the number of parking spaces will remain the same, at about 145. The station is a connecting point for the 804 Lakewood Circulator and three regular bus routes _ the 75X, 50 and 25. END

See if you can catch the Capitol Limited at Waterloo, though it may be sold out. Greyhound bus service out of Fort Wayne is horrible, but I'm sure you didn't need me to tell you that! KJP

What's up MayDay? Are you referring to the half-hour frequencies during the day? If so, I was disappointed to learn that the 20-minute headways were reduced to 30 minutes. But I don't have a problem with the rush-hour service. There's a local and express bus alternating every 5 minutes. KJP

It takes more energy to make ethanol than the energy which is transferred by burning ethanol. There's a lot of alternative energy carriers (hydrogen, solar, etc) out there, but there aren't a lot of alternatives that have a positive return on energy investment. In fact, there are very few. Biodiesel is pretty decent because the oil has already been produced. KJP

If this city wants to get a jump on others in a 21st century economy that looks to be fraught with resource limits, then... > forget the airport for travel to cities within 500 miles of Cleveland; > build high-speed rail linking big-city downtowns, moderate-sized cities, and airports; > more aggressively pursue nonconventional energy research, and attract employers willing to innovate in this endeavor; > become a distribution center (rail and water) for clean-coal liquefaction products; > use the downtown convention center for the purposes I suggested a few messages earlier in this string. I had to pose the last to bring this thread back to its original purpose! KJP

OK, I'm game. I'd be happy to do one for Sun. KJP

A dim platform scared them away from riding the Red Line again? Wow, we Americans sure are a coddled lot! KJP P.S. what do they expect to find in a taxi cab?