JMasek

^ This answer comes from Project Manager Maribeth Feke. "This is a complicated design project. It includes the construction of a new station on a bridge that is close proximity to the N & S railroad right-of-way and close to other adjacent landowners property. It is a tight site. The design also includes the rehabilitation of RTA's bridge. Presently, RTA is awaiting approval by the railroad for rights required to for the project. RTA anticipates a reply within the next few weeks. Upon that answer, RTA can proceed with designing this project. RTA anticipates the design will be concluded in 2011. Construction of the station will depend upon locating the capital funds required for the project." I hope this answers your question.

Or define "easily". Remember that the BRT was going to have electrically powered buses, pulling power from overhead wires like a Rapid train. But that got "value-engineered" out to save money. So was putting rails in the pavement so that LRT could be added later at minimal additional cost. "Value engineering" does save money in the details, but this was an entirely new concept, not just a detail. After a small RTA contingent toured several modern systems in Europe, they came back and dropped all the overhead wires, which would have really cluttered up Euclid Avenue visually, and saved some $33 million in the process. I am not entering the rail debate, just providing some info.

^ Thanks for asking. Here is an update. :clap: University Circle Station: The station will stay open during construction, which is slated to start in summer 2012 and last for two years. :-D East 120th Street Station: The present station is at East 120 and Euclid. The new station is on the RTA tracks over Mayfield Road. The design is 60 percent complete and should be completed in 2012. After that, RTA has to shore up funding sources, award bids and supervise construction. The current station will stay open until the new one opens, so closure will never be an issue. 8-)

False rumor.

^ I forwarded this to the proper staff person, and he thanks you for sharing. It may prove helpful.

I certainly understand your question. When I use transit in another city, most recently Boston, Chicago and Seattle, the first two things I do are read and ask. Check the Web site, check the timetable, and then ask the staff. The Waterfront Line printed timetables reflect the correct hours, as does the Web site. And, there are certainly always staff at Tower City to answer visitor queries. I am disappointed to hear the staff was "dismissive." I have seen many times when staff have seen riders waiting at the wrong spot (for all lines) and have directed them to the proper track. Bottom line: While there are lots communications tools already in place, there may be a need for more.

Design work is in progress and is expected to be completed early 2011. After funding sources are identified, construction will begin, probably in 2011 or 2012.

"...shilling..."??? Facts are facts, and between dates x and y, construction costs totaled xxxx. When someone applies for a building permit, you don't ask why. I have heard, but not verified, that virtually all the building permits for the city of Cleveland right now are part of the Corridor development.

^ The Waterfront Line is open every weekend and for special events. The Tall Ships in July, and a Thursday night Browns game, (ride the WFL to see the NFL) are both special events. The "weekend" includes Monday, Labor Day, so you can ride it all 3 days. Have a great weekend.

Yes, the proper term is proof-of-payment. If it were truly an "honor-based" system, then you could ride, just based on your word that you paid. When a Transit Police stops you to check, it's not an honor system any more.

He is an employee of Brokaw, the award-winning agency that handles RTA advertising and promotions.

RTA is not "killing off" the Waterfront Line, has was referred to above. The Line was built when the Flats were packed. Employees and party-goers alike used rail to reach their destinations. Now, they have mostly left. RTA has been widely criticized for keeping the line operating at all while cutting bus service that was used by more people. Now, the WFL operates on weekends and during special events, such as the upcoming Tall Ships event. When the Flats East Bank development grows, you will see the Line growing as well. RTA continues to maintain the track and stations. The infrastructure is not being ignored.

There is no State or City code. Some of our service, including the HealthLine, operates 24/7. In years past, the rail has operated later, and was not widely supported. The ridership was not there to warrant. Specifically, the Waterfront Line opened in 1996, when the Flats nightlife was still active. Service lasted until around 2 a.m., but the ridership was not there. Now, as RTA faces decreased funding, we have to ask ourselves which is more important -- making sure people can get to work, or making sure people can get to nightlife? RTA, and public transit in general, has always held work trips as a high priority. I do not expect that to change.

That's certainly not an accurate statement. We pointed out that left-hand turns are a national issue (and they are). We pointed out that we have developed a new solution (and we have). We pointed out that other transit systems, dealing with similar problems, are implementing the same solutions we have. Those are undeniable facts. Posters are this list have valid complaints about the noise, and we have heard you. We are committed to maintaining a high level of safety in our bus operations, and are open to other viable solutions. Technology is certainly changing our lives everyday. If and when something is found that is as effective as the present system, RTA will certainly consider it. Until then, I do not believe (opinion here) that a change will be made.

FYI, we held a management meeting this morning at RTA, and among other things, we honored "Operators of the Month" for January, February and March. Ironically, all three operators were honored for the same thing -- getting involved above and beyond their normal responsibilities. Each operator saw a pre-schooler or toddler walking alone down a neighborhood street, and each assumed responsibility to hold the child on the bus until the parent, or police, showed up. The stories were heartwarming.

There has been no formal study that I am aware of -- it has not been that long. I mentioned your noise concerns to someone at RTA recently, and their response, "if the announcements save just one life, it is worth it." Although you may have valid reasons for disliking the audio turn signals, your complaints pale next to the value of a human life.

Once every two years, every bus operator comes in a for complete physical and two days of re-training and re-certification. During the year, on a random basis, trainers ride with and evaluate operators. Sometimes, the operator knows the trainers are on board; many times, they do not.

^ "RTA people" means who? Bus operators? Those people whose job it is to collect fares, calm down angry passengers, and maintain the safety of thousands of people a day, while driving an oversized vehicle on urban roads. No, with all respect, they have plenty of things they HAVE to do. I report things amiss all the time to a number of agencies. Just ask my long-suffering wife. I report them because I believe it is my duty. Some people would rather ignore them. So be it. I am not out to change the world, just change a few things that are within my field of view. You want someone to go that extra small step? Fine. Let it be you, and stop judging others.

^ It is more efficient to contact the city iteself than to involve a third party. All shelters have numbers. Yes, please contact us.

This is in response to an early post about overflowing trash containers near a bus shelter. Trash collection is a municipal function. If the container is downtown, the City of Cleveland maintains it. The same goes for Parma, Brecksville, etc. RTA does maintain crews to clean its 1,300 shelters. Some are cleaned once a week, some once every three weeks, depending on usage and where they are located.

<<All the Trolleys are equipped with fare machines. Couldn't RTA establish a reasonable fare for weekend service in lieu of finding some hard-to-find corporate sponsor? Maybe a $1.00 for every ride? Cheaper than a cab! I took a cab from the Warehouse District to East Fourth and it cost be $5.00 (including tip.) Get the hotels on board... make the E-line do more of a B+E-line where it goes down by the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.... I think $1.00-$2.00 per ride is reasonable... run it every 15 minutes or so... or less if you have to. GM Joe Calabrese responds: "Thanks for the suggestion. We would love to expand the hours of the Trolleys if they could be economically self sufficient, but they cannot be. Fares simply cannot cover the operating costs, no matter what the charge. That is why public transportation is public. Current $2.25 fares on RTA cover only about 25% of our costs, which is typical on a nationwide basis. Unfortunately, Governmental or Corporate sponsorship is the only way it can happen. We are pursuing partnerships with the Medical Mart and the new Casino that may be the answer."

From Service Planning: "RTA no longer has the resources available to offer the higher level of service. Yes, we initially changed the frequency to facilitate single-tracking during the Puritas construction, but now, faced with our economic situation, we are unable to provide the 15-minute service. We have reduced service on all rapid transit lines and many bus lines."

From Service Planning: "The #81 takes people who live near West 25 Street to various places where neither the Red Line nor the other bus routes travel. It also serves other travel needs."

Earlier, you asked what RTA is doing about making the POP machines more user-friendly. I checked today to make sure I had the most up-to-date information. "RTA continues to work with the contractor to upgrade these machines. The contractor knows that RTA does not find the machines acceptable as they are. RTA will continue to withhold payment from the contractor until the machines conform to our needs."

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/GRTC07_20100606-221803/349528/ The Richmond, VA transit system, seeking a way to improve its bus safety program, looks to Cleveland for answers. Staff visited Cleveland during the recent APTA conference, and audio bus warning signals will begin soon.