JMasek

KJP This was shot today. It is not the shot I wanted. I waited until late afternoon, but then I waited too long (6 p.m.) I thought Sun would set over the Flats, but it actually sets over Lake Erie, and shadows from Detroit-Superior Bridge got in my way. Here's the best I could do, I will be back later at a different time of the day. ... Computer just told me that my files are too large. I will reduce them at work (I am home now) and post them on Monday. I have to work at W. 25 until 10 a.m., so it will be around noon.

^ Typo has been corrected. I will see you all at W. 25th St at 6:30 a.m. Monday, helping passengers board the special buses and listening to their feedback. I may post some Viaduct photos before then.

Construction photo from earlier today. RTA is expanding the Westlake Park-N-Ride. The new section should open late this year or early in 2012. Granted, photo is not that earth-shaking (a construction pun), but I wanted to see if I am doing this right. If so, more photos will be posted on a regular basis.

RTA Board meets October 11, 2011 CLEVELAND - The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will meet for monthly committee meetings on October 11, 2011 at 9 a.m. in the Board Room of the Authority, 1240 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH, 44113. AGENDA Finance Committee • Update on ARRA-funded projects • 2012 Budget Proposal – review and discussion of Capital Budget • Update on Fuel Hedging Program Planning & Development Committee • Update on Authority’s public art program Operations Committee • Presentation on public transit and job access All RTA Board of Trustee meetings are open to the public.

[[b]code]New E. 55th Rapid Station official grand opening [/b] CLEVELAND - After more than a year of construction, and seven years of planning, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) East 55th Street Rapid Station will officially be dedicated Tuesday, October 11th, at noon. The $9.4 million, ADA-accessible station is not only an icon in the Slavic Village neighborhood, but will also be as versatile as it is aesthetically pleasing. Construction called for a move to the northeast corner I-490 and East 55th Street, making for a more visible landmark and providing easier access to pedestrians and vehicles. East 55th is unique because it is one of the few stations that services the Red Line, as well the Blue and Green Lines, connecting east side and west side transit, along with linking bus-to-rail service. The new parking lot and entrance allows buses and automobiles to drop passengers off right at the door of the station. Also new to the station is a center platform that allows convenient transfer between the Red, Blue and Green line transit without having to cross the tracks. At over 800’ in lengths, the platform was a major piece of engineering. The modern design was selected to embrace the future of its surrounding neighborhood. The stone façade was selected to represent the many churches in the E. 55th vicinity. Public art surrounds the facility, with the structure’s purple and cement façade serving as an art form in itself. Art featured includes a mural titled “Space, Speed and Time,” along with red figures that appear to move as your train arrives and departs the station. During the development stages, a great deal of collaboration and planning took place between RTA and the Slavic Village Development Corporation, residents and stakeholders. Councilman Anthony Brancatelli was instrumental in the construction of the Rapid Station.

FYI, RTA has 60 heavy-rail cars and 48 light-rail cars. You always want to have a few more cars than you need, so you can replace cars when they malfunction.

There are also places at the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. I believe the "25" figure may have referred to the total at both Puritas and Windermere.

Response to KJP, who asked: "Anyone have further details? Figured some of you might have some insight on which bridges are involved? What lift bridge does GCRTA own? Why are they mentioned?? I checked. RTA does NOT own any of these bridges. OPINION: The ordinance could have been written this way to cover their tracks, in the event that they found some bridge owned by RTA. If our name was not included in the original legislation, then they would have to go back and amend it. It was much easier to include us in the first place.

^ Yes, the station is on the north side, and LaQuinta hotel is on the south side. As you drive east (toward W. 150) in front of the hotel, turn left into the last possible set of parking places. They are along an embankment on the edge of the parking lot. On the other side of the embankment is a car lane, for people to use who are dropping off a customer.

^ At Puritas, signs at each parking place state, "Overnight Parking allowed, 5 days maximum" A much larger sign near the Puritas entrance states, "RTA overnight parking permitted in designated areas only." These places were created at the request of the public. If you have a suggestion, state it here and I will pass it along.

^ Yes, overnight parking in designated areas at these two stations. I have a photo with the guidelines posted...looking for it now.

Viaduct to close Oct. 8-12, buses replace trains from W. 25th to Tower City CLEVELAND -- From Saturday through Wednesday, Oct. 8-12, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will close the Cuyahoga River Viaduct for track maintenance. The viaduct carries Red Line passengers from the West 25th Street Rapid Station to Tower City. Replacement buses will transport all Red Line passengers between West 25th and Tower City for these five days, including Columbus Day. There are slight changes for some Blue/Green riders, see below.** The work on the viaduct is not routine and trains cannot be single-tracked around construction. For safety of passengers and workers, the entire Viaduct must be closed during construction. “Because the track is on top of the Viaduct, elevated above the Cuyahoga river, the location makes the work unique,” says Joe Calabrese, CEO and General Manager RTA. “Some of the track is hard to access, meaning an entire closure. We selected a weekend that included Columbus Day, which many of our customers have as a holiday, to limit inconvenience to customers. To ensure quality and integrity of the line, we want to complete the work before the snow flies.” The replacement buses will operate between the West 25th Street Rapid Station, 2350 Lorain Ave., and Tower City, where buses will stop on the south side of West Prospect Avenue. This is only about 1.5 miles, but delays can be anticipated due to traffic and the large number of buses needed to carry each train-load of passengers. ** Blue/Green customers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings only may be dropped off at an alternate location at Tower City. Please follow directions from RTA personnel and Transit Police to stairs and an elevator, holding 6-8 people. Afternoon trains are not affected. RTA apologizes for this necessary inconvenience and asks customers to plan an extra 30 minutes for their commutes during this time, or to plan alternate transportation. Some ideas for alternates are: * Carpooling with friends. * Planning ahead with OhioRideShare , a carpool service sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). After you register, you will receive a list of persons who want to carpool whose commuting needs are compatible with yours. * Using other RTA bus routes to get downtown, or one that already serves the area between West 25th Street and downtown. Work will be done by Delta Railroad Construction Inc. , based in Ashtabula, including replacing track and a crossover section of the viaduct. The 3,100-foot viaduct was built between 1929 and 1935. RTA acquired the bridge from the Cleveland Union Terminal (CUT) in 1988.

From 4-9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, all Red, Blue and Green Line service east of Tower City will be replaced with bus service to allow for work on the innerbelt project. The bus stop will be on Public Square, in front of the former Higbee Building. Please allow extra time for your morning commute.

Joe is from Syracuse NY, and never worked in Cleveland until Feb. 2000. I am sure all people are related, if you want to go back to Adam and Eve. If you want to see elephants, go to the Zoo. Never be afraid to ask questions here. I would rather that than see people wallow in inaccuracies. If you see any other elephants, open the door and let them out. One more word -- I do not work for criminals. Never have. Never will.

1. RTA agrees changes need to be made and is working with the vendor. 2. Your opinion about an emotional topic. 3. TheWaterfront Line opened when Flats were strong, and everyone hailed it as a great idea. Then Flats went belly-up, and logically, service was reduced. When Flats East Bank returns in two years, service will be restored, and it will be hailed again. 4. HealthLine: I drove to Cleveland Heights for a rare night meeting last week. I am continually impressed with all the construction I see. The HealthLine service is not perfect, but we (RTA and the City, our partners in the project) are working to make it better every day. 5. Your use of a question mark means what? 6. Agreed. Management can 1). Crack down on offenders. 2) Add more language to the contract. 3) Add customer service training. 4). Screen applicants better, so problems never enter the system. 4). Recognize role models. .... RTA has done all that, and will continue to. 7. RTA went 13 years without a fare increase, and then the economy caught up. Service reductions were made with the care of a surgeon, but in the end, every cut affects someone. 8. I am certain maintenance could be better, but know that the same budget that pays for operationsr pays for maintenance. How the budget is divided between A and B is a management decision each year. 9. There was one story on TV, and it mentioned the thefts were happening all over the area. Our Transit Police are addressing the issue. "Enormous?" I guess I will have to go back and check the meaning of the word. In my opinion, accusing someone of corruption is hardly "a little hyperbole." Thanks for caring.

^The fare machines are one issue I will not argue you on. There are so many others that are critical to RTA's basic survival, such as balancing the budget every year, despite huge cuts in state aid, despite huge increases in fuel costs, despite a poor economy that has depleted sales tax revenue -- the foundation of our budget. I know a lot of you complain about service cuts. We have looked at many other cities, and we are doing far better than most. Several years ago, we totaled up the savings from changes that the GM initiated, and it was more than $25 million a year. Your statement about "blindness and corruption" is waaaay off base, totally unfounded and unfair, and calls for an apology. If you have facts about corruption, put them on the table. If you don't, then why should anyone listen to you? There are sooo many errors in the comments on cleveland.com, I just shake my head and walk away.

RTA upgrade in the City of Euclid EUCLID -- The newly-opened RTA waiting area at the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd., Babbitt Road and Bliss Lane will be dedicated on Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. RTA CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese, along with City of Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik, brought the project to Euclid, thanks to a $50,000 grant from The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and its Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) program. The project is a prominent feature of the redevelopment of the downtown Euclid area. The large shelter is served by the #30 and #94 bus routes. Upgrades include two new covered areas, seating, trash receptacles, landscaping and planters, along with additional electronic signage. Media: Parking will be available at the CVS adjacent to Bliss LANE Avenue for the event.

^ Speaking of photos, I am always looking for good (or great) photos of RTA riders, vehicles and facilities. If you have photos to share, please send them to [email protected]. I monitor that address, and I will add them to our collection. Please include your full name, so if the photos are ever published, you can get proper credit. We also appreciate knowing the date it was taken. If the full date is not known, at least put June 2011...summer 2009....or just 2010. Old photos (bw) are also welcome.

It's hard to get a good angle from the rail platform. I tried on March 17, and only had so-so results.

FYI, RTA operated three-car trains on the Red Line yesterday to carry sports fans. Both games -- Indians and Browns -- started at 1 p.m. I believe that this was third time this year that 3-car trains were used. The first was March 17, the second was Sept. 11. I boarded a Red Line train at Puritas at 11:30 a.m., and there was lots of room. After West 117th Street, people were standing, but it was not "packed."

^ I have passed along your fare collection comments. RTA is aware of the issues and is working on them with the vendor. I have often been in the same position as CLEJoe, often stopping to help persons who are first-timers. There are screen flow charts on most units, but people still have problems.

Wednesday night, I attended a networking event in Brookpark for several hundred people, mostly from area chambers of commerce. We all had name tags, and a man came up to me with a big smile. "I know you!" He is on this forum, but would not reveal his user name. He was very complimentary of RTA's involvement here, and on cleveland.com. It was nice to see a real face, and have a nice chat, with a poster, and I thank him for taking the time to talk with me. It meant a lot. Although some of us have our verbal swords drawn and ready when we visit this site, it's great to talk to people who care, and who can usually express themselves with some articulation. Thank you. Now, we return this Forum to its usual programming.

http://www.riderta.com/newsroom/releases/index.asp?listingid=1650 Have you seen the red "X's" around town? CLEVELAND- Have you noticed large Xs on Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) vehicles? September 20 is national 'Don’t X Out Public Transit' day. People can let their representatives know how they feel at www.supporttransit.org. For 24 hours, one out of every three RTA vehicles will have a giant X displayed on the side of it to signify potential federal government 'cuts', affecting operations for all transit systems nationwide. RTA General Manager and CEO, Joseph Calabrese, alongside Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) President William Nix led the painting of Xs on September 19 in the afternoon at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center, while the rest of the vehicles were painted in the evenings by various RTA employees. The 'Don't X Out Public Transit' Rally followed on Public Square on Sept. 20, attended by not only members of the ATU and RTA non-union employees, but also representatives from the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) and Greyhound, along with the President of the Ohio Contractors Association and RTA customers. "To someone like me, pubic transit is not an option, but a necessity," said Donna Prease, advocate, Linking Employment Abilities and Potential (LEAP). "I'm proud that I have a job to go to every day, but being in a wheelchair, I wouldn't be able to get there without RTA. It is vital we speak in support of increasing funding, not x-ing it out!"

September 20, 2011 Solar-powered lights entertain customers, provide lighting at two new RTA shelters in Cleveland Heights CLEVELAND - The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the City of Cleveland Heights will become a bit greener this week, with the introduction of two solar-powered bus shelters. The first cool shelter, at the corner of Coventry and Mayfield roads, will be the focus of a lighting ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. The second shelter is on Warrensville Center Road at Mayfield Rd. The shelters are a joint project with the City of Cleveland Heights, under RTA’s Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) program. The shelters were designed by local business Solar Impact and fabricated by the Da Nite Sign Co. of Columbus. ‘The solar bus stops are a very exciting project for Cleveland Heights that ties in to our commitment to ‘go green’ and support sustainability projects,” said Cleveland Heights Mayor Edward Kelley. “The partnership with RTA, using a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant, has made this possible and a great visual way to promote solar energy.” Joe Calabrese, RTA CEO and General Manager, agrees. “Using public transit has always been great for the environment. Now, we have re-committed all of RTA to be more sustainable. It’s great to have this partnership with Cleveland Heights, and we appreciate the FTA’s support.” The bus shelters feature lighting both inside and outside, powered by a rooftop solar-powered battery system, which doubles as art. The shelters are also energy efficient. The interior lights turn on only when customers are in the shelter.

The main press event was on Monday at 1:30 p.m., when we painted the Xs on several vehicles at the STJ Transit Center. 3 TV stations, plus a photo in the PD. TV did not want to cover the same story two days in a row, and having video of applying the paint was more visually appealing than a rally. Also, Biden was in town at the same time.