JMasek

I have said it before, and I will say it again. Merely posting a complaint here is NOT the same as reporting it to RTA. If you want something to change, make sure we know it. JetDog is out of the town, and I have been busy getting ready for the service change, so no one is reading this every day. Now that I know about some of these issues, I will report them. Perhaps we could run DNA samples on the horse droppings...

SAVE THE DATE: 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. on Tuesday, June 3. Work will start soon to re-build that station. Officials will explain new traffic patterns and answer your questions. See you there.

I just reported it, thanks. Please do not use this forum to report time-sensitive items, as we do not check it daily. E-mail is better. [email protected].

FYI, all the June service news is now posted on www.rideRTA.com. This includes East Side rail shutdowns and June 8 service changes.

^ Yes, you have to validate the pass before you get the platform...before you leave.

This weekend, RTA crews need to do some work in that section of track. Other RTA crews will take advantage of the shutdown to finish as many track upgrades as they can.

I hear and understand both sides of this debate. Consider this: 1.) If the national economy improves while you are President, you take credit for it. If the national economy tanks while you are in office, you get blamed, despite whatever good or bad actions you took to impact the economy. 2). When a developer decides to invest, we do not ask him or her to pinpoint exactly why he/she has the faith to spend his money here. 3). The development of Euclid Avenue appears to be "on a roll" -- that is, there are a lot of good things happening. I would think a developer would look at the big picture, and decide it was time to "jump in".

^ Having a 5-ride pass in your pocket is kind of like having a $5 bill in your wallet. If you took some merchandise off the shelf and walked out the door, a clerk may stop you. You could show her the $5 bill from your wallet, but that only shows you have money to pay for the item -- it does not mean you spent it. You buy a 5-ride ticket and keep it in your wallet. Each time you board the Rapid, take 5 seconds, or less, to insert the fare card and remove one ride. A fare card needs a validation to be legal. Otherwise, you could take 17 rides and pay for just 5. (I know you would not do that...but some people might.)

<<Wish RTA would come forth with a schedule to let the public know when these shutdowns are predicted to occur rather than these seemingly last minute, random announcements.>> Certainly, ODOT has a master plan for construction, but any plan is affected byh changes you cannot predict. For example, ODOT's long-range construction plan MAY say they need to close down one weekend in September. Should they announce that now, and change it 2-3 times before that date? That would confuse our customers far too much. The final decision to close on a specific weekend is made closer to the date, so that it becomes a reality. RTA works with ODOT to find weekends that will have the least amount of impact on major special events, such as Opening Day and St. Patrick's Day. <<Explain why RTA has so many total shutdowns, especially on the East Side and why these ODOT moves can't be done at night to minimize these disruptions.>> I cannot speak for ODOT. The Innerbelt project is, by far, the largest transportation effort this region has ever seen. RTA's efforts right now include major work on two East Side rail stations -- Cedar-University and Little Italy-University Circle, so right now, the shutdowns may be more frequent than usual. RTA regrets the inconvenience to all its customers. We appreciate your patience.

<<Is ODOT reimbursing RTA for the extra fuel and personnel costs for running shuttles every other weekend?>> I have not seen a cost breakdown, so I cannot answer your question, but please know that: 1). RTA and ODOT are partners in almost every major transit project -- from the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project to helping expand the three major Park-N-Ride lots on the West Side. 2). Both RTA and ODOT use public monies, that is, money that comes from the taxpayers. 3). Whenever there is a shutdown, RTA takes advantage of that to complete as much work as it can on related projects. It takes advantage of the downtime. I realize that this does not exactly answer your question, but it may offer you some things to consider.

I want to remind posters that the RTA Web site -- www.rideRTA.com -- has a search button in the upper right hand of the home page. Many (some?) of the questions asked in this thread can easily be answered by using that function. Thanks.

Keith, the flyer was sent out by the vendor. Ride RTA.com has the info you want, on the Major Projects page, so will the Digest, which is going to press now, and so will the press release.

This morning, the RTA Board awarded a $5.4 million reconstruction of the Lee-Van Aken Station. More details to follow.

stpats44113 -- Let me correct the facts. You are aiming your message in the wrong direction. The shuttle was provided by Earth Day, not RTA. Any concerns should be sent to the Earth Day Coalition.

March Ridership report: * Because of bad weather and school closings, ridership is down on most modes * March ridership was down 2 percent * St. Patrick's Day ridershp was one-half what it was in 2013 * Trolley ridership up 37 percent, to an average daily ridership of more than 6,500

KJP, I apologize, I was rushing through things, reacted and moved on. I need to slow down more.

Apply today if you are interested in serving on RTA's Citizens Adviosry Board. Here is the application: http://www.riderta.com//sites/default/files/CAB/docs/CABApplication.pdf

^ The above invitation was NOT put out by RTA. Every notice that clears my desk ALWAYS has transit info, so please, do not generalize or finger-point. Thanks.

We just recently started Tweeting from Board meetings...glad you are reading them,

Yes, we should have said the light-rail station at East 116.

LOTS OF NEWS Agenda for Jan. 21 Board meeting: http://www.riderta.com/news/jan-21-agenda-board-and-committee-meetings Year-end ridership report: http://www.riderta.com/news/good-news-ridership-rta-rose-third-straight-year 25 percent increase in riders on free day: http://www.riderta.com/news/25-percent-increase-rides-free-ride-day-rta RTA operates a normal weekday schedule on MLK Day, but offices are closed.

The first work at the Little Italy-University Circle Station will be demolishing a bridge, then contruction begins. I'm sure the weather will be a factor in when things are dione.

Re: Service on Dec. 31-Jan. 1 The Rapid (Red-Blue-Green) will operate from AM on Dec. 31 thru PM on Jan. 1. On Dec. 31: Buses and the Waterfront Line will operate on a normal weekday schedule. On Jan. 1: Buses and the Waterfront Line will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule.

DM4 wrote: <<I'm not sure if RTA read this or not...>> As most regulars will tell you, there are two RTA staffers who read this thread religiously (and that does not mean only on Sunday). They are: JMasek, who is a Public Information Officer and Web site content editor, and JetDog, who is the Webmaster. There are 3 things to keep in mind. 1. We both have Multiple responsibilities (the cap M is on purpose). I try to check in once a day on this and several other RTA-related threads to answer questions, and set the record straight if inaccuracies exist in the content. I do NOT try to debate opinions, no matter far off they are. Freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment. I do wish that posters would use the phrase "In my opinion" on posts where it is warranted. 2. If a post has real merit, (either pro or con) I will forward it along to the right person. I have no control over actions that are taken or not taken. 3. For a specific complaint to be resolved, we need details, as in Friday, March 3, 10 p.m., HL EB on Euclid at E. 105. We have 1,000 bus/rail operators, 400 buses and 100 rail cars. Then describe the complaint. There is a complaint system on the Web site. Please use it. Lastly, no one told JetDog and I to monitor this forum. We do because we think RTA's point of view needs to be here. We'll continue to be here, unless other work, or sick time, keeps us away. I have to go now. I hear some eggnog and fruitcake calling my name.

<<If RTA were interested in redesigning their system...RTA should consolidate routes and reduce the number of stops on them, so that it can offer greater frequency, faster service, and greater reliability on those routes it keeps.>> We are. There is a press release on this, and it was in the Rider's Digest and e-news. Are you an e-news subscriber yet? http://www.riderta.com/news/bus-stop-makeover-new-signage-consolidation-existing-stops