The funny thing is that the Brits that I was working with kept making fun of their own transit system (although they may have been speaking more about their intercity rail  -- which was also a revelation to me)

 

I have heard the same thing, but I think you are right, they are referring to the national rail system, not the London Underground.  If I recall correctly, the national rail was privatized and it has been a failure, with frequent accidents and bad service.  Compared to other countries in the EU, yes it is bad.  Compared to the US, it is a dream system.

RTA to spend $1 million to test disabled riders

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Sarah Hollander

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Mental and physical testing for RTA's door-to-door rides for disabled passengers should begin in the next three months.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority plans to invest more than $1 million in testing to guarantee that its expensive paratransit service is limited to people who can't take regular buses or trains.

 

The board approved a $950,000, three-year contract Tuesday with NovaCare Rehabilitation. The contract includes two optional years at $125,000 each.

 

......

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 216-999-4816

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/117205061144360.xml&coll=2

one thing the city can do here is to change a local ordinance that prohibits 3d part advertsing on RTA shelters in the city of cleveland.  although cleveland might not be a huge market, this is where other cities are gathering money for shelter upkeep, schedules, signage, etc.  so, let's focus on city hall changing the local ordinance, and maybe we'll see improvements on shelters and stops in the city of cleveland. 

 

Hey Hey Urbanlife, I'd like to work on changing this ordinance.

 

Also, to everyone else interested in changing RTA, significant (by RTA standards) progress has been made by the Volunteer Action Committee (VAC) in posting meeting minutes and future agendas @  http://riderta.com/ar_organization-citizens.asp  While I realize it's something that should have been done a long time ago, the VAC seems mired in a course of inaction. 

However, this is slowly changing.  Recently the group began internal communications via a GoogleGroup.  Minutes and Agendas are being posted there and soon enough they will be migrated over to the public website. 

The great thing about VAC meetings is access to speak directly to insiders at RTA.  For example, last meeting, we got to speak to the webmaster who was very open to hearing about issues with the Trip Planner interface.

VAC is now considering hosting meetings at alternate times each month in order that a wider variety of people can attend.  As it stands 8:30 on a friday morning is not exactly convenient.

I urge you to try to atttend the next meeting if at all possible.  The VAC changes are largely the work of one young transit enthusiast.  The more we can push, the more we can get done, though we must go through the formalities of attending meetings.

I tried to get on the Citizens Advisory Board when I first moved back to Cleveland, but I missed the opening.  How often and where do they post these openings?  I seriously spend so much of my time riding, talking, or thinking about our transit system...it's about time I put all that effort to work!

Is this open to the public or only the Friday morning meetings?

 

Citizens Advisory Board

2nd Thursday of every month

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

RTA Main Office, Board Room

 

I added the VAC meetings to the main calendar.

VAC meetings are open to anyone and anyone can comment.

 

CAB meetings are open to anyone but only CAB members can comment.  Not sure when the next opening will be, but I'm sure you can ask.

I wanted to share my delight with the team that on my way to the TOD forum at CSU yesterday, I boarded an E-Line trolley at Public Square yesterday with 46 passengers!  That, and there were still other people at the stop who got on the 6, which was just behind us.  How long did it take all of us to board?  About 20 seconds.  Why?  Because we used both doors and there was no waiting in line to pay!  This was just a taste of what the Silver Line is going to be like...

here is an example of what i think should be at the major RTA stops - including the silver line.  apparently the silver line will have... ZERO recycling containers incorporated into the design and construction.  maybe that is OK for a city living in 1960 smokestack world, but RTA is hardly being a steward of the environment for their lack of recycling options at all facilities today. 

 

does anyone have a connection to get this topic on the table?  i'd really like to see recycling incorporated along the euclid corridor and the city and RTA should be working together to make this happen.  Jackson wants Clevelend to be a "city of choice", but at the same time there are very limited choices to recycle within downtown and around transit facilities, including the airport.  a major missed marketing/attitude shift opportunity, not to mention the reduced disposal fees and potential for an income stream from the recycled materials.

 

here is one from toronto:

 

or this, also from toronto and similar to what exists is 1 location downtown: in front of city hall. 

 

I put the meeting on my calendar as well.  Maybe there is something the BID can do.

urbanlife,

 

I agree with your recycling points.  I for one, would like to see a partnership between the Plain Dealer and  GCRTA for recycling newspapers.  The CTA and the Tribune (Chicago) have been doing this for years and it appears to be successful with blue boxes at every station.

 

I wonder if recycling bins will be part of the street furniture planned for the ECTP?  Anyone know?  Seems like planning for the University Circle part of the project is now being configured.  It would be great to see  recycling integrated with newspaper boxes for a more unified look along this corridor.

I'm surprised no one else posted it yet:

 

 

 

Fire stalls rapid train near Puritas station

Posted by Donna J. Millerand Sarah Hollander February 28, 2007 13:27PM

Categories: Breaking News

9:35 Updated 1:27 p.m.

 

Video here: http://www.cleveland.com/news/pdvideo/flash/index.ssf?rtafire_022807video

 

David I. Andersen/The Plain Dealer

Click on the image above to watch the video.Cleveland -- The RTA evacuated about 55 rapid-transit passengers after a fire started near a wheel of a Red Line train on the west side of Cleveland around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The eastbound train was nearing the Puritas station when it lost power and smoke began to fill a cabin. Passengers had to walk about 50 feet to the station. There were no injuries, according to RTA spokesman Chad Self.

 

The train's operator tried to put out the flames until the Cleveland Fire Department arrived. The cause was unclear and will be investigated, Self said.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/02/fire_stalls_rapid_train_near_p.html

 

 

Sounds like the train blew a tire. Oh wait, that vehicle has a steel wheel? Must've cost $100 million per mile to build! Better replace it with an RTA bus because those things never catch fire....

see what Cinci is missing out on......

Sounds like the train blew a tire. Oh wait, that vehicle has a steel wheel? Must've cost $100 million per mile to build! Better replace it with an RTA bus because those things never catch fire....

 

LMAO!  Thanks for the laugh!

I'm surprised no one else posted it yet:

                                                                                                                                  

 

 

Fire stalls rapid train near Puritas station

Posted by Donna J. Millerand Sarah Hollander February 28, 2007 13:27PM

Categories: Breaking News

9:35 Updated 1:27 p.m.

 

Video here: http://www.cleveland.com/news/pdvideo/flash/index.ssf?rtafire_022807video

 

David I. Andersen/The Plain Dealer

Click on the image above to watch the video.Cleveland -- The RTA evacuated about 55 rapid-transit passengers after a fire started near a wheel of a Red Line train on the west side of Cleveland around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The eastbound train was nearing the Puritas station when it lost power and smoke began to fill a cabin. Passengers had to walk about 50 feet to the station. There were no injuries, according to RTA spokesman Chad Self.

 

The train's operator tried to put out the flames until the Cleveland Fire Department arrived. The cause was unclear and will be investigated, Self said.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/02/fire_stalls_rapid_train_near_p.html

 

 

 

i didn't think it was "news worthy" here as people on the train tell a different story. (ie time of fire and how the CFD responded).

We apologize

Our valued customers:

 

The extreme winter weather this month crippled a number of RTA rail cars.

 

Granted, our rail cars have seen their fair share of Cleveland winters, but the last few weeks brought out problems that only occur every 10-15 years.

 

When the snow depth is over the top of the tracks, it causes two serious problems:

 

    * Electrical components short out

    * Brake mechanisms freeze.

 

Our personnel have worked around the clock since last Wednesday, but in spite of our efforts, we never had more than about one-half of our rail cars in service at any given time.

 

This seriously affected our ability to provide you with reliable service, at a time when you needed it the most.

 

We apologize for the problems you encountered.

 

We believe the worst of the winter is behind us, and like you, we happily look forward to spring.

 

We value your business, and we thank you for your continued support.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe Calabrese

RTA CEO & General Manager

Is this a way for him to get rid of rail?  I smell a Rat!

Is this a way for him to get rid of rail?  I smell a Rat!

 

No, they are all in Tower City

Our valued customers,

 

  We apologize for having our heads up our asses in the 1950's and not building the proposed subway system in Cleveland.  We NOW realize that it doesn't snow underground and some of these problems would not occur.  Since it cost more than a BILLION dollars per mile for a subway system, we have choosen a neat alternative and have decided to rip all the tracks out and replace them with asphalt pathways for our new BRT's!  This should solve all of our problems at a cut rate price.  Thank you,

 

                                                                                                    Joe C

i'm not a transit expert, but don't track plows exist? Hell, I think i've seen them lying around in the yard.....

^Yup.  There are these neat things called "de-icers", too.

^Yup.  There are these neat things called "de-icers", too.

 

I've also noticed a box on most newer trains labeled "icecutter controls" same thing?

Dont they keep the trains in that building on 55 street and under tower city?

^ theres a train storage/maintenace building off the 55th street station, not under tower city.

They're actually kept outside in an open yard. That's not really a big deal, just the way the rail cars are designed and possibly the way they're maintained (or not maintained). RTA is saving money by not maintaining buses and trains as they should and instead using capital grants (including from federal sources) to replace engines, components, etc. rather than repair them.

 

BTW, the large building off East 55th Street is a train maintenance facility. And no RTA trains are stored under Tower City Center -- though some historic streetcars and interurbans from Trolleyville USA may still be under there.

KJP, I know in the past that RTA has stored shaker trains overnight in the old shaker terminal, during inclimate winter weather.  I understand they are more succeptable to the really harsh winter weather than the red line trains.

 

Although, as you state with the trolleyville trains are possibly in TC, so I wonder if that caused RTA not to be able to store trains overnight.  IIRC, during really icy weather RTA would run two, two car trains on the blue/green line 24 hours so the overhead wires wouldn't freeze and so they could salt/sand the stations.

Your right, MTS, I recall such 'storm' storage w/ blue/green cars, also.  Once it was so bad, I think, they also stored some Red Line cars in the airport subway at night.

RTA is saving money by not maintaining buses and trains as they should and instead using capital grants (including from federal sources) to replace engines, components, etc. rather than repair them.

 

 

Two comments:

 

1.  Isn't this strategy going to cost more in the long run?  You can only milk the deferred maintenance cow for so long. 

 

2.  Isn't this also an accident waiting to happen-- such as if a bus breaks down on the freeway?

 

 

Deferred maintenance put American railroads in horrible shape in the 60's and 70's and it almost wrecked Amtrak.  Are those not big enough lessons for the RTA (and other RTA's) to learn from?

 

But in fairness, transit (like passenger rail and rail in general) has been so underfunded at both the state and federal level, many systems have had little choice but to stretch the dollars they have.

Two comments:

 

1.  Isn't this strategy going to cost more in the long run?  You can only milk the deferred maintenance cow for so long. 

 

Usually does.

 

2.  Isn't this also an accident waiting to happen-- such as if a bus breaks down on the freeway?

 

Or catches fire!

I've seen a number of broken down buses recently, including one on the Shoreway a month or two ago.

Heartland really is capitalizing on the TOD concept in a way that a lot of other developers have yet to realize in Cleveland.  Their marketing boasts the transit connections, in addition to the developments truly orienting themselves towards transit and a good mixture of uses.

 

I was a little surprised to hear that RTA has decided to sell the above properties, though.  I thought the idea was for them to lease them and generate ongoing revenues into the future.  I suppose they can do this once the market is established and in this way, avoid the complications of selling developers on a partnership in which the developer doesn't actually own the land (this has been discussed further on the TOD thread). 

 

Anyway, this is positive talk in an area a lot of us are passionate about.  Let's make it happen!

hopefully i am reading this statement wrong, and the committee is only discussing the interchange and not support for it.  why would RTA want to support an interchange in lorain county?

 

from the agenda for tomorrow's board committee meetings:

 

Committee of the Whole Board

Strategic Issues – Proposed new interchange for Interstate 90: Discussion of RTA support for new interchange on Route 90 in Lorain County.

seriously...wtf?

That probably means a discussion of if they will support it or not.  Do they have some sort of voice at NOACA?

That probably means a discussion of if they will support it or not.  Do they have some sort of voice at NOACA?

 

Do they have current routes/planned routes for this area? 

 

Just a guess, but NOACA, might want RTA's input, as it might impact current or future routes.

I don't think that RTA has anything outside of Cuyahoga County. RTA is funded through a portion of Cuyahoga county's sales tax revenue.

RTA does run some routes outside of Cuyahoga.  There is a commuter line to Avon Lake, for instance, that runs down Lake Rd (SR 6).

That probably means a discussion of if they will support it or not.  Do they have some sort of voice at NOACA?

 

They have a vote at NOACA, so that's exactly why the issue will be discussed tomorrow to get the sense of the board on how RTA's vote should be cast. They did the same thing with the West Shore Corridor and ultimately passed a resolution in support of seeking federal funding for a transportation alternatives analysis.

^^  RTA also goes to Brunswick for a park and ride in Medina Co.  ....even though I would mauch rather see a rail line right up the middle of I-71, similar to the Blue line in Chicago....ahhhh  only to dream

^not me... rail up the middle of freeways is counterproductive.  The 2 modes clash: freeways discourage the high-density, walking development which rail is designed for.

Draw a concentric circle 1,000 feet around a transit station at the center. That circle is a reasonable outer walking distance from that station. Within that circle is where the highest density development should be encouraged. Now if a rail line is placed in the median of a highway, a significant portion of that 1,000 feet is used up by each side of the highway. Worse, there would likely be only two pedestrian ingress/egress routes to the rail station -- the road bridge over/under the highway. A street grid with short blocks or a street pattern radiating outward from the station are much more effective pedestrian traffic flows.

^^  RTA also goes to Brunswick for a park and ride in Medina Co.  ....even though I would mauch rather see a rail line right up the middle of I-71, similar to the Blue line in Chicago....ahhhh  only to dream

 

That's just unrealistic. They're going to need that space to add the fourth lane onto I-71.

^ Are they actually going to widen I-71 to 4 lanes in the Strongsville-Medina area? (has the project been announced?)

Wasn't I-90 on the west side built with the intention on putting rail through its median?

Wasn't I-90 on the west side built with the intention on putting rail through its median?

 

Yes.  There was, till about Claugue Rd in Westlake (if I recall) a space down the middle wide enough for 2 tracks; even street overpasses had double supports allowing this space... Well, this being Cleveland, and... put it this way, much like the 1.5 mile ROW down Shaker Blvd from the Green Line terminal (at Green Rd) to what used to be Lander Circle, RTA did nothing and the space was ultimately filled in... O what a progressive city we are.  And in fairness, this was all pre JoeC... who didn't create all Cleveland's rail non-building woes, but is clearly the human manifestation of them.

put it this way, much like the 1.5 mile ROW down Shaker Blvd from the Green Line terminal (at Green Rd) to what used to be Lander Circle, RTA did nothing and the space was ultimately filled in... O what a progressive city we are.  And in fairness, this was all pre JoeC... who didn't create all Cleveland's rail non-building woes, but is clearly the human manifestation of them.

 

As much as I am "yay-parkland" I was extremely pissed off to see that land being developed and seemingly restricting further green line expansion. Thanks Joe C! Enjoy your asshat.

^ Are they actually going to widen I-71 to 4 lanes in the Strongsville-Medina area? (has the project been announced?)

 

No, I was just joking. Like we need a more extensive freeway system to help people flee downtown to the suburbs.  :?

 

The only place that project has been announced is in my nightmares.

Are not the innerbelt and shoreway projects going to overlap?? While I don't leave my zone surronded by the highways, just how are people going to "flee" from the city daily?

another stellar day on the green line today, joe c! (arrived at station at 7:45 am, rode first train at 8:29)