JMasek

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1311 June 18, 2009 Be a Hero for a Day Transit authorities across the country encourage commuters to ‘dump the pump’ CLEVELAND -- If you rode public transit once a week, you would reduce your carbon footprint and the amount you spend on gas by 20 percent. This is the type of simple but compelling message the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) and other transit authorities across the country are conveying to commuters as part of the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day, today, Thursday, June 18. The goal is to get as many work-trip commuters as possible to make the switch from driving to riding by jumping on a train or bus. Everyone who does is a hero for the day by helping solve the economic, energy, and environmental problems in the world today. RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese is using the national event to challenge not only commuters, but also business and civic leaders, to make the region’s environment and economy healthier. “Clevelanders spend more than 20 percent of their income to get to work,” says Calabrese. “This reduces the amount of discretionary dollars for other things, which is particularly hard during these tough economic times. From an air quality standpoint, fewer cars on the road will lower Northeast Ohio’s ground-level ozone emissions. With the support of local CEOs and elected officials, more and more commuters will explore alternatives to driving.” Several non-traditional communications tactics will be used by RTA to reach out to Northeast Ohio commuters on June 18. They include: * Deploying street teams dressed as super heroes. * Placing spray chalk messages near parking lots. * Transforming a metered parking space downtown into a green oasis. * Creating an online carbon footprint calculator. Timing for the National Dump the Pump Day couldn’t be better, as gas prices are again on the rise. * California became the first state to see gas prices top $3 a gallon since October, according to a daily survey of gas prices. * The national average price for a gallon of gas rose 0.6 cents Monday to $2.669, according to motorist group AAA. Prices have been steadily climbing higher since April 29, and are up 63 percent from the start of the year. Individuals can save more than $8,000 annually by taking public transportation instead of driving and living with one less car. And for every $1 invested in public transportation infrastructure, $6 is generated in economic returns to the community. “With the economic downturn affecting everyone, now is the time to save money and ride public transportation,” says American Public Transportation Association President William Millar. “The National Dump the Pump Day is an opportunity for people across the country to ease the strain on their wallets and provide a more secure future for America.”

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1310 RTA Media Advisory June 17, 2009 Dump the Pump America’s transit authorities make united pitch to commuters What:Fourth annual national Dump the Pump Day, organized by the America Public Transportation Association (APTA), to encourage work-trip commuters to make the switch from driving to riding by jumping on a train or bus. Locally, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is reaching out to Northeast Ohio commuters through · The deployment of street teams dressed as super heros · Leaving spray chalk messages near parking lots · Transforming a metered parking space downtown into a green oasis · Creating an online carbon footprint calculator. Who: Joseph Calabrese, CEO & General Manager, RTA Street Team Super Heroes Northeast Ohio commuters When:2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2009 Where: Lakeside Avenue at Mall B Static green parking space Photo Opportunity: noon – 1:30 p.m. Also Super Hero Street Teams at various locations downtown, with a photo opportunity from noon-1:30 p.m.

"Anyone" can find out by going gto apta.com

How could you "redo" a sign that has the year clearly stated on it? In 2007, we won the award. That has not changed. Much has already been written about the computer voice, so I will not repeat it here.

^ RTA encourages wheelchair riders to be strapped in, but we cannot make it mandatory. Some persons insist on "NO STRAPS."

Let me respond generically, rather than specifically. 1. More than 280 salaried staff just took a 3 percent wage cut (on top of not getting any pay increases earlier in the year). 2. An hour of RTA service costs about $100. Yes, something may only be "a few minutes off the route", but you have to multiply that change by the hundreds of time each year that an RTA vehicle makes the change. The numbers add up quickly. 3. If all RTA money is being spent (and it is), then to add service in Parma, you have to reduce service in Euclid. That is easier said than done. KJP does not speak for RTA, but he has been around long enough to understand why we do what we do. Generally, his comments are on the mark.

"actually try and think outside the box"...apparently, you assume that we have not been thinking that way, which is just not true. When Joe Calabrese took over, RTA was both a tenant and a landlord. Now, we are only a landlord, we do not rent from anyone. Pepsi and food machines at major facilities produce revenue. Selling naming rights to the HealthLine, and some stations, produces millions of dollars of revenue. The Park-and-Ride lots charge more, because they are a premium service. Again, more revenue. Do you know who designed the trolleys we use, and the BRT vehicles? RTA did, and now that manufacturers are producing those vehicles for other cities, we are getting "a piece of the action." There may be other instances, but those are the only ones that come to mind now. Before coming to Cleveland, Calabrese was named one of the most innovative transit managers in the nation. You do not win awards like that by thinking in the box. Some people think outside the box. Others are still looking for the box. I hope this answered your question.

There are monitors at each end of the HealthLine, and they make sure the RTVs leave every 5 minutes during rush hour. There is no "schedule to follow". Once on the route, there are things we cannot control -- such as crowds of low-intelligence pedestrians walking right in front of the vehicle, cars using the transit-only lane, and construction (non-RTA projects). I am sure there are other things I have not mentioned here. With vehicles only 5 minutes apart, it only takes a few delays and bunching occurs. RTA is aware of the problem and monitoring it and working on solutions.

RTA auditors are testing the machines now. We hope to make the system "live" in a few weeks.

Statement from Joe Calabrese You may have read an article in The Plain Dealer today, saying that some RTA employees are not doing their job by not properly collecting fares. This article was precipitated by a letter received by the newspaper from an individual relaying her experience on the Red Line while going to an Indians game last weekend. I want to assure you that at RTA, every penny is important. We continually stress to our employees, the importance of collecting the proper fares from our customers. Those employees not taking all reasonable efforts to collect fares will be disciplined. I know that this reported problem is the exception and is not the norm. We monitor revenues collected carefully, and year-to-date, fare revenue collected is up 9.38 percent over last year. These isolated occurrences, which are being dealt with, are in no material way contributing to RTAs budget challenges, which stems from a $12 million to $15 million projected shortfall in sales tax revenues in the current year. This is a result of the national economic recession. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please feel free to contact me directly.

The project is not yet closed out, and they are taking care of some final punch list items. I will have more info later.

^If there were protesters there, I never saw them.

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1300 Puritas Station groundbreaking set for May 27 CLEVELAND – The groundbreaking for a new rail station at Puritas Avenue, 4200 W. 150th St., will take place on Wednesday, May 27, at 11:30 a.m. The $9.6 million project, funded from federal stimulus money, is expected to be completed by fall 2010. The station will remain open during construction. Local elected officials, including Mayor Frank Jackson, will speak at the event. Community residents are invited to attend. As always, parking is free.

My response appears in the item above, about the wage cuts for salaried employees. You write..."I can't believe". I say...."believe."

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1301 May 26, 2009 RTA salaried employees to see a 3 percent cut CLEVELAND – In a continuing effort to balance the 2009 budget, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has already: · Reduced salaried positions by 5 percent. · Frozen wages for all salaried employees. Now, RTA’s 287 salaried employees will see their wages reduced by 3 percent, effective May 31. The move will save RTA some $400,000 – hardly enough to make up a projected $12 million to $15 million decline in revenue from a one percent countywide sales tax. Besides the actions listed above, RTA has also: · Instituted a partial hiring freeze. · Restricted travel. · Received supplemental funding from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). · Reduced overtime by more than $2.5 million over 2007 levels. · Started an energy management program, which is expected to reduce costs by $5 million over projections. RTA is taking these additional steps: * Additional restrictions on travel. * Additional restrictions on filling open positions. * Continuing to work with State officials, and NOACA officials, on supplemental funding. *Reducing inventory expenses. * Identifying “one-time” funding sources. * Working with union officials in the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) on reducing costs. “We realize that this move will not solve all of our budget challenges this year, but it will help,” says Joe Calabrese, RTA’s CEO and General Manager. “We have already taken a number of steps to balance our budget, and now we are doing even more. Our goal is to preserve existing service levels and fares, so that Greater Clevelanders can continue to have transit access to their employers, and continue to support their families.” “Before RTA can consider additional service cuts and/or another fare increase, we need to do whatever we can internally, to help balance our budget.” “I thank our employees for their hard work, dedication and understanding,” Calabrese says. “They know first-hand the importance of what we do for our customers and our community. It is my hope that this temporary salary reduction can be reversed soon.”

Dear MyTwoSense, On this forum, we can talk, discuss, debate, advise, offer opinions, share facts, share observations and seek knowledge and wisdom. I am pleased to be a part of this dialogue. However, in my opinion, "demand" is not a word that should be used here. If every person I speak with could "demand" I do something, there would not be enough hours in the day. You had a point to make, and you made it. Please leave the drama at home.

<<Jerry, what type of business coordination does RTA have to promote using the line. Have you (RTA) reached out to company's to inquire as to why they currently do not have a public transportation information included in their business listing/website?? >> I often fill requests from agencies and companies that want this information, and I suspect we will be doing more of it in the future. We have been trying to increase transit awareness for years, and while we are certainly not where we want to be, things are far better than they used to be.

When I get concrete (no pun intended) info on the Clifton project, I will post it.

From what I have seen, planning work considers alteratives and may not lead to construction, and thus, to jobs. Pre-design work means an alternative has been chosen, so the work will definitely lead to jobs.

RTA Board meets May 19 CLEVELAND – The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will meet at 9 am. on Tuesday, May 19, at RTA's Main Office, 1240 W. Sixth St. Here is the agenda. 9 a.m., Finance Committee meet to discuss RTA’s Energy Risk Management Program, and a proposal to extend the maximum hedging time period from 24 to 36 months. If the Committee approves it, the full Board may vote on it at the meeting that follows. The full Board will then meet to consider resolutions, including: * Award a $400,000 contract to the TransSystems Corp. to design the rehabilitation of the 3,500-foot S-curve track on the Red Line, between the West 98th and West 117th Street stations. The project will use federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. * Approve a lease agreement with Josef Askie to operate a restaurant inside the Windermere Rapid Station in East Cleveland. After the meeting, the Board will: * Meet in executive session to discuss the 2008 external audit. * Hold a working session with staff to discuss a projected deficit in the 2009 budget.

What are the five best transit systems in the world? Interesting story. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/free-ride-the-five-best-mass-transit-systems-worldwide/1095

I just checked. The Blue Line extension is NOT shovel ready. By law, the stimulus money cannot be used for planning purposes. Some of the money IS being used for pre-design work. Thanks for asking.

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1297 May 14, 2009 RTA hosts June 9 meeting to discuss design of new University Circle Station Web site includes: a rendering of the proposed platform and headhouse for the new University-Cedar Rapid Station (click for larger image) CLEVELAND – The design of a new Red Line rail station at University Circle will be the topic of a community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9. The rail station, operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), is at 11150 Cedar Ave., near the border of Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. The meeting is at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, One Monticello Blvd. at Mayfield Road. Design architect Merhdad Yazdani will present his design concept. Residents who cannot attend the meeting can view the project summary. They can e-mail comments to RTA’s Maribeth Feke ([email protected]), or write to her at RTA, 1240 W. Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113. Cleveland Heights Mayor Edward J. Kelley, who is also Vice President of the RTA Board of Trustees, urges residents to attend. “The University Circle Station is part of the gateway to Cleveland Heights,” he says. “The project is vital to our City. It’s appropriate for residents to view the proposed design and offer feedback. We all have the same goals. We want this to be a world-class transit facility that is user-friendly to many residents of our city, as well as people from around the world who visit University Circle.” The design process In October 2007, the RTA Board of Trustees awarded a contract to URS Corporation to design a new rapid transit station. The project design included: * A detailed traffic study. * A land use and development plan. * A new design of the bus loop area. * The station entrance building and platform. Web site includes: the site location plan of the proposed new University-Cedar Rapid Station (click for larger image) The station is being designed as a signature piece of architecture that is a gateway to University Circle, Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. The Cleveland Foundation, Case Western Reserve University and the University Hospitals Health Systems (UHHS) contributed a total of $250,000 towards this project. The $1.25 million design process will end in spring 2010. Depending on funding, contracts will be awarded in fall 2010. The construction cost of the station is budgeted at $10 million. It will take some 24 months to complete. Existing station conditions The University Circle Station – also called the University-Cedar Station – is an important transit hub in RTA’s transportation network. Built in 1953, it is a primary bus transfer point on the East Side, with 7 RTA bus lines serving the station -- #7, #8, #9, #32, #48/48A, #50, #821 and the free Circle Link service, operated by University Circle Inc. The station’s proximity to Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, Cleveland Heights and the University Circle institutions provide a constant stream of traffic, among the highest in RTA’s system. The station, located on the Rockefeller and Ambler Park Trust Greenways, now consists of several loops, lots of concrete, a tunnel, platform, and bus entrances on either side of Martin Luther King Blvd. The presentation will illustrate the dramatic difference the proposed station elements will contribute to the existing environment. Proposed station design The new station may incorporate the following: * Consolidation of bus loop and passenger areas to the north side of Cedar Hill/MLK * Removal of the southern entrance and bus slip ramp * Expansion of the pedestrian walkway from the rapid station to the bus station * Signature architecture symbolizing the regional gateway of the station * Station headhouse constructed to maximize glass and visibility of passengers * Park-like plaza entrance and park-like area, maximizing green space setting * Public art * Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program. * Treatment of railroad underpasses RTA staff and the architectural design team are working through the complicated tasks involved in building a rail station in a confined space along a busy city street adjacent active rail tracks under traffic.

^ Thanks for sharing. I passed it along.

^ I was just trying to make the point that I get most of my information off the RTA Web site. I encourage its use.