JMasek

This in response to an earlier question about rail car maintenance. It was written by a rail supervisor and is repeated here verbatim. All trains receive regular Preventative Maintenance Inspections. Light Rail every 3,000 miles, Heavy Rail every 5,000 miles. This equals about every 5 weeks for Heavy Rail, about 6 weeks for Light Rail. Doors and windows (and all other systems) are checked for condition and operation. Cars are also turned in for problems ("Defects") by Operators. Operators call the Defect in to Tower Control, the car is either removed from service and sent to the Shop, or allowed to finish its assignment and then brought to the Shop. The Shop is informed about in-service problem cars one of three ways: 1) Operator calls Tower, Tower Control inputs a computerized Work Request to the Shop. 2) Yard Control calls the Shop on phone, Shop inputs own Work Order. 3) Shop Supervision nightly reviews a Tower log of all cars who's Operators called in a problem, or where Tower Control otherwise recognized a car problem. Any problem cars found on Tower log which have not yet been to Shop are requested ("Called In") by Shop Supervisor. We encourage you to include car number, station, direction, time of day, Operator I.D. number or any other clue to actual rail car identity. Any car identified as a Defect will be Called In before the next morning. If necessary, the Shop Supervisor will ride the Block where problem is occurring.

The proof of payment system is still being tested. We hope to have it operational next week. Traditionally, changing the fare collection system is troublesome for any transit agency.

Because of machine testing has not been completed, the proof-of-payment has been delayed at least a week. When you enter, pay the operator. Time us again in a few weeks to see how we are doing. More than 20 staff met today with Joe Calabrese for about an hour, raising issues that need answers. We are aware of issues, and are working to resolve them. A lot of us, the GM included, were on the HealthLine before 6am today...I am glad that is not my regular shift.

I am forwarding your question to supervisors in Rail and Engineering. I will share your answers asap.

I am reporting this now, thanks.

You are correct. You will see more movement from RTA within a few months.

Some quick notes about today and the weekend... * The kiosks, which now say "best in North America" are being replaced with locator maps for each station, showing where you can walk to. Not sure when the switch will be made. * At 2:30 p.m., there will be one HealthLine vehicle at East 4th Street for the ribbon-cutting. It will head eastbound and pick up passengers and continue. All fares on the HealthLine are free from that time through Sunday night. * As the #6 buses pull into Windermere, they will go right to the Hayden garage and be replaced by RTVs. * I will be at the East 24th St. station from 10:30-12:30 on Saturday, stop in and say hello. I will also be taking photos of the 11am dedication of the bike lanes. * If any of you have photos to share with RTA, please e-mail your best ones to [email protected], both now and thru November. We only have a few weeks before the bad weather begins, and I want a file of as many warm-weather shots as possible. Thanks.

The lots and service are designed for rush-hour commuters, because that is where most of the ridership is. Perhaps when the State of Ohio allocates more money to transit, service can increase.

http://www.riderta.com/ro_paratransit-elevator.asp For better or for worse, this elevator page on the Web site is updated often by people who are in the know for what's up and what's down

The expansion of the lots was financially supported by ODOT, to help accommodate all the riders expected to use public transit when the Innerbelt bridge closed. Now that the bridge traffic is being reduced ahead of schedule, we are seeing even more traffic.

so the fuel surcharge is in place of the original fare increases that were proposed across the board? what i was getting at is whether the fuel surcharge AND the original fare hikes that were proposed for november 9th i think were BOTH happening. on RTA's site it mentions the service cuts starting november so i assume that passes arent going up in price. Fare increases were NEVER proposed. Officially, it was always called a fuel surcharge, but most media, especially broadcast media, called it a fare hike. Oct. 27 is the start of the fuel surcharge and Nov. 9 are the service changes. When you buy a monthly pass in December, you will see the surcharge.

I know a lot of people feel that way, but in the end, you are only hurting yourself. You are reducing (by a small margin), the revenue that RTA needs to operate. The taxpayers are RTA's only source of income, so if you want to give us less, you will get less in return. You may never have looked at it that way, but it's true.

The ribbon will be cut on Euclid Avenue at 3 p.m. Friday, and for the rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all HealthLine service is free. On Sat-Sun, ALL service is free systemwide, thanks to underwriting by the Clinic and UH. New fares take effect with the start of service on Monday. Use what you have in your wallet, they will be accepted, and when you buy new fare media, pay the surcharge. December monthly passes will reflect the higher amounts.

RTA officials respond to complaints about the East 6th St. intersection "That signal is not in the final configuration due to the Dollar Bank demolition, which we are trying to get cleared ASAP."

I was with Harry Boomer the entire time. Given the natural time constraints of TV, he did a great job -- not something I can say about every TV story that deals with public transit.

I am not certain I follow either your facts or your logic. RTA is NOT raising twice in the span of a few weeks. A 25-cent fuel surcharge takes effect Oct. 27, and because the price of diesel fuel is locked in a $3.17 for all of 2009, there should not be any more increases or decreases until Sept. 2009. Who can you complain to? You already have. RTA proposed a 50-cent fuel surcharge at public hearings in August. Several thousand people came to the hearings and/or wrote to us. The fuel surcharge was reduced to 25 cents, thanks to Gov. Strickland, who also heard you. The fuel surcharge is not permanent; it will flucuate with the cost that RTA pays for diesel fuel. In the future, it would help if you please clarified your questions.

Probably in December

There is no fare increase..only a fuel surcharge that most people are calling a fare increase. The base rate + the fuel surcharge = the price you pay. The fuel surcharge takes effect Oct. 27, the service changes take effect Nov. 9. Monthly passes will be charged the higher rate as of Dec. 1.

RTA Board approves fuel surcharge, to start Oct. 27 http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1220 How "proof-of-payment" works http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1219 Some routes change as HealthLine opens http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1218

RTA Board approves fuel surcharge, to start Oct. 27 http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1220 How "proof-of-payment" works http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1219 Some routes change as HealthLine opens http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1218 RTA sponsors Disability Awareness Day Thursday http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1217

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1218 Some routes change as HealthLine opens

Preview of Oct. 14 meeting CLEVELAND – The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Main Office Building, 1240 W. Sixth St. The Board will consider a resolution to implement a 25-cent fuel surcharge. The fuel surcharge could take effect as early as Oct. 27. It will help offset a projected $20-million deficit in 2009 – a deficit caused by increasing costs in diesel fuel, and reduced State funding. How a fuel surcharge works. After the special meeting, the Board’s Planning and Development Committee will meet to: * Hear an update on the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project. Service on the new HealthLine begins Oct. 24. * See a demonstration of the new fare “proof-of-payment” fare collection system that will be used on the HealthLine. A ticket vending machine has been installed in the Board Room.

PR people have no friends. It is one of the perks of the job.

Oct. 10, 2008 RTA Board to vote on fuel surcharge at Oct. 14 meeting CLEVELAND – At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will hold a special meeting to consider adding a 25-cent fuel surcharge to the RTA base fare. The fuel surcharge would take effect Oct. 27, and is expected to generate $4.8 million annually. Here’s how it works. A fuel surcharge is not a fare increase. A fare increase is permanent, while a fuel surcharge can go up or down, depending on the cost of diesel fuel. The base fare + fuel surcharge = the fare you pay. For instance, for Bus/Rapid cash fare, you would pay a base fare of $1.75, plus a fuel surcharge of 25 cents, or $2 total, under the proposal now being considered. Because RTA was able to lock in the price of diesel fuel at $3.17 a gallon for 2009, additional fuel surcharges will not change until after Sept. 1, 2009. If additional State funding becomes permanent, fares may not even increase then. If additional State funding is not in place by Sept. 1, 2009, fares could change as often as once every three months, depending on what RTA pays for diesel fuel. If the cost of diesel fuel drops below $3 a gallon, the surcharge goes away. If the cost of diesel fuel is between $3 and $4 a gallon, the fuel surcharge is 50 cents. Because Gov. Strickland was able to allocate an additional $9 million to RTA, officials are seeking a 25-cent increase, instead of the 50-cent increase discussed at recent public hearings. If the cost rises to $4.01-$4.75, a gallon, the fuel surcharge is 75 cents. If the cost of diesel fuel rises to more than $4.76 a gallon, the fuel surcharge is $1.

In my personal opinion, if Congresswoman Tubbs Jones were still here, she would have picked up the phone, called Joe Calabrese, said "Joe, we have a problem...how can we fix it?" and the problem would have been taken care of before the phone call ended. The lack of media attention to the Congressman's press release speaks for itself.