This press release from Midtown Cleveland Inc.'s site includes a bit more information:

 

1/24/2006 - Euclid Avenue Construction to Begin March 2006

The Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority (RTA) is ready to proceed with the next and most visible phase of the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project (ECTP). Beginning in March 2006, roadway reconstruction will begin in MidTown between the Innerbelt and East 79th Street.

 

The first phase of this two-year project will start on the North side of Euclid Avenue between the Innerbelt and East 55th Street. Work will begin on the North side, followed by the South side, finishing with stations constructed in the middle of the roadway. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction throughout the project with one exception - the area below the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge. The entire roadway will be closed between East 55th and East 61st Streets for approximately 4 to 6 months in early 2007. During this time, traffic will be detoured to Chester Avenue.

 

The remaining portions of Euclid Avenue between Downtown and the Innerbelt and East 79th Street through University Circle will be bid later in 2006, with construction continuing through 2008.

 

This aspect of the ECTP has been one of the most anticipated, as it will completely transform the look of Euclid Avenue while introducing pedestrian-oriented enhancements that encourage transit usage. During this phase, bus lanes, new sidewalks, new curbs, landscaping, and public art will be introduced.

 

http://www.midtowncleveland.org/news.asp?id=25

It's amazing how little news there's been on this front over the past year or so.  They're obviously doing lots of work Downtown on the "unpretty" parts, with trucks, barrels and back-hoes out every day, but I haven't heard much until this about the remainder of the timeline. 

 

And how many of you are with me in feeling that this project is still a mystery to most Clevelanders.  I'll admit that I don't really even know what the end product is going to look like!  And $200m is sounding like less and less money as the years go by.  I'm starting to worry that this project is going to be a dud, relative to what I was looking forward to about 4 years ago.

 

Who's got the goods?  Who can pick me up with a fancy drawing or a picture of a bus that doesn't have orange and brown stripes on it?

i think one reason you haven't heard much is that it keeps getting delayed and prices keep rising.  At Tuesday's board meeting there was talk of more "value engineering" on this bid package as well as the other ones being sent out due to rising costs for steel, concrete, resin, etc.  Stainless Steel bus shelters now equal painted steel; bricks and decorative stonework now equals colored concrete. 

 

The one thing that worries me is that they still haven't bid what I consider to be the most important sections - downtown and UC.  If they skimp on this work, i'm not sure how this project is going to turn out.  I hope that the reinvestmet between the innerbelt and E.79 will revitalize midtown, but i can' believe that they have left lower euclid in this state for so long. 

 

take a look at this timeline on their website:

 

add that timeline to the preliminary work:

 

and service doesn't start until 2009.  This project has taken a long time. 

Yes, a long time, and they're significantly behind schedule.  Imagine if they were actually doing another capital project of any significance at the same time!  Something is seriously wrong at the RTA...

 

Now, about those buses.  According to this press release from the ever-outdated RTA site, they purchased the buses some time ago:

 

RTA Purchases 21 Rapid Transit Vehicles

 

"The RTA Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 21 articulated, environmentally friendly, diesel-electric powered Rapid Transit Vehicles from New Flyer of America for the Euclid Corridor Project.

 

"We are confident that these unique state-of-the-art vehicles will project an image that the RTA and Cleveland can be proud of," says Joseph A. Calabrese, general manager and chief executive officer of the RTA. "This Bus Rapid Transit Project will be a world class model of transportation technology and efficiency. It will allow us to significantly increase the quality of our service, while being more productive."

 

The extra-long, low-floor, bullet-nosed, articulated vehicles will include two doors on the driver's left side and three on the right side to accommodate the median boarding and passengers. Each will have 46 seats and space for 120 standing and sitting passengers, as well as areas for two wheelchairs and two interior bicycle racks. New Flyer will adapt the vehicles, which somewhat resemble a high-speed train, from those the company is presently manufacturing for other cities.

 

Incorporated in the $20.52 million cost is research, design, engineering, operation, maintenance, parts and testing of a prototype vehicle. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will cover 80 per cent of the cost of the vehicles that promise to decrease pollution while increasing fuel efficiency. To reduce costs, the RTA is combining its order with the Lane Transit of Eugene, Oregon, which is buying five similar vehicles.

 

The North American headquarters of New Flyer is in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company's U.S. assembly plants are in Minnesota and North Dakota. Through the FTA's Buy America program, New Flyer will manufacture the structure of the vehicles in Manitoba and assemble them in North Dakota. Before full manufacturing begins, a prototype will be tested at the FTA New Model Bus Testing Program, operated by Penn State University, in Altoona, PA. Such testing is required on all new model public transportation vehicles before they can be purchased with federal funds. Delivery of the vehicles will begin in early"

 

..............

 

and yes, it just cuts off right there.  great job guys!

 

Upon visiting the New Flyer site, they have Calabrese quoted and have this picture of the articulated buses with the RTA logo on it.  So, what are we to believe?  Have they bought these or have they bought the orange monstrosity from a page ago?

 

 

And in the end, are we going to end up with spindly trees and painted concrete?  Are they going to pull some of the old corrugated metal bus shelters from the heap and use those instead of actually building shelters with bus arrival info and maps?  And will public art amount to a box of crayons at each stop for riders to use as they please on the walls of the shelter?  My optimism is waning here folks!

Its amazing how much construction materials have increased in price over the past 3 years.  $200 million in 2003 would have bought a much better Euclid Ave than it would buy now.  If they would have stuck to the timeline, the end project would have been much better.

 

Why ARE they so far behind?

Interesting pic, MGD. I like that bus much better. If you look at the front of that bus, it looks just like the front of the bus in the pic I posted. That part looked pretty good to me. But the humpback and the back of the bus in the pic I posted looked completely awful. I hope that was only an example of bus by the same manufacturer, but for another customer.

Why ARE they so far behind?

 

Well, first RTA had to destroy some of the remaining urban fabric in Midtown and render Lower Euclid a ghost town. Now that's accomplished, they can really get cooking!

Yes, a year behind schedule can't be good.

 

Did I read a quote from Wolstein to the effect that some of the water lines in the East Bank of the Flats are still made of wood?  A while ago I talked to some of the guys digging in Euclid Avenue and they said they were replacing all of the water and steam lines on Euclid.  They also said that after what they'd seen our water bills ought to go way down, which I took to mean that they'd found a lot of leaking water pipes.  (If only I had known to ask whether they had found any made of wood!)

 

If that work is being paid for as being a necessary part of upgrading the roadway for the ECP, maybe even if we get nothing more at street level than new pavement we seem to be getting signicant federal investment in our infrastructure that we would have ultimately had to pay for by ourselves.

 

I'm still optimistic, maybe unreasonably so, but I'm glad to see another step forward.

MGD, if you didn't say that was a bus in the picture, I would swear it was a train! 

 

</cynicism>

well, that's the idea, right?  looks like a train, acts like a train, costs like a bus.

 

the other (orange) bus, however, looks like the "special needs" version of the same thing.

Don't even get me started by mentioning "special needs" in a thread concerning RTA.

Heh, the Calabrese quote on the New Flyer site kind of made me chuckle:

 

We are pleased to have selected New Flyer of America to provide the Rapid Transit Vehicles (RTV's) for our Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. This unique hybrid electric vehicle will provide a rail like image to allow RTA to brand the Euclid Corridor as our premium service.

 

"Rail-like image," eh.  Bad news when image and cost are the driving factors rather than, say, performance.  I'll be happy to reserve judgement until the thing is built but being behind schedule like this is disappointing to say the least.  At least given the service's status as the "Silver Line," that image of the silver bus makes a whole lot more sense than the Orange Crush.  Looks a lot better, too.

How in the hell do you make pipes that are made of wood, that seemed to still function to this day?

im glad so many people are "reserving" judgement.

 

I too would have liked to see a true subway, but we have this "thing".  Since it is what it is...ets just not bitch here, but write/email call RTA and our elected official and make sure that they stay on track.  If we're going to have a bus BRT - lets make sure it the best DAMN BRT out there!

 

I was under the impression that the delay was because of old wires, sewers etc.  After construction workers tore up the street they discovered utilities lines, sewers and equipment was in far worse condition than estimated, meaning they had to spend more time than initially planned.

Did I read a quote from Wolstein to the effect that some of the water lines in the East Bank of the Flats are still made of wood?   A while ago I talked to some of the guys digging in Euclid Avenue and they said they were replacing all of the water and steam lines on Euclid.  They also said that after what they'd seen our water bills ought to go way down, which I took to mean that they'd found a lot of leaking water pipes.  (If only I had known to ask whether they had found any made of wood!)

 

It is my understanding that the only wooden pipes are from the original sewer pipes in the flats, and i don't think there are any of these on this section of Euclid as it has been upgraded some time ago, as opposed to the east bank of the flats where most of those buildings are much older.

 

If that work is being paid for as being a necessary part of upgrading the roadway for the ECP, maybe even if we get nothing more at street level than new pavement we seem to be getting signicant federal investment in our infrastructure that we would have ultimately had to pay for by ourselves.

 

I don't think that the ECP project includes the work on the sewer and water lines.  This work was contracted out and was the responsibility of the City.  It is possible that the City received federal money for some of the upgrades, but I think they were basically forced to do the work now instead of digging up the street in 15 years to replace.  I don't think any of the 200 million includes waterline replacements.

 

Well, first RTA had to destroy some of the remaining urban fabric in Midtown and render Lower Euclid a ghost town. Now that's accomplished, they can really get cooking!

 

That's what bothers me so much about this project.  Everyone on lower Euclid vacated expecting a huge disruption caused by the project and people staying away.  That's fine, but now some of these storefronts have been vacant for years (and i know that many were vacated for other reasons as well).  If I wanted to invest, I'd wait until the work was done too, especially since there doesn't appear to be a waiting list to or any real competition to get leases or to purchase some of these properties.  But, when is the work going to be done?  Late 2008?  Wow.  that's a long time for more vacant storefronts.

 

I wish they would prioritize finishing the downtown section of this project instead of the recently razed areas of midtown.

one other tidbit from Tuesday's board meeting.  During a discussion regarding bike lanes, which apparently is adding some cost to redo some of the plans, one of the board members, huffed, and said under his breath, but into the microphone:

"the next thing you know the city will want ice skating lanes as well"

 

...and the board laughed along.  Nothing like changing the city for the better.  With board attitudes like this, it doesn't surprise me at all that the project is facing challeneges.

That's what bothers me so much about this project.  Everyone on lower Euclid vacated expecting a huge disruption caused by the project and people staying away.  That's fine, but now some of these storefronts have been vacant for years (and i know that many were vacated for other reasons as well).  If I wanted to invest, I'd wait until the work was done too, especially since there doesn't appear to be a waiting list to or any real competition to get leases or to purchase some of these properties.  But, when is the work going to be done?  Late 2008?  Wow.  that's a long time for more vacant storefronts.

 

I wish they would prioritize finishing the downtown section of this project instead of the recently razed areas of midtown.

 

The project was purposely done in staggered sections and it was easier cost effective to start outward and work in for some reason.

eh, it still looks like a bus. a regular 'ol articulated bus. i was hoping for something more futuristic and sharp looking.

 

i like that it has three doors instead of two. that will cut down on seating, but make getting on/off faster.

 

During a discussion regarding bike lanes, which apparently is adding some cost to redo some of the plans, one of the board members, huffed, and said under his breath, but into the microphone:

"the next thing you know the city will want ice skating lanes as well"

 

Which board member? Do you recall the name? If not, what did he look like?

I had a dream about the ECP last night... and then I woke up and found out that the bids for the Downtown portion are going to be awarded in early March, with construction starting later in the month.  So, I guess, hypothetically, that there could be separate companies working on different phases at the same time.  What kind of product will this produce?  It could be identical, but what if one ends up significantly different?  Just a thought...

Wow, I had the opportunity yesterday to flip through the latest version of the ECP's Downtown segment plan.  It's something like 600+ pages of drawings, maps, renderings, etc. etc and it's just for the segment from Public Square to the Inner Belt!  To be certain, it's nothing glamorous.  It wasn't colorful or pretty...it was just the nitty-gritty of how traffic will be re-routed, how thick the curbs will be, where the power lines, water lines, gas lines, drainage systems, and on and on will be removed and replaced.  Basically, it was a lot to take in all at once, but it made me excited about the project again to see it all in print. 

 

As I mentioned above, this is part of the bid package that has been sent out to contractors and they expect it to be awarded in March, with construction beginning at the end of the month.  Pretty exciting, really!

I had a dream about the ECP last night...

 

NERD!!

 

;)

I hope there at least was a hot babe driving the damn bus

hmmm... nope!  just the bus in all its glory... mmm...brt...

This sounds encouraging, I think, regarding the kind of vehicles we'll be getting?

 

RTA’s new ride to make cameo appearance

 

By JAY MILLER

 

8:28 am, February 6, 2006

 

The first of the new Euclid Corridor vehicles is coming to Cleveland for one day.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is expecting the vehicle here this week but won’t make that official. Actual arrival depends on when the manufacturer, New Flyer of America Inc., decides the prototype is ready to travel from its Crookston, Minn., assembly plant to a testing facility in Altoona, Pa.

 

RTA will park the $900,000 vehicle at Public Square, where would-be riders can kick the tires of the silver, 60-foot long vehicles. RTA is paying New Flyer $20.5 million for 21 of the fancy, bend-in-the-middle buses.

a cool mil per bus. wow. i wonder how much the partridge family bus cost hehe?

 

RTA and GM Unveil Technology That Will Propel Euclid Corridor

 

What:

 

A sneak peak of the Euclid Corridor vehicle, featuring a hybrid diesel-electric engine.

With the recent buzz around hybrid cars offering a solution to reducing the nation’s oil dependence, now there’s mass transit vehicle entry on the market.

The vehicle, manufactured by New Flyer Industries, is powered by a GM/Allison internal combustion engine and hybrid transmission, consisting of two 100 kW motors and a 600-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack.

This unique powertrain reduces particulate emissions by 90 percent.

And like diesel-electric cars, it offers a 30 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

 

Who:               

 

Joseph Calabrese, CEO & General Manager, RTA

Joseph Marinucci, CEO & President, Downtown Cleveland Partnership 

Dave Mikoryak, Manager, Electric Drive Program, GM/Allison

Joel Abramam, Director of Sales, New Flyer Industries

                       

 

When:

 

11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2006

 

 

Where:

 

Tower City Center

Press Conference, Tower Court – Level 3 (Next to Castaldi’s)

·         Vehicle Display, Prospect Ave. Entrance, Valet Canopy   

 

Public viewing:

 

10:15-11:15 a.m., Cleveland City Hall

12:15-2 p.m., SW Quadrant, Public Square

 

 

Here is a fact sheet also released:

 

RTV vehicle in Cleveland today

 

CLEVELAND – Officials of the City of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today unveiled the prototype Euclid Corridor vehicle.

 

The vehicle is in Cleveland on its way to a testing facility in Altoona, PA. Some facts:

 

- Final color scheme has not been determined

 

- $20.52 million contract awarded to New Flyer of America Inc. on April 20, 2004. The award includes money for development and delivery of 21 vehicles, operator and maintenance training, and parts and maintenance. Federal funds will pay for 80 percent.

 

- RTA purchased 21 vehicles at a cost not to exceed $900,000 each.

 

- Each vehicle is 61 feet, 8 inches long. Standard buses are 40 feet long

 

- Low-floor, for fast, easy boarding for all customers, including those with disabilities

 

- Articulated, for ease in turning at Public Square and Windermere station.

 

- State-of-the-art hybrid-electric propulsion -- quieter, cleaner and lower emissions than standard buses

 

- Two doors on the operator's side, and three doors on the other side.

 

- Seats for 46 customers

 

- 120 standing capacity, with places for two wheelchairs and two interior bike racks

 

- The new Silver Line will operational in late 2008, when the $200-million project is completed.

 

A little more news, this time regarding the construction timeline (this is all subject to change!):

 

-The north side of Euclid, between E. 12th & the Innerbelt should be completed between April 27th and mid-August of this year.

-The south side of that same stretch should follow directly and be done by the end of December 2006.

-The Public Square to E. 12th St. segment will be done between June and September 2007.

 

I don't know what that gap between December '06 and June '07 was about, but perhaps there's a phase of the Public Square to E. 12th segment missing and it will be done in early 2007?

Here are 2 shots from today's press conference.  The vehicles were OK.  Not a lot of innovative stuff, but this vehicle had safety cameras on the outside as well as a security camera inside, and it seemed OK - not a rail vehicle by any means. 

 

 

 

Ok, I'm a little disappointed in the Urban Ohio turnout at this event today!  Then again, maybe you were there and I just don't know what you look like.  Or maybe it was the fact that they were running about an hour behind schedule (bad sign for a bus to be behind schedule before it's even launched!). 

 

Anyway, I was very impressed a) with the bus and b) with Joe Calabrese.  The bus (I'll post pics later when I'm home) looks very much like the picture I posted earlier from the New Flyer site.  It's long, articulated, has 5 doors, and no steps to enter.  It's also sleek and substantial, which I think is important to public perception of this project!  It'll need a little color, but that's something they're working on...  In the meantime, they're taking it to PA for 6 months of testing that will put 12 years of wear n' tear on the vehicle.  Then they'll start building the remainder of the vehicles!

 

Next, Joe C. was on the bus, along with a bunch of other RTA and press folks.  We chatted him up for about 15 minutes, including the ride from Prospect to Public Sq.  He was very forthcoming and easy to talk to, which surprised me for some reason!  He told us (me, ella & YSOH) that all stations will have 8' x 40' shelters, tickers, information, and ticket machines.  All stops will be "proof of payment" so that all doors will open with no waiting in line for people to pay their fares.  Several additional stops on Public Sq. will be electrified and will feature tickers and other information.  We stressed that this was something that needed to be fixed and he, wisely, referred to the customer survey that they conducted last year (or two years ago?) that gave the RTA an idea of what riders wanted at their stations.  Apparently, people want current time info more than route info!  Weird.  In any case, he said they were working on getting route info into their 1600 (or so?) shelters systemwide, but probably won't get to all 8000 stops for some time.

 

In all, a good conversation and a positive ride on the new BRT!  Remember, pictures are forthcoming... 

Damn!  Urbanlife beat me to it!  I'll have more later, but it goes to show that I shouldn't express disappointment in Urban Ohioans until all the results are in!

Will each seat have a personal DVD player? How about recharging stations for my ipod?  I sure hope the ride attendants serve more than just coke.

 

MGD,

 

You're running the risk of being kicked off of the forum! How dare you say something positive about the RTA brass.  For shame!

I know, I know... I was just dumbfounded with such a positive experience!  Ok, I'll stop now. 

 

Another thing that impressed me was that they have something like 10 cameras in each vehicle...is that right or did I hear Joe C incorrectly?  Also, what would make that necessary?

Thanks for posting the pics! Now that is a serious bus! A relief to know it will at least look different from the norm.

Yeah, sorry I couldn't make it. Ironically, at noon today, I was at a junk car shop in Old Brooklyn that has strange objects make from junked cars. It's for a story in next week's paper.

Another thing that impressed me was that they have something like 10 cameras in each vehicle...is that right or did I hear Joe C incorrectly?  Also, what would make that necessary?

 

there are cameras that monitor all of the doors, but I don't think they are the typical cameras - maybe infrared or something to monitor if people are in the doorways.  Then a few inside that are "security" cameras and actually can record people getting on and off, the driver, etc.

 

I didn't interact with the RTAers today.  I think that when you talk one on one with them, they appear competent and offer a reasonable explanation for why things are the way that they are.   

 

However, IMO they lack any sense of urgency or innovative spirit that could take the RTA to the next level.  They are thinking "inside the box", which is understandable on some levels due to general economic issues, funding levels, etc. However, the Transit Waiting Environment study was done 2 years ago and they have yet to really act on any of the suggestions.  Some cost money and take time and planning, but simple things like placing updated routing and scheduling information at say the top 100 stops does not require much, but instead of immediately implementing this suggestion, they have sat on it for 2 years.

 

Basic 80/20 principle.  20% of the cost and effort would positively impact 80% of ridership.  Then, for the remaining portions that are difficult to update or costly, there can be a more long term approach as it only affects 20% of the ridership.

Will each seat have a personal DVD player? How about recharging stations for my ipod?  I sure hope the ride attendants serve more than just coke.

 

MGD,

 

You're running the risk of being kicked off of the forum! How dare you say something positive about the RTA brass.  For shame!

 

I want to know if they'll have sexy male bus drivers in Tom Ford designed uniforms??? 

 

If the outside gonna be sexy, the view inside should get hot also!!!  :wink:

^ Then tell them to turn the air conditioning off.

New breed of buses heading our way

Saturday, February 11, 2006

James Ewinger

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

The RTA under Joe Calabrese's management has reached for a lot of new things on an increasingly tightening budget.

 

The newest was on display throughout downtown Cleveland Friday, as Calabrese and the Regional Transit Authority showed off the vehicle that will debut with the Euclid Corridor in 2008.

 

It is a hybrid electric-diesel bus, more environmentally friendly, quieter, longer and sleeker than the conventional RTA models. It is a three-axle vehicle and is articulated, or capable of horizontal bending, like RTA's Italian-made rapid cars. RTA has ordered 21 of the buses, at a cost of about $800,000 each, Calabrese said.

 

.............

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1139650396144110.xml&coll=2

As promised (but a day late):

 

I saw this rolling through Downtown Cleveland and I got a little worried:

Hey, that's more like it!

 

 

 

 

 

Not the best view of the interior, but it's better than nothing:

 

I think they should stick with the straight silver color.  Very classy.  For a bus.

We're kind of a gray town already, though (architecturally and meteorologically)... I wouldn't mind something a little more colorful. Like red.

Well, I wouldn't mind a base of silver, but it defitely needs some stripes!

And a spoiler!  To make it go fast!

I heard that it will have hydraulics and some neon lights underneath the body.  Heck, let's put some NASCAR-riffic style advertisements on it. 

 

Considering that it will be called the silverline, I hope that they keep it mostly silver. Its handsome.  I think some flames down the sides would be very appropriate.

 

 

wow.....  :weird:

Color is tough.  Silver is nice given the nomenclature, but that spanking new silver will turn to a very dull gray in January-February.  If Euclid Avenue is going to be spruced up I should hope the vehicles traversing it would be as well.  If the vehicles are supposed to be environment-friendlier (as is perhaps the whole corridor with the bike lanes and greenery and whatnot) maube a nice shade of green with a silver (line) accent would do?  The branding of the Euclid Corridor so far is essentially silver and blue based on the web site and I don't mind that either.

I drove a silver car once, and it hid the dirt and dried road salt spray pretty well. I now drive a black car, and have driven red, dark gray and brown cars, none of which hide the dirt/salt as well as silver.

:-) Yeah I was, in that way I have, speaking more from a psychological standpoint.  That's maybe just a thing with me and winters... Silver's silver and nice in summer but blends into everything else gray to me in winter.

 

In any case, they do look nice and..not orange.  Nice pics, everyone.

anyone see the new video board at the station in tower city?  they installed it this morning above the customer service desk, replacing the old board that only showed cleveland.com headlines, but no real time information. 

 

it was playing a coke video on a loop.  looked cool, but i guess this means that there will be no real time information at any point in the future that you can see from tower city?  anybody know what the deal is?