KJP

Neither of which makes you feel like you're part of something greater than yourself.

Our next-door neighbors are doing stuff.... https://www.wpprrail.org/resources/advancing-pa-rail-keystone-west/status/ Status of Norfolk Southern Infrastructure Projects (from PennDOT updates) October 16, 2023 The comprehensive agreement between PennDOT and Norfolk Southern (NS) was executed on August 23, 2023. PennDOT and NS continue to meet monthly to discuss project engineering progress. Engineering design and environmental clearance for the four Early Action projects are Lemoyne (90% design in progress), Camp Hill (90%), Enola to Duncannon (60%) and Johnstown (30%). Work on these projects began earlier in 2023. They have a scheduled completion date in 2026. The second round trip of the Pennsylvanian can start as early as late 2026 following completion of the Early Action projects. The signed agreement means work can begin on the seven other projects between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg which are anticipated for completion by 2031. NS is finalizing consulting agreements for the remaining projects. The second Pennsylvanian project was not selected for federal funding through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants. Selections were announced 9/25/23. PennDOT has a second grant application for federal funding through the FRA Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP) grant program. Selections are expected in November/December. PennDOT has begun to coordinate with Amtrak to be ready with train equipment and crew, schedule changes, marketing, and ticket sales. ###

Yay! I finally timed an article to appear at the top of a page!! 🥳 Collinwood grocery store redevelopment sought By Ken Prendergast / November 1, 2024 Cleveland city officials revealed their intentions today to acquire and redevelop a closed grocery store property, 15900 Lake Shore Blvd., in the North Collinwood neighborhood. Officials requested City Planning Commission approval to start assembling the land, then later rezone it and ultimately offer it to developers through a community-driven request for proposals. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/11/01/collinwood-grocery-store-redevelopment-sought/

Every city of note in the Roman Empire had a Coliseum...

Skyline on Stokes tops out in University Circle By Ken Prendergast / October 31, 2024 A new apartment building and row of townhomes called Skyline on Stokes have taken form in Cleveland’s University Circle. The last structural features of the seven-story apartment building, formerly called Stokes West, were added and celebrated last week in a “topping-out ceremony.” MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/10/31/skyline-on-stokes-tops-out-in-university-circle/

Any other reasons? Google shows Greater Cincinnati (from Ohio River north to Middletown) has 15 BoA branches and 6 non-branch ATMs. Greater Columbus (within 10 miles of I-270) has 15 branches and 5 ATMs. Greater Cleveland (Avon Lake to Mentor and south to Brunswick) has 14 branches and 7 ATMs.

I think the assumption is that Burke is closed in that scenario.

You sure that's not the Chicago River on St. Patrick's Day?? 😮

Wow, that's pretty cold. I understand why he's there. But he also suffered cardiac arrest so he's lucky to be alive, let alone playing basketball anywhere.

It was cool hearing Cavs fans cheering "We want Bronny!" before he came in. Cavs' hot start is getting some ink (or bytes).... https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/news/the-cavaliers-are-playing-at-a-championship-level-early-this-season https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/42097857/nba-trends-make-5-0-cavs-new-knicks-offense

Lots of strong hints in this article backing up what a deep background source told me. The source who guided me on this piece said Cleveland is getting a NWSL franchise, probably the 16th, and likely to be named during the NWSL playoffs next month. South Euclid's economic development director said in this article that he was confident Cleveland would get an NWSL franchise and put an international training center ar Notre Dame College.... https://neo-trans.blog/2024/10/18/downtown-may-shift-from-football-to-futbol/

That blows away an overhead view I developed! Mind if I use that in a future blog @Ardoonave? If so, how do you want to be credited?

Financial details of Browns’ Berea development By Ken Prendergast / October 30, 2024 When the Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Cleveland Browns, yesterday announced their plans for a mixed-use development next to the football team’s suburban Berea headquarters, it was the result of a tentative deal with city officials and other project partners. A summary of that deal was since revealed by Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem in a social media post. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/10/30/financial-details-of-browns-berea-development/

The U.S. economy expanded at a slightly slower but still solid pace in the third quarter, buoyed by faster consumer spending. Gross domestic product — a gauge of goods and services produced — grew at an annualized rate of 2.8% in the July through September period, compared to 3% in the second quarter, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Those figures were adjusted for inflation and seasonality. Consumer spending rose 3.7%, the most since early last year. Meanwhile, a measure of inflation was up 2.2%, around the Federal Reserve's target level. https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/us-economy-posts-solid-growth-7003514/

More and more employers are abandoning WFH as are many workers, especially those who are sociable and enjoy being around other people, like to get promoted and be paid more. Criminals need to be punished. Staying at home, getting drunk/high, being around family/friends/lovers, playing video games or otherwise goofing off all day at the government's expense doesn't exactly sound like a deterrence to crime. Judges and campaign-contributing lawyers want nice courtrooms and offices to work in. And county judges are some of the most politically powerful people in any metro area. They are going to get most of what they want.

Unless Burke is closed by an act of Congress and in that same legislation it authorizes a private sale of the land previously and regularly used only for airport operations to the Haslams.

At 9 a.m. today, this is where the concentrations of passenger trains were in North America -- and where they weren't. Just 100 miles north of us in London, ONT is a train station served by a dozen passenger trains a day. Meanwhile in Cleveland and the rest of Ohio? Zip. The result of risk aversion by Amtrak and Ohio. Can't grow without risk.

I counted 14 flights today. Maybe it was more than that. I thought it was 40 flights, meaning 20 each way. Perhaps it was 40 each way? Calling all UO aviation experts to refresh my memory!! I see that two of the flights were Challenger 300 business jets, including one owned by the Bank of Utah Trustee and the other by Vista America.

Except that the Browns/Haslams own the land on which this proposed development would go. To my knowledge, the roughly 8-10 acres of land that the Haslams have acquired for this development represents the first and only land in Greater Cleveland that they've owned. Every thing else was and is leased from the cities of Berea and Cleveland -- something that they could walk away from. If this development happens, that represents roots that are more difficult to pull up.

$20 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION FUNDING FOR NYC-SCRANTON SERVICE ANNOUNCED TODAY - An award of a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant in the amount of $8.9 million from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was announced today at a news conference in Scranton, PA with representatives from Amtrak, PENNDOT, local, state and federal officials, and the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority. The announcement also included PENNDOT matching funds and other Congressionally-directed funding. The total amount of funding exceeds $20 million. The grant would fully fund the replacement of the Slateford Road Bridge (please see map), the only physical obstruction on the 136-mile NYC-Scranton, PA Corridor. The original Slateford Road Bridge was torn out about 1990 and was subsequently filled-in and paved over, creating a physical impediment. This project would replace the original bridge, removing the impediment and allowing Amtrak direct access to the Delaware River Viaduct for its future rehabilitation. In addition, the funding would be used to upgrade the existing section of track between Slateford Jct. and Gouldsboro (approx. Mileposts 74-114) to FRA Class 4 track, which would permit a maximum speed of 80 mph for passenger trains. As such, the funding would provide for the replacement of crossties, the installation of continuously-welded rail, as well as any grade crossing improvements deemed to be necessary to accommodate future Amtrak service. The roughly 20-mile section between Gouldsboro and Scranton is already primarily at FRA Class 3, permitting a maximum speed of 60 mph for passenger trains, which should be acceptable for Amtrak service given the curvature of the railroad in that section. Collectively, this would essentially upgrade the 60 miles of trackage in Pennsylvania (Slateford-Scranton) to Amtrak standards. Given the process that would need to be followed, it is anticipated that construction would not start until sometime next year. Finally, it should be emphasized that is NOT "study money", but rather PASSENGER SERVICE CONSTRUCTION MONEY, the first such grant for this project ever. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/CQkW1H6MxNEUw3Ho/

250 kph is 155 mph. Acela does 150 and the new Acela will do 160 in three sections of the Northeast Corridor (Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island/Connecticut) plus longer sections of 135 mph.

Browns’ Berea ‘District 46’ development revealed By Ken Prendergast / October 29, 2024 Today, the Haslam Sports Group announced it was teaming up with the Berea City Schools, city of Berea, DiGeronimo Companies and University Hospitals to pursue a long-planned mixed-use district next to the Cleveland Browns headquarters in suburban Berea. Recent estimates are that the new development could cost about $221 million to build. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/10/29/browns-berea-district-46-development-revealed/

Posted at:

Port of Cleveland wins record EPA grant By Ken Prendergast / October 29, 2024 The Port of Cleveland was just awarded the largest grant in its history — nearly $95 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). This transformative funding, part of the $3 billion USEPA Clean Ports Program, will position the port as a national leader in sustainable maritime operations and sets the standard for environmental stewardship on the Great Lakes. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/10/29/port-of-cleveland-wins-record-epa-grant/

I responded here....