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...

 

Is Nate on here? If so he's the guy to talk to.

 

It's tough to see in that picture but the top line reads "21 <- to Harrison Ave" above the large "9 Minutes"

I just returned from San Francisco, and while I've been to the city many times before, this was the first visit that I extensively used their bus (Muni) system.  I've never been especially fond of our Metro system, as I find it confusing, infrequent, and generally pretty user un-friendly.  I used to think that some things that I didn't like about our system were unavoidable, such as the confusing squiggly line route maps that our system uses.  I thought these existed due to the hills, valleys, and irregular grid that these obstacles present, but after using SF's system, I now know that this is absolutely not the case.  Their maps are extremely easy to read and understand because they feature an approximation of the city's street system, and present it in a way that is easy to understand even for people unfamiliar with the city.  They also color-code their routes based on frequency, and many of their lines operate every 10 minutes or less.  When I read discussions about the streetcar having 12-15 minute frequency, it just seems baffling, especially when SF had SO many lines that operated every 8,9,10 minutes- and on routes that traveled much further distances than our streetcar will.  I took the bus here two days ago, and was swiftly reminded of the inadequacies of our system when I had to plan my schedule around 70 minute frequencies, and a final bus that left downtown at 7:15.

I just returned from San Francisco, and while I've been to the city many times before, this was the first visit that I extensively used their bus (Muni) system.  I've never been especially fond of our Metro system, as I find it confusing, infrequent, and generally pretty user un-friendly.  I used to think that some things that I didn't like about our system were unavoidable, such as the confusing squiggly line route maps that our system uses.  I thought these existed due to the hills, valleys, and irregular grid that these obstacles present, but after using SF's system, I now know that this is absolutely not the case.  Their maps are extremely easy to read and understand because they feature an approximation of the city's street system, and present it in a way that is easy to understand even for people unfamiliar with the city.  They also color-code their routes based on frequency, and many of their lines operate every 10 minutes or less.  When I read discussions about the streetcar having 12-15 minute frequency, it just seems baffling, especially when SF had SO many lines that operated every 8,9,10 minutes- and on routes that traveled much further distances than our streetcar will.  I took the bus here two days ago, and was swiftly reminded of the inadequacies of our system when I had to plan my schedule around 70 minute frequencies, and a final bus that left downtown at 7:15.

 

With a $700 million a year budget and a service area of 46.7 square miles you're going to be able to have some excellent frequencies

I know there are some things that are beyond the control of SORTA, especially given our limited budget.  But the map issue, to pick one, seems like something that we could pretty easily fix. I know that an independent entity/individual has attempted to make a map that is easy to understand, but why can't the transit agency itself make this happen? Why do route maps still show the lines with no context? A squiggly blue line in isolation is almost impossible to understand if you aren't familiar with the line.

 

Like I said, it's hard to do an apples to apples comparison between two systems that have different budgets and coverage areas, but it's hard to deny the radically different experience of riding a bus in Cincinnati compared to San Francisco.  They have bus shelters with real time arrival information for what seemed like the majority of bus stops, or at the very least, about every other stop (in my experience).  I've already discussed the issue of frequency, but they also have a host of express lines, meaning you don't have to stop every freakin' block like you basically have to do here (metro+ excepted).  When you add it all up, it's easy to see why the average Cincinnatian with a car considers the bus a non-starter.  If you have any exposure to other cities that offer 'amenities' such as regular bus shelters, real time arrival information, express routes, sensible maps, and busses that come every 10 mins or less, it makes dealing with our shell of a system seem maddening.

Speaking of making the routes easier to visualize and put on maps....

 

Metro to Hold Open House For Express Service Re-Routing in Downtown Area

 

CINCINNATI – Metro is holding an open house to take comments from the community on the proposed re-routing of 14 express routes throughout the downtown Cincinnati area.

 

The open house will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5 from noon-2 p.m. at Metro’s main office at 602 Main St. in the boardroom on the 12th floor.

 

Metro is proposing to re-route the express routes: 2X, 3X, 14X, 15X, 23X, 29X, 30X, 40X, 67, 71X, 74X, 75X, 77X and 82X. Currently, many of these routes come into downtown one way during the morning rush hour and leave downtown a different way during the evening rush hour. The proposed changes will help make these routes more consistent. The proposed changes are expected to be implemented in March 2016.

 

Maps of the proposed changes will be on display and members of Metro’s Planning Department will be available to answer questions related the proposed re-routing.

http://www.go-metro.com/news/604/58/Metro-to-Hold-Open-House-For-Express-Service-Re-Routing-in-Downtown-Area

 

Maps: http://www.go-metro.com/uploads/Express%20Re-Routing/Map_DowntownRoutingAdjustments_11_4.pdf

Study: 75K Cincy jobs unreachable by transit

 

A new study further reiterates how woeful Greater Cincinnati's largest public transportation system is at connecting people to jobs.

 

Some 75,000 jobs in healthcare and manufacturing do not have direct access to a transit stop, according to a University of Cincinnati Economics Center study released Thursday.

 

The study comes as Metro consders whether to ask Hamilton County voters to approve a countywide sales-tax increase, as a way to  raise up to $25 million more in local funding for the bus system. A task force of business, nonprofit and community leaders is weighing whether the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority should go through with the ballot initiative next year.

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/11/05/study-75k-cincy-jobs-unreachable-transit/75214956/

perhaps also a good time to discuss how woefully bad the region is at integrating jobs into existing communities, instead of continuing to spread out.

It's starting to get better, but yes, there are so many vacant lots and buildings in our urban neighborhoods that need to be filled in instead of building new suburban office parks.

Also, the article is very misleading and unhelpful. Was the study only concerned with the jobs within HamCo that metro doesn't reach? within southwest ohio? or the entire "greater cincinnati region"? How many jobs out of the total is 75k?

 

Additionally, I think it's a terrible idea for metro to have the mindset that it needs to be chasing after jobs all over the suburbs. This really dovetails with public policy, but if you as a company want to locate in the middle of nowhere, then you should have to deal with any hiring problems that arise due to lack of access.

pardon for the double post.

 

Metro is having a "listening session" next wednesday, the 12th, at MORTAR, as reported in the local rag. They have very kindly highlighted the fact that there is on street parking, as well as garages, nearby. They seem to have missed the metro bus routes that go through over the rhine, or the red bike stop at 12th and vine.

 

The irony is too much to handle. http://local.cincinnati.com/calendar/event.asp?ProdID=182766

When UrbanCincy promotes an event, we try our best to mention all of the transit and Red Bike stops nearby. I wish other media outlets in town would pick up on this.

I know you do, and I appreciate it. I don't even think it was the Enquirer's fault: I think Metro left it out of the news release that it sent out. Which is truly mind-boggling and really makes me question the organization.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/11/10/when-it-comes-to-transit-cincinnati-lags-behind.html

 

So many thoughts on this article. I can't even fathom Columbus paying for 25% of our transit costs.

 

I also struggle to understand why the 10 largest cities in the state haven't banded together and put forward a coherent argument for why the state should fund more transit.

Because the suburban and rural politicians control the state legislature. Our collective voices likely don't add up to enough to create that kind of change.

Now that the anti-gerrymandering issue passed this year, Ohio's cities might have a chance of getting more representation at the state level and getting some sort of transit funding through in the coming years.

Interesting:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/11/16/union-floats-strike-possibility-as-metro-moves-to.html

It seems like SORTA is being pretty responsible with their proposal. It's a shame that the union rep won't even go to negotiation meetings and is instead seeking mediation. Is there something I am missing?

Troy Miller overplayed his hand in the union's bid to operate the streetcar. May be doing it again.

Hope they can reach a resolution that will improve service - the idea of having smaller buses with more frequent headways or to serve smaller areas makes a lot of sense.

 

Vancouver actually has community buses that are like this though I'd doubt Metro has those kinds of resources.

I'm a little worried about Metro's proposal. We should be moving towards a Houston-like model where the focus is on fewer, simpler routes with higher frequency, rather than a large number of infrequent routes that try to reach every nook and cranny of the tri-county region. The proposal to use smaller buses for some routes makes me think that we are moving more towards the later, and trying to operate bus service to every suburban office park.

New real time arrival signs

 

Walnut Hills

 

Gaslight

Maybe service is so bad because ridership is very poor?  I know there's a chicken and egg problem, but being the most affluent parts of the city (excepting Madisonville), there seems to be an even bigger aversion to bus riding than usual.  The retarded route numbering (11 Erie-Hyde Park vs. 11 Madison Road-Oakley) doesn't help either.

 

I know someone somewhere asked to explain this stupid bus, I figured it out.

 

Every bus that leaves downtown on the hour goes to Hyde Park (using a stupidly circuitous route), then to Madisonville (via bramble road/plainville eventually) where there is a turnaround.  All riders are forced off the bus at the turnaround around Kenwood Ave just north of Madison road, then the bus after a 10 mins layover goes down Madison Road back towards downtown via Oakley.

 

Every bus that leaves downtown on the half hour goes to Oakley then to Madisonville via Madison road after that, eventually ending up at the turnaround off Kenwood Ave north of Madison Road where all riders are forced off the bus.  The bus then goes south on plainville and down bramble using the aforementioned illogical route to get to hyde park where it comes back to Madison road then to downtown.

 

Oakley only gets one bus an hour :/.  Hyde Park if you walk to Madison gets them every half hour.  If you take the oakley bus to walk to Mariemont btw, you have to get off the bus for 10 mins and pay for a fare again at the stupid turnaround.

 

This route is stupid.  - plus I read old schedules (they are up on Nate Wessel's site) and until about 15 years ago this route actually ended in Mariemont which makes a heck of a lot more sense as a turnaround spot then some random side area in a sketchy neighborhood...

Not sure if this is totally confirmed, but would be good news if true:

 

Metro is considering rolling out some new fare-payment technology along with the opening of the streetcar in September, Grether said, including:

• Smart phone fare payment
  
• A reloadable plastic “smart card” that users can tap on a bus or the streetcar and have their fare deducted. Metro has paper stored-value cards today, but many transit systems across the United States are moving to smart cards.
  

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/02/17/why-the-streetcar-will-have-a-daily-but-not.html

Smart reloadable cards would be awesome! Especially if you could tie it to your bank account so you don't have to actually "reload" it manually.

I'm kind of confused why they don't just rip off Portland's model:

 

• Tickets valid on both streetcars and buses
  
• Monthly passes available, in paper and electronically
  
• A ticketing app where you can store and use all your fares (San Francisco's Muni system uses the same app)
  

 

I mean really, what's the downside? Do they project lower fares by doing that, is that the problem?

Even in Portland, you can buy a streetcar-only ticket that is not valid on MAX light rail or buses. They do have a great mobile app, though. The one downside is that the app makes fare evasion pretty easy. They are on the honor system but a fare inspector can ask to see your validated ticket at any time. With a paper ticket, you must validate before boarding. But using the app, anyone could just keep a purchased ticket on the app and only validate it if they see a fare inspector on board.

Interesting results from the latest survey: http://www.go-metro.com/uploads/METRO2016TransitServicesFundingPrioritiesSurveyResults.pdf

 

Business Courier summarizes the results: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/03/08/what-a-new-poll-says-about-a-potential-expansion.html

 

A majority of Hamilton County voters would vote against a sales tax increase to fund an expanded bus system, a new poll commissioned by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority says.

 

But the numbers improved after respondents to the poll were asked about the improved service that could come with a potential expansion, including providing more service during mornings and evenings, on weekends, having bus circulators in neighborhoods and expand crosstown routes. Once respondents were told about those potential service enhancements, 51.7 percent favored a 0.25-percentage point sales tax increase and 57.6 percent favoring a 0.5-percentage point sales tax increase.

 

To me, this shows that a sales tax could get passed... if the campaign were well run and picked the right time to get on the ballot.

it would be close, I bet. Weird that a larger portion favor a larger tax increase. I seem to remember someone (Chris Wetterich? Jake Mecklenborg?) muse about the idea of tying a county wide increase with a decrease in the portion of Cincinnati's earnings tax which pays for metro. Seems like that would be a boost for cincinnati residents (though maybe something for county opponents to carp on...)

 

What're everyone's thoughts on an iron-clad agreement that the tax money would not go toward the streetcar?

Interesting results from the latest survey: http://www.go-metro.com/uploads/METRO2016TransitServicesFundingPrioritiesSurveyResults.pdf

 

Business Courier summarizes the results: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/03/08/what-a-new-poll-says-about-a-potential-expansion.html

 

A majority of Hamilton County voters would vote against a sales tax increase to fund an expanded bus system, a new poll commissioned by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority says.

 

But the numbers improved after respondents to the poll were asked about the improved service that could come with a potential expansion, including providing more service during mornings and evenings, on weekends, having bus circulators in neighborhoods and expand crosstown routes. Once respondents were told about those potential service enhancements, 51.7 percent favored a 0.25-percentage point sales tax increase and 57.6 percent favoring a 0.5-percentage point sales tax increase.

 

To me, this shows that a sales tax could get passed... if the campaign were well run and picked the right time to get on the ballot.

thats weird that more people favor a half cent increase. Maybe it's a typo.

Just goes to show that once you answer the WIIFM (What's in it for me?) question, people support transit. Tell the people what they'll get for their money and you gain their favor.

Update - SORTA just let me know that it will be a separate app from the current Passport Parking app, but it will be made by the same company (Passport). I hope they get the name/branding of the app figured out because I can imagine this being confusing to users.

 

SORTA just announced that starting in August, riders of buses (and the streetcar) will be able to purchase tickets on their smartphones using a new app from Passport, which is the company that makes the app that lets users pay for onstreet parking downtown: http://www.go-metro.com/news/669/58/SORTA-approves-contract-for-mobile-ticketing-app

 

The mobile ticketing app, expected to launch in August 2016, will greatly enhance the customers’ experience by enabling them to plan, track their bus in real-time and pay for their trip in one simple, secure app. Riders will be able to purchase bus and streetcar fare electronically through their cell phone or tablet and simply display the fare purchase on their mobile device for validation when they ride.

 

I have tried using the real-time tracking of buses using both the Transit app and the Bus Detective app. Frankly, I've been disappointed with both. I'm not sure where the problem lies, but in several cases I've been waiting for a bus, trying to track it through the apps, not able to find the bus, and then - surprise! - the bus arrives without ever appearing on the apps. I don't know if this is a problem with the data being supplied by SORTA or if it's a problem with how the apps are ingesting the data. In either case, I hope that SORTA's partnership with Passport produces better quality data with a better user experience. The PassportParking app, though, seems very poorly designed/programmed: for example, it prompts you to accept Terms & Conditions EVERY SINGLE TIME you open the app! I hope SORTA and Passport create a better experience for the Passport Transit app (or whatever they end up calling it).  The ticket buying experience needs to be smooth to encourage repeat use, and the real time tracking needs to be reliable (though this is less important for the Streetcar since it comes more frequently than most bus lines).

I have tried using the real-time tracking of buses using both the Transit app and the Bus Detective app. Frankly, I've been disappointed with both. I'm not sure where the problem lies, but in several cases I've been waiting for a bus, trying to track it through the apps, not able to find the bus, and then - surprise! - the bus arrives without ever appearing on the apps. I don't know if this is a problem with the data being supplied by SORTA or if it's a problem with how the apps are ingesting the data. In either case, I hope that SORTA's partnership with Passport produces better quality data with a better user experience. The PassportParking app, though, seems very poorly designed/programmed: for example, it prompts you to accept Terms & Conditions EVERY SINGLE TIME you open the app! I hope SORTA and Passport create a better experience for the Passport Transit app (or whatever they end up calling it).  The ticket buying experience needs to be smooth to encourage repeat use, and the real time tracking needs to be reliable (though this is less important for the Streetcar since it comes more frequently than most bus lines).

 

Every streetcar station (except maybe music hall) has real time arrival signs at the stops as well.

Even with those signs at streetcar stops, if the apps works well, it is very helpful to be able to see arrival times on your phone so that you don't rush to the station only to learn that you have 10 minutes to wait.  Even if you're sitting in a coffee shop right next to the station, having arrival times on your phone is super helpful.

The arrival signs shouldn't matter.  You can see the streetcar coming or going or not at all. 

 

Here's what that means...

 

Do you see a streetcar coming?  It's just about to your station. 

Do you hear a streetcar's bell?  It's about to be visible.  That means it's getting close.

Do you see a streetcar going?  You missed it!  You're going to have to wait 10+ minutes!  But that gives you time to stalk someone on Facebook.  Or maybe take a selfie. 

Do you not see or hear a streetcar?  You've got 2-10 minutes. 

 

 

When I'm downtown grabbing a cocktail and waiting to catch my bus home I usually open up Transit App to the line map, tab the inbound bus, and just let it sit open.  The app updates the buses location on the map every minute or two.  That way I know exactly when the bus is coming into downtown, and when the bus crosses Central Pkwy I close my tab, casually walk to the stop, and my bus is always right there. 

 

 

Is Metro going to use the Transit Center for the relocated Oktoberfest? 

Is Metro going to use the Transit Center for the relocated Oktoberfest? 

 

I doubt it.  Why add all of the miles and hours to the system and pay for staffing at the RTC when it's a short walk from Government Square and the streetcar can get extra ridership?  Plus, it would be particularly confusing to daily riders to have a bunch of random reroutes again.

Is Metro going to use the Transit Center for the relocated Oktoberfest? 

 

It's going to be used for staging equipment, charter buses, etc.

Hopefully Metro can add some more BRT routes in the future and use the Transit Center as a stop for buses that run from the eastern to western burbs. Similar to the Oasis rail plan, except that buses could actually travel into more populated NBDs, as opposed to the Oasis rail line which just runs along the river, passing very little population and having virtually no development potential.

Gary Greenberg joins SORTA board of trustees

 

CINCINNATI – Gary Greenberg, a shareholder with the law firm of Denlinger, Rosenthal and Greenberg Co., which limits its practice to labor and employment law, has been appointed to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority’s board of trustees, which operates Metro’s transit system in Cincinnati, OH.

 

Greenberg is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan Law School.

 

He is a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, The Federalist Society, Ohio Management Lawyers Association, and the AIPAC Cincinnati Council.  He has been recognized among the Best Lawyers in America, Ohio Super Lawyers and the Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers in Business.

 

Greenberg serves on the boards of the Hebrew Union College, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati and is a past board member of the Jewish Family Service.

 

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is governed by a 13-member volunteer citizens’ board of trustees. Seven trustees are appointed by the City of Cincinnati and six are appointed by Hamilton County. Hamilton County appoints three of its own trustees and one each representing Butler, Clermont and Warren counties.

A tea party lawyer who supports same-sex marriage? Confusing guy. Anyone know anything about him?

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/07/24/us-agency-extends-protections-lgbt-workers/30632641/

 

http://shma.com/2012/01/the-tea-party-and-i-confessions-of-a-conservative/

No reason why Hamilton County should appoint so many to this board when there is no county tax to fund SORTA.  At least the outlying counties actually contract with SORTA to run the express buses. 

No reason why Hamilton County should appoint so many to this board when there is no county tax to fund SORTA.  At least the outlying counties actually contract with SORTA to run the express buses. 

 

And the big dilemma facing transit if a county sales tax is placed on the ballot is that the county might seek to reorganize the board so that Cincinnati only become a bit player.  Continuing the (or a) city earnings tax for SORTA should guarantee that the city retains a majority of the board seats. 

Metro got a new website today:

http://www.go-metro.com/

 

It's nice to see it freshened up, but I don't really see any real improvements.

No reason why Hamilton County should appoint so many to this board when there is no county tax to fund SORTA.  At least the outlying counties actually contract with SORTA to run the express buses. 

 

And the big dilemma facing transit if a county sales tax is placed on the ballot is that the county might seek to reorganize the board so that Cincinnati only become a bit player.  Continuing the (or a) city earnings tax for SORTA should guarantee that the city retains a majority of the board seats. 

 

^ Huge risk to the city. I'd hate to see a bunch of Coasties running Metro

No reason why Hamilton County should appoint so many to this board when there is no county tax to fund SORTA.  At least the outlying counties actually contract with SORTA to run the express buses. 

 

And the big dilemma facing transit if a county sales tax is placed on the ballot is that the county might seek to reorganize the board so that Cincinnati only become a bit player.  Continuing the (or a) city earnings tax for SORTA should guarantee that the city retains a majority of the board seats. 

 

^ Huge risk to the city. I'd hate to see a bunch of Coasties running Metro

 

The whole thing might turn out to be a plot to trick low-income Cincinnatians (i.e. the nearly 50% black population) into turning over control of something the city should be in near-complete charge of to the county.  So they'll play the streetcar against black Cincinnatians -- "why did those yuppies want the streetcar for them but not buses for you...". 

 

This is why the best solution might be duel bus systems -- a county bus system (Zone 2 service + expresses) funded by a county sales tax and then a city system funded and run by the city and funded by the earnings tax, possibly completely independent of SORTA. 

 

 

^Have you seen the mess Detroit is in because of the Balkanized public transit? No thanks.

Eh. That can all be unified with a strong MPO. Take a look at the Twin Cities 6 different agencies. They all share a fare policy, transfer policy, ridership data, numbering system, and have their schedule information listed on Metro Transit's website. You can easily ride three different agencies in one trip without ever realizing that you're on different systems unless you look at the name on the outside of the bus.

Hamilton County is on the cusp of turning majority Democrat.  Remember that Portune was the first D county commissioner in 30 years and he only got in because of the backlash against the stadium tax (he took Bedinghaus's spot).  If the D's get two seats on the county commission then it's less likely that there will be anti-city hostility on SORTA's board, but it's still very possible since so many fake Democrats are active in local politics.  Back in 2003~ fake Democrat Charlie Luken appointed his fake Democrat dad to SORTA's board, where he proceeded to gunk up the works.  COAST also got Stephan Louis on the board at the same time, as a reward for chairing the anti-Metro Moves campaign. 

 

All this said, we are far from having the sort of cooperation simply within Hamilton County, let alone with NKY, to create a more robust combined system.  That might change with 700 WLW and The Enquirer fading to black in the next ten years.