Use of the Riverfront Transit Center was mentioned in yesterday's Enquirer "talk to your government" series. Anyone know what the yearly costs are to run the ventilation? Who currently pays to run the system during games/events?

 

...Money, however, would be an issue. The transit center's ventilation system kicks on if five or more buses are idling in the tunnel. The system would be run nonstop for hours each day with the center full of buses. "It becomes cost prohibitive," Metro spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers said."

 

 

What are transit challenges facing the region?

 

As the region looks to attract more jobs and new residents to the urban core, Greater Cincinnati's largest public transportation system knows it has to play a bigger role.

 

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board Chairman Jason Dunn says it's imperative for Metro officials to be part of efforts to recruit new companies and expand others. Transit leaders must have strong partnerships with top executives at Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Macy's and dunnhumbyUSA to help attract and retain young professionals.

 

The next year is critical for Metro, which introduced a new CEO this week and held its annual meeting on Friday. In 2015, the transit authority will be in charge of hiring a streetcar operator; continue to lay groundwork for a potential regional transit tax ballot initiative; and figure out how to attract new riders after three straight years of flat ridership numbers.

 

Here are five challenges facing the transit authority in 2015:

 

Cont

Use of the Riverfront Transit Center was mentioned in yesterday's Enquirer "talk to your government" series. Anyone know what the yearly costs are to run the ventilation? Who currently pays to run the system during games/events?

 

...Money, however, would be an issue. The transit center's ventilation system kicks on if five or more buses are idling in the tunnel. The system would be run nonstop for hours each day with the center full of buses. "It becomes cost prohibitive," Metro spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers said."

 

 

What are transit challenges facing the region?

 

As the region looks to attract more jobs and new residents to the urban core, Greater Cincinnati's largest public transportation system knows it has to play a bigger role.

 

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board Chairman Jason Dunn says it's imperative for Metro officials to be part of efforts to recruit new companies and expand others. Transit leaders must have strong partnerships with top executives at Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Macy's and dunnhumbyUSA to help attract and retain young professionals.

 

The next year is critical for Metro, which introduced a new CEO this week and held its annual meeting on Friday. In 2015, the transit authority will be in charge of hiring a streetcar operator; continue to lay groundwork for a potential regional transit tax ballot initiative; and figure out how to attract new riders after three straight years of flat ridership numbers.

 

Here are five challenges facing the transit authority in 2015:

 

Cont

 

Fun Fact- The RTC turns an annual profit from gameday parking revenues.

But it becomes cost prohibitive to use it for the function it was designed for - as a bus/transit center?

But it becomes cost prohibitive to use it for the function it was designed for - as a bus/transit center?

 

The function that it was originally designed for was parking for large charter buses and school buses visiting the stadiums and The Banks.

 

The public transportation hub idea was a secondary function that evolved as the FWW project proceeded.

The Riverfront Transit Center is the reason why we don't see all those buses parked around the stadium on game day.

That picture makes me sad. Why did we ever think that was good? I'm so glad I don't exist in a period where that level of design was seen as the future.

Well, the bowl was an efficient design - but the surround was just very bleak. In the Old Photos of Cincinnati page, every time someone posts an image from the old bowl, people are nearly unanimous in their love for it. I guess after going to one of those antiquated stadiums, I had zero connection to it.

 

I wonder what people will think when GABP is demolished in 50 years.

I have to admit, I get a bit nostalgic when I see pictures of the old Riverfront Stadium.  It definitely was a bit utilitarian, but there were some parts of the stadium that I really liked.  The way you could categorize the quality of your seats by color, the ramps along the outside, the dark, somewhat cavernous concession areas down by the blue seats, people spelling out things in the wide swaths of empty red seats.  It was pretty terrible urban design, but it felt like a real destination, if that makes sense.  The wide expansive plaza surrounding the stadium made the bowl seem so prominent and large...kind of like how Dodger stadium appears from the sea of surrounding parking lots.  Terrible for the urban fabric, but interesting nonetheless.

Use of the Riverfront Transit Center was mentioned in yesterday's Enquirer "talk to your government" series. Anyone know what the yearly costs are to run the ventilation? Who currently pays to run the system during games/events?

 

...Money, however, would be an issue. The transit center's ventilation system kicks on if five or more buses are idling in the tunnel. The system would be run nonstop for hours each day with the center full of buses. "It becomes cost prohibitive," Metro spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers said."

 

 

What are transit challenges facing the region?

 

As the region looks to attract more jobs and new residents to the urban core, Greater Cincinnati's largest public transportation system knows it has to play a bigger role.

 

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board Chairman Jason Dunn says it's imperative for Metro officials to be part of efforts to recruit new companies and expand others. Transit leaders must have strong partnerships with top executives at Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Macy's and dunnhumbyUSA to help attract and retain young professionals.

 

The next year is critical for Metro, which introduced a new CEO this week and held its annual meeting on Friday. In 2015, the transit authority will be in charge of hiring a streetcar operator; continue to lay groundwork for a potential regional transit tax ballot initiative; and figure out how to attract new riders after three straight years of flat ridership numbers.

 

Here are five challenges facing the transit authority in 2015:

 

Cont

 

Fun Fact- The RTC turns an annual profit from gameday parking revenues.

 

Which is why they should throw that money back into making it a tranit hub for intercity buses.  This is tourism plain and simple, it will bring revenue to the city.

One more improvement to Cincy area transit:

 

http://www.urbancincy.com/2014/12/new-payment-technology-allows-metro-tank-to-partner-on-regional-fare-card/

 

Hopefully the next one is bus tracker software.

got to play around with the beta of Metro's real time bus tracker. Works well (again, still in beta). Shows real time location of the buses along the route, the stops and color codes the buses for on time, early and late. You can toggle inbound, outbound or both. Should launch this winter/spring.

^Especially in this extremely cold weather... that'll be so nice to minimize time waiting at the bus stop! Do you know if the plan is to make the tracker available through the web? Or will it be an app for iOS/Android? Or both?

^Especially in this extremely cold weather... that'll be so nice to minimize time waiting at the bus stop! Do you know if the plan is to make the tracker available through the web? Or will it be an app for iOS/Android? Or both?

 

I don't know that but will find out. 

^Especially in this extremely cold weather... that'll be so nice to minimize time waiting at the bus stop! Do you know if the plan is to make the tracker available through the web? Or will it be an app for iOS/Android? Or both?

 

Its a life saver in this kind of weather - a lot of times I've ducked into stores or subways while waiting for my bus - it enables this kind of behavior.

Any developers in the house?

 

The API (Application Program Interface) has finally been released so that developers can make their own bus tracking apps!

 

http://cincymap.org/blog/sortas-real-time-api-now-available-for-developers/

Cincinnati Metro has begun selling tickets at the Kroger in Walnut Hills.

 

Kroger signs on to pilot sale of Metro passes in stores

 

As part of Metro's system-wide upgrades, transit officials have announced a new project to upgrade stations and services in Walnut Hills.

 

The first part of these enhancements includes the availability of Metro's monthly passes and regional stored-value cards, which became available last week at the customer service counter at the Walnut Hills Kroger on East McMillan Avenue.

 

"At Kroger, we are always seeking ways to offer conveniences to our customers," said Sarah Raney, Walnut Hills Kroger store manager. "The Walnut Hills Kroger is happy to partner with Metro to sell bus passes to our customers who regularly use them."

 

In addition to many of the store's customers, management also says many of the store's employees use Metro bus service to get to and from work on a daily basis.

I thought that was such an odd title for that article.  The much more exciting news is the overhaul of bus stops and in the Peebles Corner area.  Upgraded bus stops with lighting, real time arrival boards, etc. will make the transit experience in Walnut Hills much better.

I'm hoping that as Walnut Hills is redeveloped this helps with getting choice riders to use transit.  Peeble's corner has some of the best in the city and its literally like 15 mins to downtown by bus with buses coming ~10-15 mins.

 

The Bus Tracker app is a game changer too once someone decides to transform the API into something useful.

Although this is Butler County it is a part of greater Cincinnati.

 

Shuttle from Butler county to CVG and the Dayton airport to begin. Hopefully it's a start to something more comprehensive.

 

http://www.butlercountyrta.com/uploads/pdfs/2014-15%20Shuttle%20Information%20Handout.pdf

Interesting news out of Columbus... where they let OSU students and employees to use their university IDs to swipe on buses: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/03/25/COTA-passes-OSU-employees.html

 

The Central Ohio Transit Authority’s board of trustees agreed on Wednesday to extend discounted monthly passes that can be purchased as a pre-tax payroll deduction to about 35,000 Ohio State employees starting in May.

 

Employees who buy the discounted fares could swipe their Buck IDs to ride the bus, said Jeff Vosler, COTA’s interim chief financial officer. Since 2012, OSU students pay a fee along with their tuition and can swipe their cards to ride COTA.

...

The agency has the technology to offer special pass programs to other large employers, too, Vosler said.

 

Anybody know if SORTA on-bus technology would allow for this kind of functionality? It'd be great for employers and UC to make it easier (even if not necessarily cheaper) to ride the buses.

UC and Metro used to have an agreement where students could ride free by showing their IDs. There wasn't even any technology involved; students would simply show their ID to the driver. This agreement changed over the years, and UC students and staff may now purchase discounted Metro passes. They are the same paper mag-stripe type of passes used for Metro's stored value cards. Metro's fare boxes do have touch (RFID) technology but it is only used for employee badges right now, I believe.

UC and Metro used to have an agreement where students could ride free by showing their IDs. There wasn't even any technology involved; students would simply show their ID to the driver. This agreement changed over the years, and UC students and staff may now purchase discounted Metro passes. They are the same paper mag-stripe type of passes used for Metro's stored value cards. Metro's fare boxes do have touch (RFID) technology but it is only used for employee badges right now, I believe.

 

I'm pretty sure Fare Deal uses the RFID technology. You can also slap a sticker about the size of a piece of chewing gum (but shorter, wider and much thinner) on the pass and give it RFID compatibility.

Interesting news out of Columbus... where they let OSU students and employees to use their university IDs to swipe on buses: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/03/25/COTA-passes-OSU-employees.html

 

The Central Ohio Transit Authoritys board of trustees agreed on Wednesday to extend discounted monthly passes that can be purchased as a pre-tax payroll deduction to about 35,000 Ohio State employees starting in May.

 

Employees who buy the discounted fares could swipe their Buck IDs to ride the bus, said Jeff Vosler, COTAs interim chief financial officer. Since 2012, OSU students pay a fee along with their tuition and can swipe their cards to ride COTA.

...

The agency has the technology to offer special pass programs to other large employers, too, Vosler said.

 

Anybody know if SORTA on-bus technology would allow for this kind of functionality? It'd be great for employers and UC to make it easier (even if not necessarily cheaper) to ride the buses.

 

Metro has the capability.  Currently all Metro Employees, Fare Deal customers, and Duke Energy employees have RFIA tap and go cards.  UC really should work out a deal with Metro. 

More good news from COTA that SORTA and TANK need to catch up on:

 

COTA Approves New Bus Pass Program for Downtown Workforce

http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-approves-new-bus-pass-program-for-downtown-workforce

 

http://www.cota.com/Fares-Passes/Employer-Bus-Passes.aspx

More good news from COTA that SORTA and TANK need to catch up on:

 

COTA Approves New Bus Pass Program for Downtown Workforce

http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-approves-new-bus-pass-program-for-downtown-workforce

 

http://www.cota.com/Fares-Passes/Employer-Bus-Passes.aspx

 

Metro already does this.  See the post right above yours.

I actually think Metro is a FAR better system than COTA.  If anything COTA could learn a thing or two from Metro.

More good news from COTA that SORTA and TANK need to catch up on:

 

COTA Approves New Bus Pass Program for Downtown Workforce

http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-approves-new-bus-pass-program-for-downtown-workforce

 

http://www.cota.com/Fares-Passes/Employer-Bus-Passes.aspx

 

Metro already does this.  See the post right above yours.

 

I know Metro has the ability to do it, but do they have a program for downtown employers? I couldn't find anything on their website. They ought to focus on all the big downtown employers and make sure their HR departments make it as easy (or easier) to get a monthly pass on Metro paid through pre-tax dollars as it is to get a monthly parking permit. I know my downtown employer does nothing to encourage transit ridership.

Good news regarding real-time bus data from SORTA: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/04/29/figuring-out-when-a-metro-bus-is-coming-is-about.html?page=all

 

SORTA spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers said the agency will release its bus location data to private companies this year so that they can incorporate real-time bus tracking into their apps. Once it’s operational in September 2016, riders also will be able to track where the nearest Cincinnati streetcar is.

 

And the People's Liberty is funding "Metro*Now" to put tablets with real-time arrival data in businesses near bus stops.

The bus location information SORTA releases also will be made available for a pilot program funded by the Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation’s People’s Liberty initiative to expand the availability of real-time arrival signs throughout the city.

Called Metro*Now, the initiative is being spearheaded by University of Cincinnati graduate student Daniel Schleith and Nate Wessel, who has made well-liked maps of local transit and bike routes, and the brainchild of SORTA board member Brad Thomas. People’s Liberty gave it a $10,000 grant.

Metro*Now will use tablet computers posted in local businesses near the busiest routes, such as coffee houses, bars and restaurants, to inform riders of the arrival time of nearby buses.

SORTA board member uses Hitler reference

During Tuesday's monthly board meeting, Jack Painter asked if SORTA knew what it was getting into by joining the American Public Transportation Association's Sustainability Commitment program. A leader in Cincinnati's tea party movement, Painter said the program looks fine but needs more scrutiny because it could be part of a bigger "climate control movement," something he opposes.

 

Painter used an example of a kid joining a youth group that appeared to teach good values, but then once the child "got out into the woods, you find it is a hip Hitler Youth movement."

 

Some board members had puzzled looks on their faces, and all but Painter were momentarily silent.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/05/19/sorta-board-hitler-reference/27577635/

SORTA board member uses Hitler reference

During Tuesday's monthly board meeting, Jack Painter asked if SORTA knew what it was getting into by joining the American Public Transportation Association's Sustainability Commitment program. A leader in Cincinnati's tea party movement, Painter said the program looks fine but needs more scrutiny because it could be part of a bigger "climate control movement," something he opposes.

 

Painter used an example of a kid joining a youth group that appeared to teach good values, but then once the child "got out into the woods, you find it is a hip Hitler Youth movement."

 

Some board members had puzzled looks on their faces, and all but Painter were momentarily silent.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/05/19/sorta-board-hitler-reference/27577635/

 

A real life application of Godwin's law - and of course, the comment stems from Painter's opposition to a federal program because it promotes streetcar systems.

I wanted to separate this out for the streetcar discussion and get some informed opinions on bus circulator routes… 

 

Here is my plan for Uptown high frequency "Cinculators": http://bit.ly/1L8RCnp

 

On one hand, services like this seem to have good ridership numbers in other cities and it seems like the "providing access to a dense diverse mix of land uses along the route" argument we use in favor of the streetcar would apply to a bus circulator as well.  On the other hand, it seems like most of the national press I read is more in favor of creating rapid and express bus routes all the way up to and including BRT rather than this type of service. 

 

While my circulator plan would compete with normal bus service along portions of some routes, I think it would expand the options of total trips that are possible without passing through Downtown and it would be eliminating the need to check schedules over a large portion of the city.  Thoughts?

 

Want to commute without a car? New app will show you where the bus is

Chris Wetterich - Cincinnati Business Courier

 

At long last, Cincinnati bus riders will be able to look at their smartphones to know where the bus they’re trying to catch is located.

 

Metro and local software development consultancy Gaslight will launch the Bus Detective app on Thursday at Fountain Square. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android smartphones or on the app website.

 

Real-time data also will be available on another widely-used app called Transit App, which is available on iPhones and Android. Transit App will also show the locations of Cincy Red Bike stations, said spokesman Joe MacNeil.

 

Cont

Bus jammin'. @cincinnatimetro #busads #trimetro #heidithehybrid #PublicTransit #publictransportation #transit https://twitter.com/Paigetastic01/status/618180028568875008/video/1

Paywall warning: http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/tax-levy-could-be-in-play-to-expand-metro-bus-system#st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/

 

Looks like Metro is continuing to discuss a new levy.  I'm hoping this one actually goes somewhere, Metro should be a much better system.

Paywall warning: http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/tax-levy-could-be-in-play-to-expand-metro-bus-system#st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/

 

Looks like Metro is continuing to discuss a new levy.  I'm hoping this one actually goes somewhere, Metro should be a much better system.

 

"We have to keep up with jobs that are growing in the suburbs and the workforce that has to leave the city to get to those jobs," said Dunn.

 

Shouldn't the suburbs be paying for that? Hopefully the tax levy is county wide. If SORTA asks city residents to subsidize buses to the suburbs, they will run into more opposition than they need. Of course, asking suburban county residents to pay more taxes for better bus service is almost a lost cause, as the local media will inevitably paint it as a streetcar tax no matter what SORTA says.

 

With some good marketing a county wide tax could have a chance, though. All it would take is illustrating exactly what new service would be paid for. A lot has changed since 2002, I wonder if enough has changed that county residents are willing to pay more for better transit?

I worry about the prospects of a county wide sales tax vote when Vancouver just had a transit tax rejected and they're starting with one of the best transit systems in the world.

 

I also think we need to have a conversation about what we want out of the transit system.  Is it cost efficient to try to provide coverage the job sprawl in the suburbs?  Or can we increase ridership by providing better, more frequent service in the city?  We should invite Jarrett Walker to town to moderate. 

Vancouver has a 15% sales tax, rapidly increasing real estate costs (in one of the most expensive markets in the world) and low wages relative to cost of living - all issues Cincy doesn't have to deal with, though stubborn parochialism has a nasty way of overriding more serious issues.

In Cincinnati, public transportation is still largely viewed by the general public as a service for the poor, not something that anyone would choose to use. Hopefully SORTA does a good job at selling new Metro Plus routes to the public to show people it's something they might want to use.

Metro's Real Time Arrival Display App is in beta. Test it out here. http://cincymap.org/rt/

 

Here's Nate's description- http://cincymap.org/blog/

 

If anyone knows anyone who wants to install a tablet to display this app in their business have them go here- http://busdetective.com/display

^-I'm super impressed with what Nate's put together so far.  Very good system for Cincinnati's unintuitive bus routes.  I think there only needs to be a few tweaks and it will be great.  I hope there is buy in from local businesses in areas like Uptown, and Northside that are well served by transit outside of downtown.

Can anyone who has/does work at TANK send me a PM. I have a couple questions. Thanks!

Could SORTA have a real BRT line in the works?

 

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority hopes to identify a key project in the next three months that it could ask the federal government for help in funding, assuming Congress passes long-term transportation funding legislation that is signed by President Barack Obama.

 

[...]

 

Among other capital items, Holland & Knight’s representatives suggested SORTA identify a heavily used bus route that it could modify into a bus-rapid transit route.

Regarding BRT implementations, can signal prioritization work without dedicated lanes? It seems like the lowest hanging fruit in terms of improving the system's service would be to roll out limited stop, increased frequency bus service along the primary avenues (Madison, Reading, Vine,  Harrison, Glenway)... and give those buses signal priority at stop lights. Essentially, it'd be improving and expanding the Metro*Plus model. Would that be feasible without re-configuring the streets for dedicated bus lanes? Obviously dedicated lanes would be preferable, but in terms of bang-for-buck, signal priority seems like the best option as the next step for improving our system.

I think the city could give signal priority to buses along select corridors with frequent bus service, even without a dedicated lane. Also, how awesome would it be if signal priority was given to all buses and streetcars in the CBD?

Regarding BRT implementations, can signal prioritization work without dedicated lanes? It seems like the lowest hanging fruit in terms of improving the system's service would be to roll out limited stop, increased frequency bus service along the primary avenues (Madison, Reading, Vine,  Harrison, Glenway)... and give those buses signal priority at stop lights. Essentially, it'd be improving and expanding the Metro*Plus model. Would that be feasible without re-configuring the streets for dedicated bus lanes? Obviously dedicated lanes would be preferable, but in terms of bang-for-buck, signal priority seems like the best option as the next step for improving our system.

 

Its my understanding that this is SORTA's plan for its upcoming levy - more metro*plus routes which IMO is a great idea. 

 

I can't tell you how much I wish that Chicago's buses would follow the LA model of local and rapid and in Cincy which is a smaller city it would be even better.

The one thing I dislike about Metro*Plus is that it doesn't work as a naming convention if/when they add more lines with similar service. I think it might make sense to follow Cleveland's example and use colors for the priority bus lines (Silver Line, Blue Line, etc). As more lines are added, we can use different colors to identify them. That will distinguish them from the standard (numbered) bus routes and the express (X) routes (which typically only run during rush hour).

^ I can see Metro*Plus being used as the name of the *service* on top of the actual route.  So the existing route would be "Route 4 Metro*Plus" or something to that effect (I know it doesn't follow Route 4 through uptown/downtown but you get the idea) similar to how you might say Route X Limited or Express. 

I just thought of something interesting. SORTA is considering a ballot issue for 2016, where a county-wide sales tax would be added to help fund Metro. In exchange, the city's earning tax that goes to SORTA would be decreased, and the "Zone 2" (Hamilton County) fare would be reduced to match the "Zone 1" (City of Cincinnati) fare.

 

So what's interesting is that streetcar opponents keep complaining at the streetcar doesn't "pay for itself" via fares, and yet there's a good chance county voters will actually approve a reduction in bus fares and an increase in taxpayer subsidy for buses.

The first of the People's Liberty's real time arrival signs was installed today at Market Wines in Findlay Market

 

Looking pretty good so far. I did notice that it will occasionally show "-1 minutes" til the next bus. Also it would be great if the route number could be distinguished from the time a little bit better--either by being a different color or having "Rt." before it...