OK, here ya go. These are from today, as crews were spreading mulch-like soil over the new medians.....

 

 

 

 

Considering the horrendous shape of the road on the Cleveland side before construction, this morning's trip downtown was the smoothest in well over a year.

 

Would have been even better if the red light at Clifton and Baltic hadn't been out, causing a big backup.

Saturday service for the 55 returns on December 13th.  Hourly starting at 6am until 8pm.

Saturday service for the 55 returns on December 13th.  Hourly starting at 6am until 8pm.

 

Great news.

Awesome news

Saturday service for the 55 returns on December 13th.  Hourly starting at 6am until 8pm.

 

I'm also grateful for the recent increase from off-peak hourly to half-hourly. The hourly made the 55 useless to me for off-peak trips so I rarely used the 55 for midday trips.

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

 

You're too young to be so skeptical!

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

 

And they certainly seem to be installing them with professionalism and care.  It's not like a City of Cleveland crew stood around a hole and threw a tree in it.  These guys have some serious equipment and are installing those medians with precision, seemingly taking their time....

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

 

Road salt is the spawn of satan.

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

 

Road salt is the spawn of satan.

 

Saves lives.  I think those lives are well worth the extra wear and tear that it causes.

Don't want road salt, get www.solarroadways.com!

 

Sorry to get off topic.

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

 

Road salt is the spawn of satan.

 

Saves lives.  I think those lives are well worth the extra wear and tear that it causes.

 

Are you against spending more money on an alternative that would save even more lives? Because there are alternatives.

 

And there wouldn't be the negative costs that come with road salt, which is damaging to everything. Including the trees and shrubs being re-planted on Clifton.

Looks like they're finishing up the tree planting today.

I cant hep but feel that those trees don't stand a chance.

 

Road salt is the spawn of satan.

 

Saves lives.  I think those lives are well worth the extra wear and tear that it causes.

 

Are you against spending more money on an alternative that would save even more lives? Because there are alternatives.

 

And there wouldn't be the negative costs that come with road salt, which is damaging to everything. Including the trees and shrubs being re-planted on Clifton.

 

I'd be all for it if the price were comparable.  (It would have to be, or else cities would use less of it, and then we'd be back to people dying from preventable accidents.) 

RTA 16-bus fleet of long, bendable buses now deployed from downtown to western suburbs

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA's Route 55 family of buses officially converts today to the new Cleveland State Line, with a ribbon-cutting set for 11 a.m. at the Clifton Martini and Wine Bar on Clifton Boulevard.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/rtas_16-bus_fleet_of_long_bend.html#incart_river

 

 

RTA 16-bus fleet of long, bendable buses now deployed from downtown to western suburbs

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA's Route 55 family of buses officially converts today to the new Cleveland State Line, with a ribbon-cutting set for 11 a.m. at the Clifton Martini and Wine Bar on Clifton Boulevard.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/rtas_16-bus_fleet_of_long_bend.html#incart_river

I wonder how many miles have been put on those, they have been getting used a lot due to rail shut downs.

The other day while traveling east on Clifton, I paid attention to the signs and counted only two utility poles without signs from Warren to West 117. That's a lot of signs...

 

Lakewood residents complain of Clifton Boulevard sign pollution for CSU @gcrta bus line | @clevelanddotcom http://t.co/57YNqoVvxe

I was amused to see a BMW straddling the new median around West 112 about a week ago.  Dude figured out how to take out a few of the new trees (which as of today have not been replanted, though the rest of the foliage and dirt has been repaired) and get all four wheels off the ground in a perpendicular mount of the new median.  Joyous shit to see.  Without doubt, there will be many more amusing incidents like this. 

A BMW? Just because they drive a nice car, doesn't make 'em smart....

A BMW? Just because they drive a nice car, doesn't make 'em smart....

 

Actually I remember reading from a neighborhood resident on Facebook that the BMW was stolen (from a family member) and he was texting and driving.  At least he didn't go into oncoming traffic.  Idiot.

That's why they're criminals.

I posted these and more elsewhere but, for the record, here's some Clifton/Cleveland State Line bus vehicle pics for this thread.....

 

 

 

 

The view "between the decals" -- so why did GCRTA select opaque decals to cover the windows?

I just found out about this particular forum.  Is the Lakewood portion finished?  It doesn't look like any of the curbs were rebuilt.  Are all the new medians with trees on the Cleveland side?

I just found out about this particular forum.  Is the Lakewood portion finished?  It doesn't look like any of the curbs were rebuilt.  Are all the new medians with trees on the Cleveland side?

 

Unlike in Cleveland, the Lakewood portion of Clifton was in good condition. So naturally most of the infrastructural work went into the CLE side.

Lakewood didn't want the medians anyway.

It looks like the RTA Police will be doing the enforcement of the bus only lane.  This morning I watched as a RTA patrol car followed a group of cars down the right lane.  After about six streets of no one turning right, on went his flashers.  As I drove by I could see him motioning to the driver to pull up and turn right at the next street so he would not be blocking traffic.

 

 

 

 

Finally!!!  So sick of seeing cars blatantly ignoring the signs.

One would think CPD would take advantage of this to make up for the loss revenues from the traffic cameras.

Finally!!!  So sick of seeing cars blatantly ignoring the signs.

One would think CPD would take advantage of this to make up for the loss revenues from the traffic cameras.

 

One wouldn't, if one understood that, like all other "law enforcement," the goal of "traffic enforcement" is to extort money from the relatively poor and give it to the relatively rich, not vice versa, and that most of these people are travelling to/from the West Shore suburbs and can easily afford to fight tickets, thus turning any such effort into a money-losing proposition.  BTW, it would be the Lakewood PD, not Cleveland, at least from W. 117 west.

I could care less who gets by pulled over by whichever law enforcement agency in any city. You break the law, you get cited. If you don't like it, stop breaking the law or go elsewhere.....

 

... or change the law.

 

The End.

 

Back on topic.

 

One wouldn't, if one understood that, like all other "law enforcement," the goal of "traffic enforcement" is to extort money from the relatively poor and give it to the relatively rich, not vice versa, and that most of these people are travelling to/from the West Shore suburbs and can easily afford to fight tickets, thus turning any such effort into a money-losing proposition.  BTW, it would be the Lakewood PD, not Cleveland, at least from W. 117 west.

 

Thanks Jt! That was the first really silly UO comment of the new year.  I'm pretty sure not being able to read street signs knows no social boundaries.

Are the bus lanes reinforced concrete with the inner car lanes paved?  Out here Wilshire Blvd just got a major resurfacing with outer concrete lanes, although not bus only, and paved middle lanes.

To be honest, my interest in seeing the Bus Only lane signs obeyed is my need to make a turn at Bunts so I can drop off my kids at school.  When lots of cars are using the right lane many streets before Bunts, it makes it a bit more challenging to get over at the proper time to make the right turn at Bunts.  I'm sure that many people that travel on Clifton during the restricted ours would like to have the signs obeyed.

Thanks Jt! That was the first really silly UO comment of the new year.  I'm pretty sure not being able to read street signs knows no social boundaries.

Are the bus lanes reinforced concrete with the inner car lanes paved?  Out here Wilshire Blvd just got a major resurfacing with outer concrete lanes, although not bus only, and paved middle lanes.

 

Only the bus pads at bus stops are concrete. Everything else is asphalt.

 

To be honest, my interest in seeing the Bus Only lane signs obeyed is my need to make a turn at Bunts so I can drop off my kids at school.  When lots of cars are using the right lane many streets before Bunts, it makes it a bit more challenging to get over at the proper time to make the right turn at Bunts.  I'm sure that many people that travel on Clifton during the restricted ours would like to have the signs obeyed.

 

So just looking out for No. 1? Got it.

A few photos from yesterday.....

 

 

Downtown bound...

 

Flying over the Flats...

 

Large crowd boarding on north side of Public Square....

 

Lakewood bound...

This may have already been discussed in this thread, but I couldn't easily find it... what's going to happen to this route when the shoreway is converted to a boulevard? Will they add stops along edgewater park?

This may have already been discussed in this thread, but I couldn't easily find it... what's going to happen to this route when the shoreway is converted to a boulevard? Will they add stops along edgewater park?

 

It's been discussed by the City of Cleveland planning staff and even appeared in some of their lakefront planning documents over the past decade. But when I've spoken to some of GCRTA's service planning staff about it, they responded "good idea!" But a formal written request for a stop should be submitted. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

In Montreal, for example, their freeway-based express buses make stops at a freeway ramp's intersection with a street when prospective riders at that intersection press a "request stop" button at a waiting shelter. A traffic signal on the freeway at the start of the ramp lights "stop requested" and the bus exits to pick up the waiting passenger. Something like this could be done at the Edgewater/Battery Park stop, and possibly for other freeway-based bus routes -- including all the empty park-n-ride buses that run closed-door back out to the suburbs to make their next revenue trip downtown.

Just realized that a decent side view of the CS-Line buses hasn't been posted here. And there aren't many good ones via Google either. This is the best one I found, from CSU's twitter account....

 

 

I'll have to go out tomorrow and get a decent picture. I need to walk to the grocer to get ice cream anyway....

Doing a Google image search for "Cleveland State Line" gives you some good shots

Doing a Google image search for "Cleveland State Line" gives you some good shots

 

This is the only one I liked but even then it is too small.....

 

From the e-mailed "Cudell Snippets":

 

Update on Signage on Clifton Boulevard from Joe Calabrese, CEO, RTA

A Message from Joe Calabrese, CEO, RTA

 

I want to thank all for attending the meeting on January 22 to seek-out a hopeful resolution to the signage concerns expressed on Clifton Blvd.

 

I especially want to thank Tony Toth from ODOT who stated that they would be willing to review a modified signage plan if submitted by the Engineer of Record.  Also discussed was the ability to possibly reduce and/or consolidate signage after a certain period of time, as it is determined that the motorists had become accustomed to the modified lane use requirements and operational changes to Clifton.

 

Subsequent to the meeting, I was in contact with Richard Bowen, President of the project’s lead architectural firm, who is a Lakewood resident, who has also pledged his strong support and cooperation in this effort.

 

On January 29, 2015 a field visit will be conducted with RTA, a representative from Richard Bowen & Associates and the Engineer of Record from Arcadis who designed the current signage plan in conformance with the Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

 

The purpose of this field visit is to determine what immediate changes can be made, and when they can be effective.

 

RTA will certainly keep all informed of our progress.

 

So I was complaining earlier about not seeing many pictures of the sides of CSU-Line buses... Today I caught two of the species!

 

Outbound & inbound @GCRTA #ClevelandStateLine BRT buses on Clifton Blvd. in Cleveland & Lakewood at West 117th St.

CTown asked about the cost of expanding existing rail lines.

 

RTA would love to expand existing rail lines. In 1996, building the 2.2 mile Waterfront Line cost $55 million, and the cost has grown a lot since then. The feds are now more interested giving money to transit systems to take care of existing stations and track. Most money for rail extensions go to cities with expanding populations and Cleveland is not one of them.

CTown asked about the cost of expanding existing rail lines.

 

RTA would love to expand existing rail lines. In 1996, building the 2.2 mile Waterfront Line cost $55 million, and the cost has grown a lot since then. The feds are now more interested giving money to transit systems to take care of existing stations and track. Most money for rail extensions go to cities with expanding populations and Cleveland is not one of them.

 

Like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Providence, Kansas City, Baltimore or Milwaukee? All got federal money for expanding rail transit. None of them are growth cities. Feds gave the money to spur economic development and jobs.

 

Or we could seek approval a local ballot initiative to provide additional funding to rebuild and expand rail transit to meet current travel needs. St. Louis' $430 million Cross County rail extension is a good example of an entirely locally funded rail expansion project.

 

As the federal government continues to dysfunction itself into irrelevance, systems like GCRTA may have to request new local or regional sources of revenue to sustain and improve themselves or raise fares and/or terminate more services.

A couple more photos from along the boulevard, taken two days ago....

 

 

I'm remaining optimistic that this project will start to jumpstart the area again.  The bus service really looks good.  And people are starting to adhere to the bus lanes (I've seen CPD ticketed during the evening rush at least).

I had to go to Lakewood today, so on the way back home decided to check out the Enhance Clifton project on the Cleveland side.

 

I like the way it has turned out, especially the mediums with the trees, and the additional, or replacement trees along the tree lawns. I do have one question though about something I noticed, are the steel poles that had the old traffic signals going to be removed? It was odd to see the new poles/traffic signals, and yet there were still all the old poles there.

It looks so much cleaner and smoother than before.

All Aboard Ohio

‏@AllAboardOhio 7:21 AM - 6 Jul 2015

How r u getting back to work today? On Clifton in #CLE, it's cars, bikes & transit! @GCRTA @ODOT_Cleveland @Bike_CLE

 

 

From the e-mail newsletter......

 

Cudell Improvement, Inc.

Cudell Snippets

Inside This Issue

JULY 24, 2015

 

RIDERSHIP UP 20% ON CLEVELAND STATE CLIFTON LINE

 

During the first 6 months of operation of the Cleveland State Line on Clifton Boulevard, ridership increased to 278,787 people.  RTA added Saturday service when the EnhanceClifton Project was completed.  The Cleveland State Line replaced RTA's legacy #55 service in December 2014. 

 

EnhanceClifton has also engendered a "property reinvestment boom"  with many property owners along Clifton Boulevard putting on new porch systems, roofs and other major improvements.  Of course, all improvements that require a City permit must come before local design review for the Clifton Boulevard West Boulevard Historic District.  The volunteer service of the committee members is greatly appreciated.  Thanks to Frank Piccirillo, Nick Faehnle, Jeff Blazek and Tom Yablonsky for the many hours they spend reviewing plans, making recommendations and doing site visits. 

I really wish that the bus lanes were designated as such on the pavement, like with the HealthLine--either with grooves or just even markings saying "Bus Only."

 

 

Motorists illegally drive in Clifton Boulevard lane restricted to buses and bikes

 

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on September 03, 2015 at 12:04 PM, updated September 03, 2015 at 1:10 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A lane devoted just to buses and bikes during rush hour is a key feature of the changes unwrapped last December along Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood and Cleveland.

 

The $20 million Clifton Boulevard Transportation Enhancement Project's dedicated bus lane, shared with bikes during morning and evening commutes, is supposed to provide a faster, more reliable and attractive public transit ride while encouraging another non-car way to get around, bicycling.

 

But is the bus-and-bike lane working?

 

Responding to reports that motorists frequently use the right lane to zoom around traffic on Clifton during rush hour, I decided to check for myself. It's an unofficial tally, granted, but the results nonetheless are rather stark.

 

From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning, watching in both directions on eastbound Clifton at 114th Street, no fewer than 90 cars and trucks, including a semi-trailer carrying a load of pallets, coursed down the right lane for blocks or slipped out of the middle lane to cut ahead of traffic before merging again into the central flow of traffic.

 

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