Congratulations to you and JeTDoG- I just noticed that rapid stops and bus stops are now on google.maps!

 

Yes, JeTDOG was quoted recently in the Dispatch, but his 15 seconds of fame was very very fleeting. He can tell you more.

Isn't it past your bedtime, JM?

Sheesh, miss a day, miss a lot... miss a week and you're buried, eh?

 

It's great that RTA is working on improving its maps, and rider legibility, especially as it looks to take on new riders and improves or rebuilds infrastructure.  It's slow going, but it's progress!  I'm also glad that our advice, as a forum, is sought and taken seriously.

 

On the subject of the airport and ease of use... I was at a LEED summit yesterday Downtown and one of the speakers was from the USGBC in DC.  He lives car-free and is pretty savvy when it comes to city living and transit.  And needless to say, he'll opt for the "green" alternative when there's one present.  Yet, when I asked him about his trip, he said he took a cab from the airport.  I asked him if he knew there was a direct rail connection between the airport and Downtown and he looked at me with a somewhat shocked expression and said, "no!"  We talked a bit more about this and agreed that there are a large number of urban travelers who look first for the transit directions when arriving in a new city and only when they can't be easily deciphered or other circumstances apply, will we opt for a cab or rental car.  This is just another case in point about the need to ramp up the marketing and wayfinding at Hopkins in regard to the RTA!

 

Oh, and the Cedar-University or Cedar Glen or University or University Circle station is one of the most difficult to decipher in the entire system.  More on that later (I've been taking pictures), but from the fact that no one can decide on a name to the dearth of directional signage at the station, it's in pretty bad shape.  It's still going to be a couple years before it gets rebuilt, so I hope some minor changes can be made in the meantime that can yield some major improvements.

^I took me over year of being a student to figure out which exit was which way on the Cedar Road Station.

^so you pretty much just hung out on the platform and studied up there?

^I remember the old days, when the Windermere rapids rode on the LEFT track and switched to the right track at Terminal Tower.  Used to board at University Cedar.

 

Anyway I have a question for the RTA gurus.  When the Euclid Corridor and the Mayfield Rapid Transit Station are complete, will the 9F bus line be truncated at the Rapid or at Euclid and Mayfield, or will it continue downtown as it does today?  I hope at least some trips will continue to Public Square.

 

 

Funny how the Red line is listed as "subway" on google maps.

Funny how the Red line is listed as "subway" on google maps.

 

That is an unfortunate limitation of the classifications available in the Google Transit Feed Specification (http://code.google.com/transit/spec/transit_feed_specification.html#routes_txt___Field_Definitions). Given the available data types, type 2 or 3 are the only ones really relevant in this case, and type 2 seemed more suited to something like the oft-discussed proposed Cleveland-Lorain commuter rail.

 

I am, however, open to changing it if the subway designation proves to be confusing.

^I think you made the right call.  The El in Chicago is also described as "subway" too.  Really, this is a great addition.  I love the schedule info that pops up when you click on a station (and on bus stops too).  Very handy.

Portions of the Red line are actually subway tho correct?

^Indeed, in both Chicago and Cleveland ;)

Sheesh, miss a day, miss a lot... miss a week and you're buried, eh?

 

It's great that RTA is working on improving its maps, and rider legibility, especially as it looks to take on new riders and improves or rebuilds infrastructure.  It's slow going, but it's progress!  I'm also glad that our advice, as a forum, is sought and taken seriously.

 

On the subject of the airport and ease of use... I was at a LEED summit yesterday Downtown and one of the speakers was from the USGBC in DC.  He lives car-free and is pretty savvy when it comes to city living and transit.  And needless to say, he'll opt for the "green" alternative when there's one present.  Yet, when I asked him about his trip, he said he took a cab from the airport.  I asked him if he knew there was a direct rail connection between the airport and Downtown and he looked at me with a somewhat shocked expression and said, "no!"  We talked a bit more about this and agreed that there are a large number of urban travelers who look first for the transit directions when arriving in a new city and only when they can't be easily deciphered or other circumstances apply, will we opt for a cab or rental car.  This is just another case in point about the need to ramp up the marketing and wayfinding at Hopkins in regard to the RTA!

 

 

this is a perfect example of what I mean by having the words "train" on signage on:

[*]Changing the wording to read "RTA Trains to Downtown Cleveland" on all councourses and signage

[*]Having a dedicated link on front of Hopkins webpage tells how convienient rail transporation to Downtown Cleveland is and that opens up the 66X schedule in one click.  That website is useless, but thats another thread.

[*]Making sure all workers of the airport - accross company's - are verse on transporation options.

Funny find.

 

Here is an old Shaker Rapid schedule.  The schedule indicates "express" trains that ran between Shaker Square and Union Terminal, with no stops.

 

http://web.presby.edu/~jtbell/transit/images/Cleveland/SHRT/inside.gif

^Interesting.  Looks like that express shaved a whopping 1 minute off the Terminal to SS run, which leads me to believe it was more about managing track congestion to keep those tight headways at peak periods on the shared track.

Prepare for the cleveland.com crows

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/07/rta_outlines_service_cuts_pric.html

 

RTA outlines service cuts, price increases

 

To save money, RTA may cut all of its community circulators and a dozen regular bus routes.

 

Service on the lightly used Waterfront Line downtown would also be reduced to only rush hours and special events. And service may also be cut by dropping evening hours or shortening trips on more than 20 other Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority routes in the city and suburbs.

 

The proposed changes, along with fare increases, are meant to tackle a projected $20 million deficit for 2009 caused in part by skyrocketing diesel prices.

 

The board will vote on the proposals Aug. 19. And any approved changes would take effect in October. RTA has scheduled five public hearings between Aug. 4 and Aug. 7 to discuss the possible changes and take comments from riders.

 

In addition to all circulators, RTA proposes to discontinue the following routes: 18, 33, 36, 42, 43, 46, 49, 68, 86F, 87F, 96F and 451.

 

Proposed service reductions affect the following routes: 4, 5, 7X, 9X, 11, 13, 20A, 24, 32X, 39, 41A/C, 45Y/R, 52, 55F, 70, 75X, 76X, 83, 86, 88X, 90F, and 145Y/R.

 

The cash fares for bus and rapid routes could increase from $1.75 to $2.25-$2.50 or from 75 cents to $1.10 to $1.25 for seniors and the disabled.

 

Five-ride bus and rapid farecards could increase from $8.75 to $11.25-$12.50 or from $3.75 for seniors and the disabled to $5.50 to $6.25.

 

All-day, weekly and monthly passes would also increase from 25 percent to more than 71 percent.

 

Details of route and fare changes will be here later today.

 

Public meetings are scheduled for:

 

• Aug. 4, 6 p.m., Don Umerley Civic Center Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Road, Rocky River.

 

• Aug. 5, noon, Cleveland Public Library auditorium, 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, and 6 p.m. at Cleveland City Hall, Room 220, 601 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland.

 

• Aug. 6, 6 p.m., Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Blvd.

 

• Aug. 7, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Senior Community Center, 7727 Memphis Ave.

 

Those who can't attend a meeting can e-mail comments by Aug. 18, or mail them to RTA Marketing and Communications Dept., 1240 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113.

 

wow, how did you find that MTS?

^Interesting.  Looks like that express shaved a whopping 1 minute off the Terminal to SS run, which leads me to believe it was more about managing track congestion to keep those tight headways at peak periods on the shared track.

 

Interesting you said that.  They also ran 3/4 car trains then a well.  I wish I could have found a map/time table with the "square to square" service.  I remember Halle's had some sort of sponsorship of that.  Where you could take their free shuttle bus to Halle's from Prospect.

 

wow, how did you find that MTS?

I was looking for something else on my apartment and it came up.

Prepare for the Cleveland.com crows

 

http://blog.Cleveland.com/metro/2008/07/rta_outlines_service_cuts_pric.html

 

RTA outlines service cuts, price increases

 

To save money, RTA may cut all of its community circulators and a dozen regular bus routes.

 

Service on the lightly used Waterfront Line downtown would also be reduced to only rush hours and special events. And service may also be cut by dropping evening hours or shortening trips on more than 20 other Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority routes in the city and suburbs.

 

The proposed changes, along with fare increases, are meant to tackle a projected $20 million deficit for 2009 caused in part by skyrocketing diesel prices.

 

The board will vote on the proposals Aug. 19. And any approved changes would take effect in October. RTA has scheduled five public hearings between Aug. 4 and Aug. 7 to discuss the possible changes and take comments from riders.

 

In addition to all circulators, RTA proposes to discontinue the following routes: 18, 33, 36, 42, 43, 46, 49, 68, 86F, 87F, 96F and 451.

 

Proposed service reductions affect the following routes: 4, 5, 7X, 9X, 11, 13, 20A, 24, 32X, 39, 41A/C, 45Y/R, 52, 55F, 70, 75X, 76X, 83, 86, 88X, 90F, and 145Y/R.

 

The cash fares for bus and rapid routes could increase from $1.75 to $2.25-$2.50 or from 75 cents to $1.10 to $1.25 for seniors and the disabled.

 

Five-ride bus and rapid farecards could increase from $8.75 to $11.25-$12.50 or from $3.75 for seniors and the disabled to $5.50 to $6.25.

 

All-day, weekly and monthly passes would also increase from 25 percent to more than 71 percent.

 

Details of route and fare changes will be here later today.

 

Public meetings are scheduled for:

 

• Aug. 4, 6 p.m., Don Umerley Civic Center Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Road, Rocky River.

 

• Aug. 5, noon, Cleveland Public Library auditorium, 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, and 6 p.m. at Cleveland City Hall, Room 220, 601 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland.

 

• Aug. 6, 6 p.m., Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Blvd.

 

• Aug. 7, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Senior Community Center, 7727 Memphis Ave.

 

Those who can't attend a meeting can e-mail comments by Aug. 18, or mail them to RTA Marketing and Communications Dept., 1240 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113.

 

 

I think cutting the waterfront line is ridiculous.  I would like to know the calculation of that!  Now that the East Bank is building up we should be working to get more people on the line.  I can hear the naysayers now, "nobody uses it and we spent all that money, regardless of source" to build a line nobody ever used.

 

ridiculous!

 

I think cutting some routes would be good, but now more than ever routes should be terminated at train stations instead of being eliminated.

Wow, that looks pretty bad. I'm shocked they'd cut the 304.

"The board will vote on the proposals Aug. 19.

 

"The board will vote on the proposals"

 

In case that part wasn't clear ;-)

Finally, a forum I can attend.  Any other UOers interested in meeting up at the August 5th forum at noon at the library?  I would like to show up and somehow show my support and understanding for RTA's cuts.

Good idea! And for those who can't attend:

 

"Those who can't attend a meeting can e-mail comments by Aug. 18, or mail them to RTA Marketing and Communications Dept., 1240 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113."

I think cutting the waterfront line is ridiculous.  I would like to know the calculation of that!  Now that the East Bank is building up we should be working to get more people on the line.  I can hear the naysayers now, "nobody uses it and we spent all that money, regardless of source" to build a line nobody ever used.

Wow, I really don't follow you on this one.  Maybe when FEB is built it will be different (I'm not convinced), but until then...you would rather cut bus lines that people actually ride instead of the WFL which rolls by almost completely empty most runs?

When you express your anger at these proposals, be sure to direct them at the appropriate people -- namely your state and federal elected officials who represent you and make their funding decisions of various programs, including transit, accordingly. They believe the've represented you by gutting funding for transit. The following is the result...

 

 

RTA PROPOSED FARE RANGES

Current

Fares Proposed Range

Cash

Senior / Disabled $0.75 $1.10 to $1.25

Circulator $1.00 $1.50 to $1.75

Bus / Rapid Transit $1.75 $2.25 to $2.50

Paratransit $1.75 $2.25 to $2.50

Park-N-Ride $2.00 $2.75 to $3.00

Out-of-County $3.00 $4.00 to $5.00

 

Farecards

5-Ride Senior / Disabled $3.75 $5.50 to $6.25

5-Ride Circulator $5.00 $7.50 to $8.75

5-Ride Bus / Rapid Transit $8.75 $11.25 to $12.50

5-Ride Paratransit $8.75 $11.25 to $12.50

5-Ride Park-N-Ride $10.00 $13.75 to $15.00

 

All-Day Pass

Senior / Disabled / Child $1.75 $2.50 to $3.00

Individual $4.00 $5.00 to $6.00

 

7-Day Pass

Senior / Disabled $7.50 $11.00 to $12.50

Bus / Rapid Transit $17.50 $22.50 to $25.00

Paratransit $17.50 $22.50 to $25.00

Park-N-Ride $20.00 $27.50 to $30.00

 

Monthy Pass

Senior / Disabled $29.00 $42.00 to $47.50

Bus / Rapid Transit $63.00 $85.50 to $95.00

Paratransit $63.00 $85.50 to $95.00

Park-N-Ride $70.00 $104.50 to $114.00

 

 

Proposed service reductions

 

Discontinue all service on these routes:

#18 West 11-Hinckley

#33 Central

#36 Eddy

#42 Fairmount

#43 Lake-Wolf

#46 Detroit

#49 Center Ridge

#68 Bagley

#86F Berea-Olmsted Falls

#87F Westwood / I-90

#96F Butternut-Hilliard

#451 Brunswick

#801 Lee-Harvard Community Circulator

#802 Southeast Community Circulator

#803 St. Clair-Hough Community Circulator

#804 Lakewood Community Circulator

#805 Slavic Village Community Circulator

#806 Euclid-Euclid Beach Community Circulator

#807 Tremont Community Circulator

#808 West Shore Community Circulator

#809 Kamm’s-Puritas Community Circulator

#820 St. Clair-Five Points Community Circulator

#821 University Circle-Heights Area Community Circulator

#822 Southwest Community Circulator

 

Other service reductions

 

Waterfront Line, Discontinue service, except rush hours and special events.

 

#4 Wade Park, Discontinue after-midnight trips on E. 123/Arlington/E. 125.

 

#5 Chagrin, Discontinue service east of Lander Road.

 

#7X Monticello-Euclid Heights, Discontinue service west of University Station. Discontinue Anderson trips.

 

#9X Mayfield, Discontinue #9X service on Ridgebury, SOM and Richmond.

 

( - more -)

 

 

Page 4, RTA hearings

 

#11 Quincy / #13 Buckeye, Consolidate route #11 with route #13 so that the Quincy route serves Buckeye instead of Shaker and MLK. Discontinue service on Buckeye between Woodland and Woodhill, on Shaker Blvd. between Woodhill and E. 116th , and on MLK Blvd., between Shaker and E. 116th.

 

#20A W. 25th-State, Continue peak period, peak direction service from/to North Royalton Loop. Continue after-midnight service pattern to Brookpark-W. 33rd Loop. Service not listed here will follow the current evening/ weekend alignment to/from Parmatown Transit Center via Pleasant Valley/Ridge.

 

#24 Van Aken / Tri-C, Discontinue evening, late night, and Sunday service

 

#32X Cedar, Discontinue service west of University Station

 

#39 Lakeshore, Discontinue #39 branch via Babbitt Road to Euclid Park-n-Ride.

 

#41A/C Warrensville Center, operate all #41 trips via the Columbus Road route alignment between the Southgate Transit Center and Solon. Discontinue service on Libby and Aurora between Northfield and Perkins. Discontinue the route deviation on Kimberly, Randolph, Eldridge, and Ridgeway.

 

#45Y/R Ridge, Consolidate the Y and R route branches into one alignment south of the Parmatown Transit Center. Discontinue weekend #45R service (Parmatown Transit Center to York and Royalton).

 

#52 Westgate-West Park, Operate all #52 Westgate trips via Lorain and W. 210th. . Discontinue late-night service to Fairview Hospital, Brookpark Station and the Airport.

 

#55F West Shore Flyer, Discontinue service west of Bradley Road (service to/from Avon Lake).

 

#70 Bunts.- W.150, Discontinue Saturday and Sunday service. Discontinue service on Snow, Fry and Holland Roads.

 

#75X North Olmsted, Convert to a Red Line feeder route operating between North Olmsted and the West Park Station. Discontinue service on Triskett Road, Berea Road, and W. 117th Street. Discontinue service on the Berkshire/Porter route deviation in North Olmsted.

 

( - more - )

 

Page 5, RTA hearings

 

#76X Broadway-Turney, Discontinue Saturday and Sunday service.

 

#83 W. 130, Discontinue Saturday and Sunday service.

 

#86 Warren-Berea, Discontinue Saturday and Sunday service. Discontinue service west of the Sprague and Fair Park-N-Ride lot to Usher Road.

 

#88X Broadway-Northfield, Discontinue Saturday and Sunday service. Discontinue service on Maple Heights Blvd., Clement, Mapleboro, and South Blvd.

 

#90F Broadway-Libby, Discontinue service beyond County Line Loop to Buckthorn-Balsam.

 

#145Y/R York Flyer, Discontinue #145R. Discontinue #145Y except peak hour, peak direction. Brookpark Road (between W. 54th and Broadview) will be served in the peak period, peak direction only. Discontinue deviation into Tri-C campus, but continue serving the edge of the campus.

 

# # #

I actually feel really bad for JMasek and the other RTA peeps who will be at these forums. They are going to probably get hammered with a slew of nasty, underinformed comments.

Although probably necessary, these cuts will not do much for the growth of use of publuc transportation everyone wants.  Some major roads will be left with no bus service after this round of cuts.

 

I am not familiar with all the routes that are being proposed to be cut completely:

 

43 - This is the only other bus that goes to the Westlake Park-and-Ride.  If you take the 246 and need to get to your car outside of rushhour, you'll need a cab.  Previous cuts took the 55C away.  There is already no service to the Park0and-Ride after 6:40, so if you have a deadline and are working late, take the Red Line...

 

49 - This is the only bus down Center Ridge Road, though there will still be some routes heading to the Westate Transit Center.

 

46 - Combined with the 43 and 49, I am not sure if there is any service left in Westlake besides the 246.

"When you express your anger at these proposals, be sure to direct them at the appropriate people -- namely your state and federal elected officials"

 

Preach it! I wish I had faith in our community to do just that, but that's a lot of wishing.

^Westlake people can (and some already do) drive up to the N. Olmsted station, the 75X is still an option there and depending on where you live in Westlake, this is still not that far of a drive in the morning - shorter than my drive to the brookpark park & ride from most parts.

"When you express your anger at these proposals, be sure to direct them at the appropriate people -- namely your state and federal elected officials"

 

Preach it! I wish I had faith in our community to do just that, but that's a lot of wishing.

 

Question about that though - is it really the fault of the people currently in these positions that the funding is where it is?  Have they and their predecessors not been doing just what the public wanted up until recently, which is put the money into roads and not public trans?  I don't know that anyone is deserving of wrath out of this situation except perhaps Big Oil and their cloak-and-dagger ways of working with the Big 3 automakers to keep us dependent on regular old gas-powered vehicles (anyone see Who Killed the Electric Car?).  It is time for a change in how and where people want transportation funded, and the growing pains are going to hurt because the economic picture is not good, but it's also an opportunity for the future, and for people to be involved in the process and for them to think about how they live their lives (and where, and why).

I am not complaining.  I don't live in Westlake, but use the 246 often.

 

It is interesting that Westlake would have virtutally no service with these proposals (except for rush hour service on 246 and 55F.)

I will not be able to get to work anymore on transit if these changes are implemented. With the loss of the very popular Lakewood Circulator and the shortening of the 75X route, I will have no transit service down West 117th from the Gold Coast to the West 117th station. Even if the circulator still operated, I would have to transfer once at the West 117th station to the train and again at the West Park station to the 75X. My commute by a direct bus each morning already takes twice as long compared to driving.

 

But I won't even have the ability to get to the West 117th station anymore. Instead, I will have to walk to Detroit Avenue, catch a #26 bus east to the West Boulevard station, then take the Red Line west to the West Park station, then transfer to the 75X.

 

If that's how I'm supposed to get to work by transit, I'm driving, or I'm looking for another job or moving to another city.

^Yikes, that is not at all cool.  That seems like a crazy result to have no cross town service along W117.

I am not complaining.  I don't live in Westlake, but use the 246 often.

 

It is interesting that Westlake would have virtutally no service with these proposals (except for rush hour service on 246 and 55F.)

 

That's because, in my experience, virtually no one in Westlake uses public transportation (except for the park-n-ride.)  I've been taking the 46 to work recently, and I ride from terminus to terminus.  I'm usually the only one on the bus both going and coming.  There are a few women that occasionally get on in Rocky River, but that's it.  The few times I've ridden the 43 and 49, it's been the same story, at least in Westlake.  As a rider, I'm sad to say it, but the 46 is one route that probably should get cut.

I think

^Yikes, that is not at all cool. That seems like a crazy result to have no cross town service along W117.

 

I'm a huge Cleveland booster, but at some point, the people in charge in Ohio need to get the hint that people vote with their feet.

All Ohioans need to write to their state lawmakers to demand a substantial and permanent increase in transit funding from the state. Please note that state funding for public transportation was cut from $43 million in 2001 to just $16 million in 2006 -- one of the lowest for any state, not just the nation's seventh-most populous. While state funding has been slashed, local sales taxes for transit have leveled off or fallen and fuel costs have gone up. Transit is a basic service that is relied on by many people for their quality of life, if not their very survival. More people need transit now than ever to make ends meet with rising gas and food prices.

 

Keep your communiques short and to the point. Just get your opinion on the record! Use these sites to find out who your representatives and senators are:

 

Ohio Senate:

http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/

 

Ohio House of Representatives:

http://www.house.state.oh.us/

Poor Jerry is already getting attacked over at cleveland.dumb

cleveland.dumb sounds so much more appropriate than cleveland.bomb.

cleveland.dumb sounds so much more appropriate than cleveland.bomb.

 

Thanks.  It just sort of popped out of my brain and onto the page.

cleveland.dumb sounds so much more appropriate than cleveland.bomb.

 

phew..back to a forum that actually has informed, intelligent people who understand that the problem lies with the Ohio and Federal government, not the management of RTA.  They really are ignorant on cleveland.dumb

I actually feel really bad for JMasek and the other RTA peeps who will be at these forums. They are going to probably get hammered with a slew of nasty, underinformed comments.

 

He's certainly getting hammered on cleveland.dumb

Why not think Federal since this is a national problem?

PUBLIC TRANSIT EMERGENCY RELIEF ACT OF 2008

All mass transit agencies in the country eligible for a one-time operating stimulus subsidy based on last year's number of riders served.

I have already emailed Tubbs Jones, Brown and Voinovich. Focus on Voinovich; he has urban roots yet may be able to persuade Republicans.

http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm

http://tubbsjones.house.gov/

http://kucinich.house.gov/

http://sutton.house.gov/main/

http://brown.senate.gov/contact/

 

 

I actually feel really bad for JMasek and the other RTA peeps who will be at these forums. They are going to probably get hammered with a slew of nasty, underinformed comments.

 

He's certainly getting hammered on cleveland.dumb

 

Thanks for the note, but I am ok -- down but not out. Chad Self, who recently left RTA, is now free to speak his mind, and you will see him from time to time on cleveland.com.

 

I hope you transit supporters can come to some hearings and make intelligent comments. We could use your help.

I understand the bind RTA is in in Bushworld: total dependence on cars, roads and big oil; transferring "new Federalism financial responsibilities on States and of course, transit indifference... and then at the state level, years of wacko Taft/Republican producing more transit indifference and less funding... I understand that...

 

... but some of these cuts seem dracoinian, esp the Community Circulators, which reach so many seniors and low income residents... the CC's are so well utilized, why eliminate them entierly!?

KJP:  How does the proposed bus fare compare nationally?  ($2.25-$2.50) 

 

How much passenger volume will be lost with these cuts? 

Check out page 4 for the potential range of ridership impacts:

http://www.riderta.com/pdf/presentations/2009_Tax_Budget_Book.pdf

 

I haven't seen a compilation of basic fares in other cities, but I'm sure anyone with the inclination can check the websites of various systems for a sampling.

Good point, joethejalapeno. Welcome aboard and love your forum name!

This is a naive question, but is there a lobbying group/could one be started to protest RTA cuts?  I think that some sort of organized action would probably work better than isolated protests. 

 

$2.25-250 for a basic fare is more than New York, Chicago, Boston and SF Muni.  DC has a zone system but for most rides, Cleveland's new fare would be more.

This is a naive question, but is there a lobbying group/could one be started to protest RTA cuts?  I think that some sort of organized action would probably work better than isolated protests. 

 

$2.25-250 for a basic fare is more than New York, Chicago, Boston and SF Muni.  DC has a zone system but for most rides, Cleveland's new fare would be more.

More?  where did you get that information? $2.25 is on par with other cities.  Again, why are you protesting RTA?  You should be upset with and contacting your Govenor, Federal and State elected officials!!

Below are cash fares for select transit authorities in the Midwest-Northeast which have bus and rail services........

 

New York City Transit Authority (bus and subway): $2

Chicago Transit Authority (bus and L): $2

Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority (bus): $1.50

Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority (subway): $2

South East Pennsylvania Transit Authority (bus, subway and trolley): $2

Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (bus): $1.35

Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (rail): $1.35-$4.50 depending on zone/time

Pittsburgh/Port Authority of Allegheny County (bus and rail): free to $3.25 depending on zone

Buffalo/Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (bus and rail): $1.50

St. Louis Metro/Bi-State Development Agency (bus): $1.75

St. Louis Metro/Bi-State Development Agency (rail): $2

Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Transit (bus and rail): $1.50 to $2.75 depending local/express and whether it is rush hour or not

 

I would like to have also included the total state funding given to transit in the states where these transit agencies are located. Alas, I did a long Google search and couldn't find anything. I know I've found it before and cited statistics, but I don't know where I found it. Sigh.

From Page 17 at:

http://www.apta.com/research/stats/factbook/documents08/2008_natsummary_final.pdf

 

TABLE 3: 25 Largest Transit Agencies Ranked by

Unlinked Passenger Trips, Fiscal Year 2006 (Thousands)

 

    TRANSIT            URBANIZED AREA          PASSENGER

    AGENCY              (Primary City)                TRIPS

 

1 MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) New York, NY 2,803,463.9

2 Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Chicago, IL 494,729.1

3 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Trp Authority (LACMTA) Los Angeles, CA 482,815.9

4 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Washington, DC 408,988.3

5 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Boston, MA 380,260.7

6 Southeastern Pennsylvania Trp Authority (SEPTA) Philadelphia, PA 323,050.5

7 New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) New York, NY 255,294.3

8 San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) San Francisco, CA 210,848.3

9 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Atlanta, GA 138,403.3

10 Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) Miami, FL 107,094.1

11 Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Baltimore, MD 107,024.1

12 King County DOT (King County Metro) Seattle, WA 106,273.6

13 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) San Francisco, CA 103,654.1

14 Metropolitan Transit Auth of Harris County, Texas (Metro) Houston, TX 102,477.6

15 Tri-County Metropolitan Trp District of Oregon (TriMet) Portland, OR 101,575.2

16 MTA Long Island Rail Road (MTA LIRR) New York, NY 99,520.0

17 MTA Bus Company (MTABUS) New York, NY 99,169.4

18 Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Denver, CO 86,571.4

19 Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) New York, NY 78,283.0

20 Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company (MTA-MNCR) New York, NY 77,070.7

21 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Dallas, TX 77,010.1

22 Metro Transit Minneapolis, MN 73,356.6

23 Northeast IL Regional Commuter Railroad Corp (Metra) Chicago, IL 72,064.3

24 City and County of Honolulu Dept of Trp Services (DTS) Honolulu, HI 71,168.3

25 Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Cleveland, OH 69,199.2

 

Source: Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database (NTD). A listing of all transit systems

in the NTD in order of unlinked passenger trips can be found in the Public Transportation Fact Book, Part

3: Transit Agency and Urbanized Area Operating Statistics at www.apta.com.