LOL!

 

Um .. yeah.

Thanks HBIC!

MayDay, what does the abbreviation of RTA stand for? And you call yourself a Clevelander?  :oops:

Bah! Car-free newbie! ;-)

Meaning .. REGIONAL Transit Authority. ;)

Y'all can kiss my regional... nevermind! :-D

Maybe if the train symbol actually looked like a train on tracks instead of looking like the back of a bus making tire tracks in the snow.

 

Without Mayday's creativity that sign isn't so bad it at least has a picture of a train. The signs I mentioned above are the ones in the terminal, they say "Rapid to Downtown" with an arrow and that is it.

 

If you made it to the sign in MTS' picture you probably know where you are going.

Maybe if the train symbol actually looked like a train on tracks instead of looking like the back of a bus making tire tracks in the snow.

 

 

I would say the current symbol is pretty much (IMO) the accepted visual symbol for a train.

^ yes, it's pretty close to this from AIGA

 

 

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/symbol-signs

Without Mayday's creativity that sign isn't so bad it at least has a picture of a train. The signs I mentioned above are the ones in the terminal, they say "Rapid to Downtown" with an arrow and that is it.

 

If you made it to the sign in MTS' picture you probably know where you are going.

 

And in those cases, I'd definitely say RTA needs to do some modifications.

However, it's not the same on the concourses - the wording or symbols.  That is also part of the problem.

 

If all was the same (universal) throughout the system, people (from outside the region) wouldn't confused.

 

I think I delted those photos I took on the concourse.

 

 

Maybe if the train symbol actually looked like a train on tracks instead of looking like the back of a bus making tire tracks in the snow.

 

 

I would say the current symbol is pretty much (IMO) the accepted visual symbol for a train.

 

True enough.  The train symbol at Midway is what prompted it.

Must be a slow Friday.....

For the record I'm talking about the ones in the concourse (not terminal as stated) thanks MTS.

Joe Calabrese will be on "Feagler and Friends" at 8:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 1130 P.M. on Sunday, on WVIZ TV-25. He will talk about RTA budget issues and the Euclid Corridor Project.

RTA Board meets Tuesday, July 15

 

CLEVELAND – The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, in the Main Office Building, 1240 W. Sixth St. The Board will consider resolutions to:

 

BUDGET: Approve the 2009 tax budget, which is an estimate of anticipated revenues. To obtain a balanced budget in 2009, RTA is considering a 25-50 cent fuel surcharge and up to a 10 percent service reduction, to take effect in October. Four public hearings on these proposals will be held the week of Aug. 4. The exact schedule will be announced in a few days.

 

EAST 55TH STREET: Add $346,000 to the design budget for a new rail station at East 55th Street, bringing the total to $1.3 million for Hatch Mott McDonald. 80 percent is federally funded.

 

DIESEL FUEL: Authorize money to cover increased fuel prices, which totaled more than $10 million for the first six months of 2008.

 

CITYWHEELS: Authorize a one-year lease agreement for $1 for City Wheels at the Shaker Square Station. This is a self-serve car sharing program.

 

MAYFIELD STATION: Authorize a $1.1 million contract with City Architecture for architectural and engineering services to relocate and rebuild the Mayfield Rail Station and track bridge. About 80 percent of the work will be covered by federal funds.

 

DBE: Establish a goal for using Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) firms in Federal Fiscal Year 2009.

 

# # #

 

^Go Mayfield Station go!

I'm so glad we're getting federal funding to rehab our stations. 

 

Is there a way to get federal money to design build new stations?

 

 

I'm so glad we're getting federal funding to rehab our stations. 

 

Is there a way to get federal money to design build new stations?

 

 

 

Top priority is ADA compliance.

Great, now City Architecture gets to defile the west end of Little Italy.  Unbelievable...

^Yeah, I'm not so excited that they have this commission either.

I'm so glad we're getting federal funding to rehab our stations. 

 

Is there a way to get federal money to design build new stations?

 

 

 

How about federal money to extend existing rail lines or build new ones :) :)

^^I'm pumped that the Mayfield/Little Italy station is FINALLY going to be built after all these years -- and it's even going to have modest TOD to go along w/ it, in the form of Mayfield Lofts which went before the CPC a few weeks ago.  Hopefully, the mixed use plan at Euclid/Mayfield/E.115 stays on track... it's suddenly gone eerily quiet after a lot of build up a year or so ago... With the new Mayfield Red Line Station and ECP coming on line, you'd think now would be the time to get that project moving again...

^^^ As for the Hopkin's/Red Line signage issue, I agree, the sign as it is seems pretty self explanatory that it's a train line, esp w/ the universal "train" emblem... Problem is, the sign doesn't stand out.  The one in the photo is, if I recall, right at the station entrance which is down the escalator off the baggage claim area.  Thus, those who see this sign either have the Rapid as a destination already or are heading to the short term parking lot.  Those signs in the core area of the airport tend to blur along with the forest of directional signs, along w/ the Rental Car shuttle, Parking, Ground Transportation, etc...

 

RTA does a poor job of making the Rapid stand out.  CTA has big pictures of its L and advertisements for using it once you get off the plane.  RTA does none of that.  In fact, RTA seems rather mum about the Rapid in general.  In none of the travel mags or the Phone books do you see any Rapid Transit maps, and in those that have any rail at all (like the little downtown only maps), the Rapid is mentioned as simply the Waterfront Line or the Red Line (to the airport) -- then to further muddy things up the E-Line is mentioned as a "Trolley" when, of course, it's really a bus!!!! ... At that, I'd agree w/ MTS, this is strictly local insider stuff... It's almost as if RTA's trying to hide our rail service from visitors -- I know it's not, but sometimes it seems that way.

 

I've known a number of business people and other visitors who've come to Cleveland for years yet didn't know we had a rapid rail system...

 

Thanks Jerry,

 

for the info about 2-car Blue/Green trains.  I sure hope the 1-driver/2-car engineering comes along soon because 1-car, rush hour crowding is really getting bad... I'm wondering if, for now, RTA should drop back to the Blue/Green rush hour schedule it once had: 2-car trains every 12 mins, rather than the 1-car trains every 10 mins, as it is now?

 

As for fare jumpers, RTA would be wise to post security on the Shaker Square inbound platform during rush periods, particularly.  Over time, esp with the unusually large groups that get both on and off there, I've seen literally hundreds of fare jumpers slide out the back door amongst the crowd... RTA really is losing a bunch of fares this way, I'm sure.

 

I know we've griped about the signage at Hopkins before, but I was looking at the Hopkins website to see how it handled info about Rapid trains downtown.

 

Under ground transportation, here are the choices (in order):

Limousines

Public Transit

Rental Cars

RTA

Shuttles - Hotels

Taxis

 

Clicking on Public Transit gets you this info:

 

Lorain County Transit (LCT)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lorain County Transit (LCT) provides bus service to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport(CLE) to the Elyria Park and Ride station in Elyria, Ohio and Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.  The LCT bus departs from the airport’s ticketing level outside the United Airlines’ ticket counter.  The bus fare from CLE to Elyria or Oberlin is currently $6.00, or $4.00 to Oberlin College with a student ID.

Lorain County Transit may be contacted by telephone at 1.440.233.7868.  Additional information about Lorain County Transit may be obtained by visiting their website at www.loraincountytransit.com. 

 

Greyhound Bus Service

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For reservations, call 1.800.231.2222 or visit www.greyhound.com.

 

Cleveland Greyhound Station: 1465 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114.

Elyria Greyhound Station: 365 Broad Street, Elyria, Ohio, 44035.

 

 

Under RTA is this helpful info:

 

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) provides convenient service to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). RTA's red line provides regular service between CLE and downtown Cleveland via the Tower City Station. The trip takes less than 30 minutes, and trains depart from CLE every fifteen minutes for the majority of the day.

 

RTA's station at CLE is located on the lower level of the main terminal. To reach the RTA station, travelers should use the elevators or escalators located in the center of the ticketing and baggage claim levels.

 

For additional information on RTA in general, or specific information on RTA's airport service, please call 1.216.566.5100, or visit the RTA web site at http://www.riderta.com/pd_airport.asp.

 

Here are my issues and suggested improvements:

1. If I was not from Cleveland I wouldn't necessarily know to click on RTA for the local public transit info.

 

2. If I clicked on Public Transit I might think the airport was in Lorain County and the only public transit was to Oberlin/Elyria.

 

3. Shouldn't the RTA info be under the public transit tab?

 

4. Greyhound is apparently "public transit", but the Amtrak station in Cleveland is not worth a mention.

 

5. If you're lucky enough to click on RTA and read the info, you have to read to the end of the third sentence before you learn that the "red line" is a train.  This should be more prominently featured in the first line (The Greater Cleveland RTA provides convenient TRAIN service...)

 

Now that I've ranted on here, I guess I should cut and paste this into the "contact us" section of the Hopkins website.  Maybe Jerry or Jetdog could suggest some improvements to the Hopkins powers that be.

^Good find... I'm glad Hopkins is doing this.  I still think (and I know you're not disagreeing) though, RTA could do it's part to promote the line MORE at Hopkins if they truly want people to use it.  More people know about Chicago's L and the possibility of service to its airports, unlike ours... But CTA actively promotes its trains with billboards... at least at O'Hare. 

 

BTW, in the food court, Chicago's chamber of commerce has a great video wall extolling great Chi-town highlights... including CTA's L, as well...

^Good find... I'm glad Hopkins is doing this.  I still think (and I know you're not disagreeing) though, RTA could do it's part to promote the line MORE at Hopkins if they truly want people to use it.  More people know about Chicago's L and the possibility of service to its airports, unlike ours... But CTA actively promotes its trains with billboards... at least at O'Hare. 

 

BTW, in the food court, Chicago's chamber of commerce has a great video wall extolling great Chi-town highlights... including CTA's L, as well...

 

It's not RTA's issue alone.  Hopefully Jerry and Todd Payne are working together and using our suggestions to correct issues we've pointed out.

 

The RTA website and Hopkins website could both use some tweaking.

 

 

I'd like to publicly thank the driver of my bus this morning for keeping us off the evening news. We had a close call on the #55 bus this morning heading downtown during rush hour. As one of seven standees on the bus (moment of shameless self-promotion: I gentlemanly gave up my seat to a lady), I had a clear view of the semi that started pulling out onto Clifton about 100 feet in front of us. My bus was moving about 35 mph. The bus driver slammed on the brakes and avoided the collision, although some women on the bus shrieked. As passengers disembarked downtown, they thanked the driver for his quick action.

Five public hearings set

(REVISED)

 

RTA has scheduled five public hearings to discuss a proposed fuel surcharge and service reductions. If approved by the Board of Trustees, they would take effect in October.

 

Because of greatly reduced state funding and rising fuel prices, RTA projects a $20 million deficit in 2009, if no changes are made.

 

If you cannot attend a hearing, you can send comments by Aug. 18 to:

· [email protected]

· RTA Marketing and Communications Department, 1240 West Sixth Street, Cleveland, OH 44113

 

HEARING SCHEDULE:

 

Monday, Aug. 4

6 p.m., Don Umerley Civic Center Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Road, Rocky River

 

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Noon, Cleveland Public Library Auditorium, 325 Superior Ave. NE

6 p.m., Room 220, Council Chambers, Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave. The B-Line trolley will operate until 9 p.m.

 

Wednesday, Aug.6

6 p.m., Cleveland Heights Community Center, One Monticello Blvd.

 

Thursday, Aug. 7

6 p.m., Brooklyn Senior Community Center, 7727 Memphis Ave.

 

All sites are served by public transit and are accessible. Interpretive services for hearing-impaired persons will be available. More details on the proposal will be announced.

 

 

Shows what happens when a state, or in this case a province, provides meaningful financial support to a transit agency... No fare increase or service cutbacks!

 

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature2-7-15

 

July 14, 2008

GO Transit set to hold fares level despite fuel costs

 

GO Transit officials expect to avoid any fare increases or service cutbacks to train and bus schedules despite increased fuel costs, which has added roughly $10 million in costs to the agency's budget. GO says fiscal support from the Ontario provincial government, coupled with roughly $6 million in additional revenue from a 6.5% ridership increase system-wide, should cover the additional cost.

 

"There has been no pressure whatsoever on fare increases or cuts in service," said GO Transit Chairman Peter Smith. "We all recognize that we're in an environment now where gas and diesel fuel prices have gone up."

JMasek, you made CNN!  It's not particulary good news but it's nothing unexpected at least.

 

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/15/news/economy/fleet_gas/index.htm?cnn=yes

 

Pricey gas: Fewer cops, more potholes

Local governments grappling with soaring fuel prices scale back services citizens have come to expect.

 

   

 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com)  -- In what seems to be a perverse reaction to high gas prices, some cities are cutting back on public transit - at a time when their citizens need it most.

 

......

it's easier for Chicago to promote the L b/c everyone knows Chicago has rail!

 

Really, and let's not kid ourselves, not too many people outside of Cleveland (and sadly enough some NEO-ians) know or expect Cleveland to have rail. 

 

Continental Magazine mentions the airtran train from Newark to the city--it would be nice if they mentioned the rapid!  Now we don't have the congestion or tourists that NYC has but something so simple and little might go a long way in terms of promoting RTA and enhancing our image.  Hey, we're somewhat sophisticated--we have rapid transit!  :wink:

 

One more thing...

 

I don't mean to be harsh but just b/c we had the first rapid transit airport to city center connection in North America doesn't mean the station has to look like it was the first one!  Now it's not the worst station (brookpark, puritas, some east side stations) but it's a far cry from being as nice as it SHOULD be!!  The airport station used to fit in with the duct taped carpet concourses but I think we need to spruce things up a bit--or quite a bit.  It's like we're ashamed to have the train and we try to make it as mundane as possible so it blends in, instead of celebrating something we're so lucky to have maintained/held onto for decades while other cities would kill for airport train service!  We need to hold ourselves and our city to a higher standard!

What's wrong with our airport station? It was just rebuilt 10 years ago! I think it's very nice, and blows away the design of most other new stations (and sure beats the hell out of the old airport station).

And it's much better than the mile-long "death march" at Midway!

Here's what the old station looked like when it was 10 years old. Now tell me which one is aging more gracefully?

 

I don't know the old airport station--thankfully.  I also don't know downtown Cleveland post-Euclid Ave hayday and pre-Gateway/WHD/etc. but I-along w/ everyone else on this board-am not saying what we have today is good enough based on what we had decades ago.

 

I don't want to say, "well, it's better than the 1980s station so it's good!" b/c quite frankly, anything is better than crap, right? 

 

Although they replaced lights a couple months ago making the lighting more crisp, it's very anti-climatic.  We wait in a very boring-almost depressing space that is out of scale for a heavy rail station.  My studio apt. has higher ceilings!  Now I'm not suggesting a $50 million rehab but a few million $$$, sure!  The public art is cute-i guess-but almost blends into the gray walls.  We have an opportunity to excite people  about coming to Cleveland.  15 minutes at times to advertise and promote our city!  Instead they can read a sports ticker and look at dirty ceramic airplanes with missing engines. 

 

This isn't a Cleveland.com jab--I doubt any of them would dare to ride the rapid.  :roll:  I just wish we took advantage of opportunities to take ourselves to the next level instead of living by the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra.

The new station's not so bad, but it is kind of dark and shows some significant wear and tear.  If I remember right, the concrete track bed looks like it has completely crumbled and those airplane sculptures are in serious need of swiffering.

 

My biggest complaint is that gray concrete-floored part of the airport just outside of the station.  It looks like someone's semi-finished basement.  Like they planned on laying carpet but ran out of money.  The one benefit of that gray floor: there is a great marketing opportunity to lay big orange arrow decals leading from the bottom of the stairs/escalators to the station with little "for only $1.75 you can be downtown in 20 minutes!" decals mixed in.

 

"there is a great marketing opportunity to lay big orange arrow decals leading from the bottom of the stairs/escalators to the station with little "for only $1.75 you can be downtown in 20 minutes!" decals mixed in."

 

BINGO. And if it p!sses off the cabbies - too d@mn bad.

The new station's not so bad

 

why is this attitude ok?!  I don't understand! :?

 

What's good about the station?  It doesn't leak or have a wood plank floor? 

 

I'm sorry for having such high standards!

it's easier for Chicago to promote the L b/c everyone knows Chicago has rail!

 

Really, and let's not kid ourselves, not too many people outside of Cleveland (and sadly enough some NEO-ians) know or expect Cleveland to have rail. 

 

Continental Magazine mentions the airtran train from Newark to the city--it would be nice if they mentioned the rapid!  Now we don't have the congestion or tourists that NYC has but something so simple and little might go a long way in terms of promoting RTA and enhancing our image.  Hey, we're somewhat sophisticated--we have rapid transit!  :wink:

 

I slightly agree.  As I stated in the old Brooklyn thread there are many great things and neighborhoods that our region has no clue about.  The fault lies within the marketing of our Region.  But that’s for another thread

 

The reason Continental and its subsidiaries markets the air train service (NJ Transit or Amtrak to the Newark Airport stations) is they have a marketing partnership with Amtrak to several cities.  You can earn Continental miles for your travels when you start or end your trip at one of those select cities and transfer at the Newark station/Airport for a connecting flight.

 

And using that example is a bit stretch as that is a Continental marketing opportunity not a Newark Airport/Port Authority/NJ Transit, which would be equal to RTA in this situation.

 

Jerry, if you are at liberty to say, does RTA have a partnership with Continental?  If so are you working with them and the airport (marketing staff) to market the direct RAIL access?

 

 

One more thing...

 

I don't mean to be harsh but just b/c we had the first rapid transit airport to city center connection in North America doesn't mean the station has to look like it was the first one!  Now it's not the worst station (brookpark, puritas, some east side stations) but it's a far cry from being as nice as it SHOULD be!!  The airport station used to fit in with the duct taped carpet concourses but I think we need to spruce things up a bit--or quite a bit.  It's like we're ashamed to have the train and we try to make it as mundane as possible so it blends in, instead of celebrating something we're so lucky to have maintained/held onto for decades while other cities would kill for airport train service!  We need to hold ourselves and our city to a higher standard!

 

I don’t mean to sound harsh and I’m not criticizing, but have you looked at the stations, they have improved greatly from the 70’s to the 80’s, yet as with anything there is room for improvement.  Having Jerry and JetDog here is proof of RTA’s commitment to partnership with their riders.  Granted, we’re a bit more educated on public transportation as many of us use PT as our main source of transportation.

 

You didn’t indicate if you’ve done anything, but if you have concerns I hope that you are using the appropriate sources to voice your concerns, whether it be via RTA, your local council person or neighborhood group.

 

 

RTA's airport station is very constrained space-wise (and of course budget-wise). They added a skylight where they could, but the rest of the station is below the departures roadway and short-term parking deck. There are numerous utilities to the sides of the station which prevent it being widened.

 

After studies conducted in the late 1990s, the only way to improve the airport station would be to put it on an elevated alignment. A space was left for this on the terminal side of the new short-term parking deck. That space would have included a new station along with a retail complex surrounding it on three sides (above, below and to the terminal side). Alas the decline of travel following 9/11 put the kibosh on that plan. And I suspect high fuel costs will keep it kiboshed.

I can write a letter to RTA-asking them to invest in the airport station.

 

Is it a high priority as other stations have proposals in the works in addition to the budget issues RTA is facing today?  I have no idea...

 

Yes, the Cedar and Mayfield stations should and must take precedence over the airport but I don't want to see this station (one of the most important if not the most important station) fall by the wayside b/c today it's "fine" while some others are in sad shape.  This station should always remain a top priority.

 

I'm sure space is an issue and we're constrained in terms of expanding.  There are other approaches we can take in changing the atmosphere of that station...

 

Anyways, thanks for letting me vent!  :wink:

The new station's not so bad

 

why is this attitude ok?!  I don't understand! :?

 

What's good about the station?  It doesn't leak or have a wood plank floor? 

 

I'm sorry for having such high standards!

 

I hear ya, but I think my view (and that of others) is colored by memories of what it used to look like.  And I think most of us probably see marketing as a bigger issue.

 

Even given the limitations KJP describes, I do think some thoughtful lighting and minor design enhancements, plus improved maintenance, could make it look a lot better.  Would be a great non-RTA funded mini project.

Maybe!

OK, let's not get carried away here in describing the airport station's importance. The airport station is not very heavily used (about 600 riders per day, most of whom are airport employees). The station does carry a PR value, however. Yet if we're going to assign importance to stations based on substance (ie: actual usage), none is more important that Tower City Center.

Nice old pic - One thing I did notice was that the destination title on that old train is Downtown-Windermere.  I was thinking that it'd be nice to have 4 options on the little sign thing instead of just the two current "Airport" and "Windermere".  I have gotten asked several times about "Which way is downtown?"  It would be sweet if an eastbound train could display "Downtowh-Windermere" until reaching TC and then just "Windermere" afterwards and if a westbound train could display "Downtown-Airport" until reaching TC and then just "Airport" afterwards.  I know that's nitpicky, but that's just something that could help improve ease of use for out-of-towners.  It would be nice if it said "Downtown" on the other lines too seeing as not everyone knows the downtown station is called Tower City.

Do you think that the ridership is because of the aforementioned comments .. lack of clear signage telling people about the station itself?

 

I definitely agree that more publicity needs to be given to the airport Rapid station. Especially for business commuters, it could be such a huge asset for people needing to hop on a train headed for downtown. Who knows how many of these people hail a taxi, rent a car, etc when hopping on the Rapid would be just as good if not better..

Now, i can

Nice old pic - One thing I did notice was that the destination title on that old train is Downtown-Windermere.  I was thinking that it'd be nice to have 4 options on the little sign thing instead of just the two current "Airport" and "Windermere".  I have gotten asked several times about "Which way is downtown?"  It would be sweet if an eastbound train could display "Downtowh-Windermere" until reaching TC and then just "Windermere" afterwards and if a westbound train could display "Downtown-Airport" until reaching TC and then just "Airport" afterwards.  I know that's nitpicky, but that's just something that could help improve ease of use for out-of-towners.  It would be nice if it said "Downtown" on the other lines too seeing as not everyone knows the downtown station is called Tower City.

 

OK.  Now you can insert MayDays previous comment.  There is only ONE direction the train is going in from the Airport.  In addition, there is signage on the train platforms.  This isn't a Cleveland thing, it happens in NYC, Philly, DC and Chicago as well, however, our system is pretty straight forward.

 

If a person can't read the sign, barring any disabilities, then maybe they don't need to ride.