JMasek

RTA's has a proof of payment system. If you are asked to show proof of payment and you cannot, you pay a fine. It's not an honor system -- where nobody checks.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 30, RTA GM Joe Calabrese speaks to the Shaker Square Area Development Corp. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 12601 Shaker Blvd. -- a 3-block walk from the Shaker Square Station. It is open to all.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend. Statewide Transit Needs Study will hold a public meeting at RTA from 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 21. Come and tell them why transit is important to you. More information will be available next week. Stay tuned.

Sorry for the late post. I am catching up tonight after a break. Earlier, it was stated: "I wonder how much he (Joe Calabrese) actually gets out of his office to see how things are going on the front lines." I do not have to "wonder," I know. The answer is: He gets out A LOT. Some examples: #1: Joe heard that riders were unhappy about something (I forgot the issue) on a bus that left the Euclid Transit Center at around 7 a.m. Joe, who lives in Westlake, showed up at 7 am one day at the Euclid Transit Center and rode the bus downtown to see first-hand what the complaints were about. #2: When an employee at the Hayden garage made a suggestion for an improvement in the bus mechanics area, Joe did not just ask for a written explanation -- he went there and saw first-hand how the suggestion worked. But then, that's what you get when you hire a GM who can also operate a bus. #3: When Joe first came to Cleveland, he often rode the rails before, during and after a special event, such as a Browns game or the July 4th fireworks. He took lengthy notes, and met with staff the next day to review ways that RTA could better handle these major events. Things have improved dramatically since those days. Yes, there are complaints about certain topics on certain days, but the "process" has improved immensely. #4: On 9-11, as the city was being evacuated, Joe was on the scene at Tower City, using a bullhorn to help direct people to which bus to board for which area. I could give other examples, but I have proven my point. Joe is a hands-on manager, and his results speak for themselves.

Ken To my knowledge, no decision has been made on the East 34th Street Station. Every budget includes items that never get bought or built.

Construction on the Lee Road Station will carry into next year, so money for it has to be in next year's budget.

Littly Italy -- groundbreaking Oct. 2013 + an estimated 24 months construction = fall 2015 opening. Work is now slightly off that pace. See this story from the Riders Digest. http://www.riderta.com/publications/ridersdigest/2014/august#toc-3

Want to look into the future? Here is a presentation from yesterday's RTA Board meeting, with a preview of the capital plan, 2015-2019. http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/pdf/presentations/2014-8-5_CIP.pdf

One poster said that permanent stop signs for replacement buses at the Rapid Stations are "pretty disturbing". Another poster took RTA to task for not communicating more with our customers. Well, the signs ARE part of the on-going effort to keep customers informed. Some of our rail stations are large. At Puritas, for instance, there are several places where one might stand. Rather than have customers guess, we told them "stand here." It's an improvement. Any time regular service is interrupted on ANY mode, we try to make things as smooth as possble.

RTA will open the station as soon as possible, probably later this month. Here is a story from the August Riders Digest, which is now available on-line, http://www.riderta.com/publications/ridersdigest/2014/august#toc-3

Update on three-unit bike racks: Continuing to install 127 bike racks on buses at CBM and Triskett. RTA should receive another 100 bike racks in two weeks. They will be installed at buses at Hayden, starting on Sept. 16. The last shipment of bike racks is expected to arrive in late September. They will be installed by the end of October. just got back from vacation...missed all the severe weather...

The Web site has been updated to reflect the extension of service for Red Line replacement buses through July 6. from Cedar-University to Windermere. Although Mayfield Road will open as planned, the track work above the road is still being prepared for trains.

Re: Adelbert Station Normally, many people going to Parade the Circle would ride the Red Line, but this year, that option was not available. So, RTA arranged for the Red Line shuttle bus (66R) to stop at the Adelbert Station. Parade the Circle attracted a record crowd of 80,000 persons. We're glad to see many of them used RTA.

Re: Names... Cedar-University refers to CWRU, not University Circle. Little Italy-University Circle was chosen because it includes both the neighborhood and the bigger picture. All maps, timetable and Web references are or will reflect these names. By the way, Red Line is two words. Many people, including posters here, misuse it.

^This Service Alert was posted to the RTA Web site on Friday, June 6, and the Service Alert was linked to a News Box on the Home Page. There were other efforts to communicate this, but I do not have them at my fingertips right now.

All of RTA's articulated buses are the same length, in the range of 60-63 feet.

^ Yes, but look at all the progress that's being made!

FYI, during the East Side rail shutdown, which starts June 7, RTA and / or ODOT will work on the following projects. * Reconstruct Red Line track from Kinsman to the Cedar-University Station * Bridge and track relocation at the Little Italy-University Circle Station * Cedar-University Station * The Innerbelt Bridge * Bridge work at the Buckeye-Woodhill Station * Begin work at the Lee-Van Aken Station site * Upgrade rail crossings on Shaker Square * Replace numerous rail ties * Work on the East 34th Street station canopy * Misc. Power and Way work The list speaks for itself.

The project is a joint effort of RTA, the City of Lakewood and the City of Cleveland. Each city approved their portion of the project.

Update on grass-cutting. The work is contracted out, it is not done by RTA crews. There was a paperwork issue and the contractor was delayed in starting. The firm is on-board now and is hustling to get caught up.

Service alert for Red Line: http://www.riderta.com/service-alerts/june-7-21-construction-causes-changes-red-line-service Service alert for Blue/Green Line: http://www.riderta.com/service-alerts/june-7-8-and-14-15-buses-replace-rail-service-east-tower-city

June Riders Digest is now available on-line. http://www.riderta.com//publications/ridersdigest/2014/june

ODOT wants to hear from you -- what kind of transit system do you want? www.ohiotransitsurvey.com

June 4, from 4-7 p.m. at ideastream, NOACA is holding a community forum on transportation and environmental planning. Joe Calabrese is on the panel. They would like you pre-register, but if you are not, you can still attend. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/noaca-strategic-plan-forum-tickets-11626010711

If you use, or live near, the Lee-Van Aken Station on the Blue Line, you'll want to drop by Shaker Heights City Hall from 6-7 p.m. tonight. Officials will explain new traffic patterns and answer your questions. A June 25 ceremony is planned. http://www.riderta.com/news/june-3-lee-van-aken-station-meeting-set-shaker-heights