These answers were provided by Mike Schipper, Deputy General Manager of Engineering and Project Support, who is supervising the Corridor project.

 

"On the gravel beds, the original design had many more of the beds from East 17th to the Innerbelt. However CSU committed to maintain grass in those beds adjacent to their campus so they were changed to grass. Other property owners would not commit to maintain grass in that area, so they have gravel per the original design."

 

 

When I first saw these, I assumed they were just waiting for the next shipment of sod.  Why remove functional concrete (sidewalk) to create an off-limits area that looks like concrete?  It might not be as glaring if these treelawn areas didn't contain grass seemingly everywhere else on the corridor.  Its not as if gravel beds can't look nice, but this stuff seems too close to the hue of the sidewalk and too fine-grained ala kitty litter.  Given the condition of some properties in midtown, I'm surprised that these landlords in the hi-profile CSU/JCF/PS area were the only ones so opposed to mowing that they got gravel treelawns.

 

Also, some of the metal work on the corridor is weathering very poorly, to the extent that I'm curious about warranty terms.  There are pictures upthread and some of it has gotten worse in a short time.  Who recommended this metal for outdoor use?  And one of the trashcans (E30-36?) was rolled thru the machine backwards, so that all the text came out backwards.

 

One other concern-- how much of the dead median landscaping is expected to come back to life next year?  I'm not a garden person, can't remember if that would be annual or perennial.  But we have a grand opening coming up next month and some of the planters look very sickly.  In the newer ones downtown, only the broccoli seems to be flourishing.  I want this rollout to succeed and I want people to be impressed with the project's results, and I'm beginning to panic a little at t-minus a month or so.                     

Broccoli???

When I first saw those concrete beds, I thought they were entirely composed of a sandy gravel and noticed immediately this gray powdery stuff was blowing off regularly, and footprints were embedded in each every day.  I too thought this must be some temporary thing - e.g. simply awaiting standard soil and grass or groundcover - and inquired about it of several shop people, such as at Bonfoey's or Gems; workers of shops along these walks either hadn't even noticed the newly created entities or had no clue regarding them.  Then someone said they were some sort of art form.

That sort of made me feel better, but I couldn't imagine these things around the trees lasting long in their present state, and the "gray" tonality didn't seem too attractive.  Later I read these are basically concrete, with a sandy layer on top.  Finally I read here about CSU's offering to maintain more traditional beds instead. It's all rather odd....  Also, I agree - the intermising of soil/grass beds intermixed with the concrete ones. is a bit odd.

Broccoli???

 

The broccoli, are seedum plants.  They "flower" in the fall when the bushy part of the plants turn to a bright pinkish red.

:wink: Ah, so that's what you meant....

Broccoli???

 

The broccoli, are seedum plants. They "flower" in the fall when the bushy part of the plants turn to a bright pinkish red.

 

Thank you, those are the ones I meant. 

 

Regarding the concrete beds, people often mention how little sidewalk remains in many areas.  If there wasn't ever going to be grass in these beds, I don't understand why they aren't flush with the sidewalk.  They're going to be walked in whenever 2 groups of 2 have to pass each other, so there's no need for anti-ankle "lips" around the perimeter. 

Save some for our own Doc Broc. They are as pretty as she is!  :-)

Save some for our own Doc Broc. They are as pretty as she is!  :-)

You sly fox!

Drove down Euclid from UC to Public Square on Saturday.    I was disappointed to see it appears that from UC east the road is asphalt not concrete.  While that road at the stations is concrete, I still wonder if those big buses are going to warp the asphalt.  Otherwise, it looks great. 

 

What a night and day difference between the Clinic and CSU.  Just having the rebuilt street makes the area look less depressing, and the building renovations appear to be continuing. 

 

Save some for our own Doc Broc. They are as pretty as she is! :-)

You sly fox!

 

Boy am I glad I had a piece of a pop tart in my mouth and not orange juice when I read that, lol.....

I still wonder if those big buses are going to warp the asphalt.  

 

The specs for the road took into account the vehicle weight.

Thanks, but what do you mean the 32 "will return to....the new Euclid Corridor?"  I'm waiting for the 32 to not only get onto Euclid Avenue from E. 22nd Street, as it did for many years, but to be on Euclid Avenue all the way from MLK to E. 17th - for the first time.  That's what someone at GCRTA said would be the new route - several years ago - and, although one line on your website had implied otherwise, when questioning it I was assured last year this would probably still be the plan.

 

Straight from Service Planning, "Yes, starting Oct 27, the #32 trips to/from downtown will travel via the HealthLine bus lanes on Euclid Avenue between Stokes Blvd and East 17th."

:clap: :clap:

That would be just great.  Thanks and Yay!

and best of all you get your wish to follow the redevelopment of euclid on your daily commute!  :wink2:

I still wonder if those big buses are going to warp the asphalt.

 

The specs for the road took into account the vehicle weight.

 

Thanks for clarifying, Jerry! 

 

 

the clay/gravel beds, which also have the openings in their surrounding "anti-ankle lips," have a tendency to empty sediment into the sidewalk after the rain.  not sure who dreamed this one up, but it's pretty lame.  I agree that there are a number of points along the route where the planter beds would've been better left out.  on this note, I'm curious about the choice of plantings at different points.  While some of the medians have great mixtures of what looks to be low-maintenance growth, there are other parts that have grass that will be hell to mow...

An exciting moment earlier this week:

 

 

Two in one picture!  Nice!

too bad neither one of them would pick me up!  I had to wait for a lowly #6 on the side of the road... :cry:

I love that corner....now if only there were thousands of pedestrians out and about.

hey look at that. cool. the healthline is on the way!

I could be wrong, but I think I heard one of the health line buses "ding" like a trolley today.

De we have a pre healthline and post healthline photo comparison?

Here's a "before" photo! 

 

Here's a "before" photo! 

 

Ok...I guess this is you in HPIC mode?!  SmartA$$!  :whip:

 

Let me Clarify.  I wonder if we have picture of Euclid, just prior to the start of ECP/Healthline construction.

 

 

ha! yeah.

 

   

 

 

Looks to be right at the start of construction.

Awesome.  Can't believe it's really almost finished.  I'm still disappointed about the RTV color scheme though...this town's got enough depressing gray tones.

seriously, with the exception of a few well done planters, the HealthLine is gray gray gray!

 

and I'm seeing before pics, but where are the after pics???

Its a bus.  Something that gets really really dirty.  Look at those filty WHITE MTA NYC Transit buses. What color scheme for a BUS would you have chosen?

 

I certainly would not want the RTA buses to take a step backwards.  The white Shaker Rapid trains was a bad decision to me!

Its a bus.  Something that gets really really dirty.  Look at those filty WHITE MTA NYC Transit buses. What color scheme for a BUS would you have chosen?

 

I certainly would not want the RTA buses to take a step backwards.  The white Shaker Rapid trains was a bad decision to me!

 

I would have preferred a colorful CC/UH themed wrap or paint-job about 1000%.  A missed opportunity for some easy, cheery identity building for RTA, IMHO.  Something to break that unrelenting gray sky, gray buildings, gray concrete palate from November-March.

 

 

[From http://www.pbase.com/haunted_chipshop/image/42949576]

 

Or, if a solid, something bright and cheery (that is, not gray/silver):

 

[from http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/discussion/showthread.php?t=18619  ; forgive the odd source]

It's not a missed opportunity YET.

 

They RTA can still wrap the buses.  It's just a treatment.  Since UH/CC are paying for it, their information would most likely be the wrap package.  That would be worse in my opinion.

I agree MTS.  There's opportunity down the line for the bus.  I'm referring more to the concrete, stations, etc.

I agree MTS. There's opportunity down the line for the bus. I'm referring more to the concrete, stations, etc.

 

Holiday decorations :-D.  Cause clearly there's money for that.....  Just wishful thinking!

OK, I'll hold out hope.  But I'd be shocked if these things were repainted or wrapped anytime soon- they already have the sponsor branding on them in the most boring possible way.  Which I suppose is no surprise considering who the sponsors are.

 

I agree MTS. There's opportunity down the line for the bus. I'm referring more to the concrete, stations, etc.

 

For sure, there was plenty of opportunity for a little color in the non-vehicle portions of the project too.  But I did not attend community meetings to let my voice be heard, so I will shut my yap and continue silently to think the vehicles the blandest of bland in their winter great lakes climate camouflage.

OK, I'll hold out hope.  But I'd be shocked if these things were repainted or wrapped anytime soon- they already have the sponsor branding on them in the most boring possible way.  Which I suppose is no surprise considering who the sponsors are.

 

We've wrapped vehicles in the past with "propriety markings" already on them in the past.  We wrapped CTA trains.

 

The color isn't the best, but that bring yellow is hideous and unattractive.  But your point is well taken.

 

I'm sure more sponsorship/marketing opportunities will be announced once the system goes live.

 

 

I could be wrong, but I think I heard one of the health line buses "ding" like a trolley today.

 

you most likely did hear a "ding ding".  the buses have the same electro-mechanical bell that is on all of the light rail vehicles.  this was a small add on in the effort to make this line as close to a train like experience as possible.  apparently they tried numerous digitized ding noises but couldn't get it right, so went with the same system from the train.

I think fire engine red would look sweet.

They also seem to be in the process of replacing the old stations on superior with ones smiliar to the ones on the ECP. This evening the one in front of the fed was gone, and a new one was errected in front of the keith building.

 

A word, if I may, about terms, so if you are talking to someone, we all speak the same language. Rail lines have "stations", and the HealthLine is being added to RTA's rail map. The large enclosed structures on Euclid Avenue and Public Square are "stations." The small curbside structures are "shelters." Thanks.

Personnally I like the gray. Besides the fact that this was originally the silver line, the cities I've been to with bright and cheery looking colors on their busses looked much more depressing when the busses get a little dirty.

 

See Orlando for a good example, I can't stand pastel colors after spending a few weeks there.

Yep, red would have been much better.

These red vehicles look great (what city is this?) but their overall design is sleek and handsome.  The Shaker Rapid has had bright colors over the years - they all get filthy and are never cleaned or repainted often enough for this to not be the overall image.

As for the suggesting of something with CC or UH on the buses, I think those two instituations are overwhelmingly prominant enough regarding the new transit as is.

Regarding the comment about the uneven landscaping, I see no rhyme or reason as to where there are trees on the sidewalks and where not, and the vast differences in overall landscaping from one block to another.  Is there actually a pattern?  I recall way back in the early '70s when Syracuse, NY re-did its main street, Salina Street, with the concept there would be groupings of trees on the walks, in contrast to the usual pattern in city after city of single trees or other planters at regular intervals.  Nice idea.  But with the great length of what has been rebuilt of Euclid Avenue, there are vast differences.  And yes, I too wonder how some of these stretches will look in the winter - particularly with the snow.

Wonder if when the 32's and 7's start traveling in the bus lanes if they will be quicker - obviously due to their being subject to fewer signals than the general traffic lanes.

Still not seeing more traffic on Euclid than, say, two years ago, which I like.  But I'm waiting for it to catch on how speedy the street is and then - presto! - it won't be so speedy any more for cars.  Also, new developments along the avenue, obviously, will increase traffic. However, there will be those who avoid it specifically because of the new no-left-turns.

No left turns, no right on red to or from Euclid, and very long lights on the cross streets.  I think the idea is for car traffic not to use it as a thru street anymore. 

For as long as I remember, and I came in 1973, Euclid was a pretty fast street - even downtown much of the time!  Chester has been reasonably fast in its "parkway" formation but always attracted far more drivers, it seems.  Carnegie, too, always seemed to attract many.  They all have along had timed lights, but they still always got the traffic jams - particularly near the highways and Univ. Circle.

Speaking of ads and public transportation I saw this today and thought it was interesting.

 

NYC Set To Unveil First Subway Car Wrapped In Ads

Cash-Strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority Looking For Any Way To Bite Into $900 Million Deficit

NEW YORK (AP) ― A New York City transit agency says it plans to unveil its first subway car to be fully wrapped in advertising.

 

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials say on Thursday they'll present a midtown Manhattan shuttle train ensconced in advertising for The History Channel.

 

Thousands of tourists, commuters and residents see the shuttle, which runs between Grand Central Terminal and Times Square.

 

The MTA faces a projected deficit next year of nearly $900 million. In recent years it has raised fares for subways, buses and two regional rail lines and tolls for bridges.

 

It also has begun exploring the possibility of cutting subway, bus and commuter rail service.

 

An MTA spokesman won't say how much revenue the new ad will generate.

 

http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/subway.car.advertising.2.830528.html

 

Anyone know how much advertising helps out with RTA's budget as a whole?

These red vehicles look great (what city is this?) but their overall design is sleek and handsome. The Shaker Rapid has had bright colors over the years - they all get filthy and are never cleaned or repainted often enough for this to not be the overall image.

As for the suggesting of something with CC or UH on the buses, I think those two instituations are overwhelmingly prominant enough regarding the new transit as is.

 

Curitiba, Brazil

Anyone know how much advertising helps out with RTA's budget as a whole?

 

Per the 2007 Annual Report (http://www.riderta.com/annual/2007/), advertising was responsible for $1,217,959 in revenue to the Authority, down $186,977 from the prior year. This is only about 0.5% of total revenue, and less than 2.5% of operating revenue.

Reposting this here from the 668 thread:

 

There is an error on the maps of the "Downtown District."  Public square is lined up with Ontario and Superior; Euclid comes off at an angle.  Instead the signs show Euclid being flush with the square, with the square set almost randomly in the surrounding grid.  Maybe I'm nitpicking... but I'm map-obsessive and those signs drive me nuts.

:|

 

 

New downtown maps on display around downtown show NOACA and the Title Bureau in reverse, though these are the maps different places around Downtown and I assume you're referring to the maps only on the Corridor?