JMasek

Hello. It has been a while since I posted, and I apologize for the absence. As some of you may know, as of July 1, I was given additional responsibilities. I am now Publications Manager AND Media Relations Manager, so I really have to prioritize all of my duties, and returning calls from reporters dominates my time. I see that many people have asked questions in the last few weeks. I am reviewing the questions, and will forward them on to people here who know more than I do. I will share the answers as I receive them. Things are on schedule for the grand opening weekend, Oct. 24-25-26. Full revenue service starts on Monday, Oct. 27. I will share more details with you when they are final. I can always be reached at [email protected]. Thanks for missing me.

For your reading pleasure: RTA receives federal transit security grant http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1206 On-line transit purchases are now easier http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1205

Joe Calabrese was invited, but he had a previous commitment in Columbus (for the state funding issue). The City Club asked another transportation official (ODOT?) to sit on the panel, and Joe was offered an open Friday several weeks ago to state his case to the City Club.

RTA Board meets Tuesday, Sept. 23 CLEVELAND – The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Main Office Building, 1240 W. Sixth St. The Board will consider resolutions to: · Award a $1.6 million three-year contract to provide management services for the Paratransit inventory stores. · Authorize a $270,000 contract to prepare a strategic plan that updates RTA’s long-range plan for the next 5 years. · Spend $106,000 on a video camera system for new fare vending machine locations. · Spend $148,700 to upgrade and expand the video recorder system at Tower City. FUEL SURCHARGE: · Because Board members want more time to review this issue, they will not vote Tuesday on a proposed 25-cent fuel surcharge. · The Board will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Oct. 14, before the regularly scheduled Committee meeting, to consider that resolution. · If the Board approves a fuel surcharge on Oct. 14, it will take effect on Oct. 27. SERVICE REDUCTIONS: · Staff is finalizing the proposed service changes. · Those are expected to be released Sept. 23, and take effect Nov. 2.

www.cleveland.com/realtimenews/index.ssf/2008/09/rta_staff_proposes_25cent_fare.html Surcharge, smaller service cuts proposed for RTA Posted by James Ewinger September 09, 2008 12:41PM Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority staffers are recommending a 25-cent fuel surcharge and a 3 percent reduction in service on some lines to take place in November.

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1203 Sept. 9, 2008 “Due to intervention by Gov. Strickland, RTA now has the opportunity to defer for 10 months painful cuts in service, which would have been damaging to our customers and to the entire community, while we continue in our efforts to educate the legislature on the importance of a dedicated and adequate funding plan for public transit across Ohio. If the State does not increase funding for transit in the upcoming budget, next September, RTA will be forced to make all the service reductions and fare increases we talked about at the public hearings. Our customers no longer have to write or call us... we heard you, loud and clear. Now, we need our customers to direct their energies toward their State legislators. They will make the decisions that affect our future.” -- Joe Calabrese, RTA CEO & General Manager * * * * * * * * * * RTA staff proposes fuel surcharge, some service reductions CLEVELAND – The staff of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today outlined a greatly revised proposal to the Board of Trustees to help the transit system resolve a projected $20 million budget deficit in 2009. The project deficit is caused by rising diesel fuel costs and a 63 percent reduction in State funding. The original proposal was outlined before 2,000 persons in seven public hearings last month. RTA received more than 1,000 letters. The revised proposal includes: * $9.0 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, which must be officially approved on Sept. 12 by the Board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), at the request of Gov. Strickland. Due to federal restrictions, only about 70 percent of these funds can be used to cover the increase in diesel fuel costs. $4.8 million from a 25-cent fare increase (fuel surcharge) that takes effect Nov. 2. The Board is expected to vote on this issue Sept. 23. * $1.6 million from a 5 percent reduction in administrative positions. This includes savings from a wage freeze, a hiring freeze, and reductions in travel. * $4.0 million from reduced diesel fuel costs, based on a decline in fuel prices over last 60 days. RTA budgeted fuel at $4.10 per gallon, but that has now dropped to $3.45 per gallon. * $4.0 million from service reductions on underperforming lines. The reductions take effect Nov. 2. This list is about one-third of the $12 million original proposal. Short-term solution “We sincerely appreciate the intervention of Gov. Strickland to help find additional funding,” says RTA CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese. “We all realize this is a short-term solution, a band-aid on a much larger problem.” “The real answer is to find a dedicated funding source for increased State funding, and to place more money for transit in the next two-year budget cycle, which begins July 1, 2009,” Calabrese says. Fuel surcharge The original proposal was for a 50-cent fuel surcharge. Under the staff proposal, RTA would increase all cash fares by 25 cents, deferring the remaining 25 cents until September 2009, depending on funding for transit in the upcoming State budget. Effective Nov. 2, 2008: * All 5-trip farecards would go up $1.25. * The popular All-Day Pass would rise from $4.00 to $4.50. * All 7-day “flex” passes would rise by $2.50. * A Bus/Rapid monthly pass would increase from $63 to $76. * A monthly Park-N-Ride pass would rise from $70 to $85. Limited service reductions (based on the staff proposal) These routes would be eliminated, effective Nov. 2, 2008: #36, #42, #86F, #145R Service on these routes would be reduced on Nov. 2, 2008: All Community Circulators would operate on a 60-minute frequency. #4, #7X, #9X, #11, #13 #20A, #24, #39, #41A/C, #45Y/R, #52 #70, #75X, #86, #87F, #88X, #96F, #145Y the Waterfront Line If additional State funding is not received, these routes will be eliminated in September 2009: All Community Circulators #18, #33, #43, #46, #49, #68 If additional State funding is not received, service on these routes will be reduced in Sept 2009: #5, #32X, #76X, #83, #90F The next steps Sept. 12 – The NOACA Board meets to formally approve additional funding, including funding for Lorain County to pay for RTA service to Avon Lake on the #55F, and for Medina County to pay for RTA service on the #451 to Brunswick. What happens next on those routes has not yet been determined. Sept. 23 – The RTA Board votes on the fuel surcharge. The RTA staff will finalize the service reductions. Full details will appear on rideRTA.com, and in customer publications, e-news and Riders Digest. Nov. 2 – The fuel surcharge and service reductions take effect. July 1, 2009 – The next two-year State budget cycle begins. September 2009 – More service reductions, and an additional fuel surcharge, may take effect if there is not sufficient State funding.

Survey: Public transit pressures could hurt riders By Emily Bazar, USA TODAY Cash-strapped public transit systems are cutting services and raising fares even as more Americans ditch their gas-guzzling cars for trains and buses, a survey of transit agencies out Tuesday finds. ..... http://www.usatoday.com/travel/2008-09-08-Transit-woes_N.htm

www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1220787018210320.xml&coll=2

A few comments: 1. Our legal staff looked at the regs closely. The penalty for breaking this rule is fairly harsh, and it is not worth the risk. 2. The Indians flyers were cut several years ago, and the Browns flyers were already in jeopardy. Two reasons -- low ridership and the length of the games. No matter how many people ride the bus, you have to pay an operator to sit there for 2-3 hours, then make a single trip back. That's the same reason why some schools are cutting back on field trips -- too expensive. Thanks for your comments.

September 5, 2008 NOACA Board to Consider Emergency Funding for Public Transit Agencies Cleveland—Transit agencies in Ohio and across the United States are in financial crisis due to drastic increases in operating costs, including diesel fuel, and decreases in federal, state and local revenues. Many are considering cutting service and increasing fares. To help deal with the crisis, the governor of Ohio asked the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) in Ohio to examine their balances of federal funds, particularly congestion mitigation/air quality (CMAQ) funds, to see if some could be used to address this emergency. CMAQ funds are used to improve traffic congestion and air quality and were considered a possible solution because if transit service were reduced, congestion would increase and air quality would suffer. As the MPO for Northeast Ohio, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) developed a preliminary estimate of its available or uncommitted funds, especially CMAQ funds. The NOACA staff and several of its advisory committees met and determined that approximately $11.2 million of CMAQ funds could possibly be used to assist the urban and rural transit systems in its five-county area. The Governing Board will consider approving the following distribution of funds at its September 12 meeting: · Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority $9,031,793 · LAKETRAN $1,000,000 · Lorain County Transit $645,431 · Brunswick Transit Authority $38,103 · Geauga County Transit $136,643 · Medina County Public Transit $305,174 “It’s important to understand that any emergency solution will only be temporary,” says Howard R. Maier, NOACA executive director. “This one-time infusion of funds won’t solve the underlying problem. This situation has arisen due to the chronic underfunding of public transit.” For this reason, the resolution that the Governing Board will consider recommends that metropolitan planning officials, state officials and transit officials work together to create a long-term transit funding strategy for Ohio that Governor Strickland can act on. NOACA has added information about this issue to its Web site, including a page for the public to offer comments (http://www.noaca.org/commentassist.html). The Governing Board will also consider adding 12 new projects to the transportation plan and to the State Fiscal Years 2008 – 2011 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is the comprehensive, four-year listing of federal-aid highway, transit and bikeway projects scheduled for implementation in NOACA’s five counties (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina). Each of the five counties has at least one project among the 12. They can be viewed on NOACA’s Web site at http://www.noaca.org/91208projplan.html. The Governing Board meeting will be held on Friday, September 12, at 10:00 a.m. at the University of Akron Medina County University Center, 6300 Technology Lane, in Medina (please note the change in location from the usual Board meetings). The Governing Board agenda is included below. For more information, call Gayle L. Godek, Communications Specialist, at 216-241-2414, ext. 283; or Steve Jones, Associate Director of Divisional Services, at ext. 352. * * * The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is a transportation and environmental planning agency that represents state, county, city, village, and township officials. NOACA addresses the transportation, air quality, and water quality needs of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. NOACA and its partners cooperatively develop and implement plans to ensure that travel throughout the region is safe, cost-effective and environmentally sound. # NORTHEAST OHIO AREAWIDE COORDINATING AGENCY Friday September 12, 2008 10:00 A.M. University of Akron, Medina County University Center 6300 Technology Lane, Medina, Ohio B O A R D A G E N D A Page 1. Welcome: Medina County Board of Commissioners 2. Minutes of August 8, 2008 Governing Board Meeting 2‑ 1 3. Committee Reports 3- 1 · Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) · Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)-Water Quality Subcommittee · Transit Council 4. Public Involvement Comment Oral 5. Financial Report 5- 1 Out of State Travel Requests 5- 4 6. President’s Report/Executive Director's Report Oral 7. Resolutions: 2008-025 Project Planning Reviews-First Quarter Fiscal Year 2009 7-01 2008-026 Transportation Plan/Transportation Improvement Program Amendments 7-23 2008-027 Proposal To Help Ease Transit Authorities’ Financial Crisis 7-31 2008-028 Condolences to the Family of Stephanie Tubbs Jones 7-32 2008-029 Appreciation to Carla Cefaratti 7-33 8. Old Business 9. New Business 10. Staff Reports: a. Virginia Ainslie’s Washington Update 10- 1 b. Transportation Improvement Program Monitoring Report 10- 9 c. Planning and Programs Division Update Oral d. Regional Transportation Investment Policy Update Oral e. NOACA A t Work in Medina County Newsletter To be provided

Re: the parking. By zoning laws, a City can regulate, restrict, or abolish parking in a given area. I am not sure such zoning can be retroactive. In other words, no new parking lots can be established, but one is already up, it can stay.

RTA CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese will speak today to the City Club of Cleveland. The title of his speech: "Public Transit: On a Roll." In Cleveland, the speech will be aired live on WCPN, 90.3 FM. from 12:30-1pm. The full hour airs at 3 p.m. Saturday. You can listen to the streaming audio at: www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/streaming/ WCLV 104.9 FM carries the full hour of The City Club Forum at 9 p.m. on Fridays. www.wclv.org The speech will be aired on 160 stations that are part of a national City Club radio network. www.cityclub.org/content/services/index/radio_members.asp You can see the speech live on your computer at: http://fms.uakron.edu/applications/city_club_of_cleveland/live.htm The speech will broadcast on WVIZ TV-25 from 10-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. www.wviz.org/ The speech will be broadcast over most Time Warner Cable systems at 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. After 2 p.m. today , the complete text of the speech will be available at: http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1200 For information on obtaining a podcast of the event, go to: www.cityclub.org/content/podcasts/index/index.asp

Michael Schipper, Deputy GM for Engineering and Project Support, is in charge of the Corridor Project. He says the RTV have a flip-up seat by the right rear door for two bikes. You can stand in the space with your bikes, or use racks.

I am no expert on NOACA, and I have no knowledge of their charter.

CMAQ usually deal with air quality (AQ). If we assume that all residents of a given county breathe air, then all residents benefit from better air quality. Thus, CMAQ are normally distributed based on population. This time, however, at the Governor's request, CMAQ funds were used to help transit systems pay their rising gas bills, and keep transit service running. This would maintain a higher air quality with fewer cars on the road. Under this scenario, it makes no sense to appropriate money based on population. Instead, it is now based on the size of the transit system (ridership, service miles, service hours, etc.)

http://www.cityclub.org/content/speakers/SpeakerDetail.aspx?spkID=5642 Joe Calabrese speaks to the City Club of Cleveland on Aug. 29

RTA statement on the passing of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1196

EagleFan, you raise an interesting point...one that we have wrestled with for years. What is the best way to communicate with customers? Some do not use the Internet, do not listen to news or read the newspaper, and do not bother to pick up the Riders Digest on our vehicles. Your suggestions are welcome. Right now, our communications plan includes all of the above. As far as having the route changes in The Plain Dealer, we have submitted them, of course, but we have no control over their usage. As the size of the newspaper shrinks, the criteria for what is used becomes more rigid. There are technological changes coming. Eventually, customers who give us their cell, fax, pager or e-mail information, along with the routes they use, can have service changes (short-term and long-term), sent directly to them. We are not there yet. Again, we are talking about two sets of service changes. The ones proposed at the hearings are the ones Calabrese commented on as "tweak some routes." The late notice you complained about were seasonal service changes that take effect on Aug. 24. If you have any specific questions, you can always contact me off list at [email protected]

Please let me clarify. The hearings Aug. 4-7 were for proposed service changes that may have taken effect Oct. 1. Now, those changes are being pushed back a bit. They had nothing to do with the service changes taking effect Aug. 24. RTA changes routes four times a year, including once around the start of the school year. The next regularly scheduled service change will be in December.

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1195 RTA ridership up 6 percent in July

EagleFan, the flier you are seeking is now in the RTA print shop, and will be distributed shortly. Yes, it is later than usual, and we sincerely apologize. The changes have been on the Web site for a few weeks, have been distributed to all media, and have been included in two e-newsletters. I encourage you to be a subscriber to the newsletters.

RTA news Aug. 19, 2008 Update on RTA proposals CLEVELAND – Today, during a special Committee meeting, Board members of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) directed the staff to prepare a plan with short-term and long-term options to combat a projected $20-million deficit in 2009. A tentative timetable Sept. 9 – This is Board’s regular Committee meeting. Discussion of a draft plan will begin. Sept. 12 – The regular monthly Board meeting for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) will be held. The NOACA Board is expected to approve $10.5 million in federal funds to transit systems in a five-county region. It is not yet known how much of those funds will go to RTA, which provides about 93 percent of the transit in the NOACA area. The NOACA Board is acting at the direction of Gov. Strickland. The funds are called Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ). Sept. 23 – This is RTA’s regular Board meeting. The Board may vote on the plan that day, or call a special meeting after NOACA determines the fund distribution. Early November – The plan would take effect. Short-term options Once increased funding from NOACA is set, RTA can greatly modify its original proposals for a 50-cent fuel surcharge and 10 percent-12 percent service reduction. General Manager Joe Calabrese says RTA may submit a plan to the Board that includes: · A 25-cent fuel surcharge to begin in November. By law, the Board must approve any fare change. · Minimal service reductions, on those routes where ridership is very low. The Board does not have to approve service changes. · Internal savings of up to $2.9 million. This includes a hiring freeze, a wage freeze, a large reduction in travel expenses, a five percent decrease in administration positions in 2009, and another five percent decrease in 2010. Long-term options “The NOACA funds are a temporary fix,” Calabrese says. “They will allow RTA to continue with no major service cuts until after July 1, when the new two-year State funding cycle takes effect. If there is not a significant increase in State funding in that cycle, we know that there we will need to add an additional fuel surcharge, and institute major service reductions in fall 2009.” The State must work with public transit to find a long-term dedicated source of funding. Calabrese serves on a statewide Task Force that is looking at that issue. “The process to identify this funding source is far from complete, but it has begun,” Calabrese says.

On Wednesday, Aug. 13, vehicles will be able to travel in the eastbound and westbound curb lanes of Euclid Avenue, between East 86th Street and East 93rd Street. Because of the installation of median stations at East 89th and East 93rd streets, the intersections at East 86th, East 87th and East 90th streets will be permanently closed to through traffic. The new median landscape beds will separate the intersections. Vehicles traveling on Euclid Avenue will no longer be able to make left turns at these intersections. East 89th Street will remain one-way southbound. The intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 107th Street will close for reconstruction for about a month. Local access will be maintained for businesses. Vehicles traveling south on East 107th Street will be detoured around the construction area, to Chester Avenue and back to Euclid Avenue. Please use caution when traveling through the construction area.

The Toledo Blade has a major story today on the Euclid project. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/NEWS16/78160778

"thanks to jerry for the info on requesting state funding. do you know if there will be a petition we can sign anywhere? i know there was one at the meeting but i couldnt attend " We collected the names of people at the hearing, and our Citizens Advisory Board had a petition there for you to sign. Now, I believe we would rather have the power of 500 letters than one letter signed by 500 people.