Why are you all calling this a fare surcharge?  Oil/gas/fuelis not anticipated to decrease.  If it does is RTA planning to then discontinue the "surcharge"?

 

If not, then call it what it is a fare increase.

 

Because fuel surcharge is a more saleable term than fare increase because it describes why the cost is being increased and sounds temporary.

For your reading pleasure:

 

RTA receives federal transit security grant

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1206

 

On-line transit purchases are now easier

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1205

Okay, I have to share this security alert from Case.  This girl has to be a freshman, cause there are about a million and one things she could've done while onboard the train, not to mention not get off the train with the guy!!!!!!  I am glad things did not end badly.

 

SECURITY ALERT

 

Case Western Reserve University Police and Security Services

 

 

Type of Incident: Robbery and Sexual Imposition

 

Location of Incident: 12000 Euclid Avenue, the East 120th Street RTA Station

 

Date of Incident: September 17, 2008

 

Time of Incident: 7:15 p.m.

 

Incident Description: A Case Western Reserve University student, while waiting for an eastbound RTA train at Tower City, 50 Public Square, in downtown Cleveland, was approached by an unknown man who made sexual advances toward her. The man demanded he sit next to the student once they boarded the train toward University Circle.

 

While on the train, the man grabbed the student’s hand and placed it on his leg and then placed her hand to his groin. The student pulled her hand away quickly, and the man tried to force her hand back. When the student prepared to leave the train at the East 120th Street station, the man took her cell phone.

 

The student stayed on the train until the man exited at the Superior RTA Station. She followed the man off the train, but he would not give her the phone until she paid him $10. She eventually gave the man the money. He then returned the phone and fled in an unknown direction.

 

Suspect Description: The suspect is described as a black man wearing a heavy black and gray jacket and a baseball hat.

 

Additional Information: The student was not injured. The Greater Cleveland RTA Police Department report was released to the university on September 19.

 

 

 

Security Alert #12

 

Initiated: 9/19/08

 

Information Provided By: Greater Cleveland RTA Police Department

 

 

 

She followed the man off the train, but he would not give her the phone until she paid him $10.

 

Wow! We are not in Kansas anymore, let the pervert have the phone. It is not worth it.

Stand next to the rapid operator, dial three simple digits, 9-1-1... I've been in a number of situations where I've discretely slipped my phone from my belt and dialed 9-1, with my finger poised to hit the third digit.

 

I'm not suggesting that this predator's behavior was in any way acceptable or permissible, but there were a BOATLOAD of things that could have helped the situation turn out better. I hope he's found and dealt with, as much for his own sake as anyone else's.

This is one of the reasons I pretty much refuse to sit on the inside seat on my bus or train.  If I am an early boarder, I sit towards the outside and leave the inside empty. As the car/bus fills up, I rise and will stand the remainder of the ride.  If it's half-crowded I will always sit next to someone rather than sit alone all the way to the inside because I can't stand being trapped in there by people.

 

edited to add: and yes, I always sit on the aisle on a plane.  I'd rather get up 50 times to let people to and from the potty than have to wait for people once it's time to leave.  I just want to get OUT.

Many RTA service changes take effect on Nov. 2

www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1208

 

RTA locks in diesel fuel at $3.17 a gallon for all of 2009; other Board meeting highlights

www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1209

Ever wonder why we have a hard time getting anything significant done in this town? One reason is because of political opportunists like Kucinich trying to make election-year headway with petty BS like this........

 

__________________________________

 

September 23,2008

 

The Honorable Calvin L. Scovel, III

Inspector General

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, D.C. 20590-0001

 

Dear Mr. Scovel:

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), a local transit agency which

receives funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the U.S. Department of

Transportation, recently announced draconian service cuts and fare increases. Although the most

extreme examples of RTA's planned cuts were at least temporarily averted, the agency still plans

to raise fares and reduce service.l At the same time, RTA is a f,rnancial sponsor of the capitalintensive

"Euclid Corridor" Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which is also funded by FTA. The

Euclid Corridor project is a massive construction project, intended to reshape the neighborhoods

and transportation routes in the vicinity of Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. It has already had a

profound effect on local businesses, causing many to close down or relocate. I am concerned

that the financial demands of the Euclid Corridor project are at least partially responsible for

RTA's operating budget troubles, and that service cuts and fare increases are being used to

subsidize the Euclid Conidor project. I ask that you immediately initiate an investigation of

RTA's budget shortfall and whether it is in any way linked to its participation in the Euclid

Corridor project.

 

RTA announced that it was suffering from a projected budget deficit. The agency cited the

high cost of diesel fuel as the culprit, and announced draconian service cuts and afarc increase to

address its budget troubles. All of the Community Circulators, which serve many of the

communities in Ohio's 1Oth Congressional District as Community Responsive Transit, would

have been eliminated. Approximately half of RTA's routes were targeted for reduction or would

have been eliminated entirely.

 

These cuts were announced as one route in the RTA service area, Euclid Avenue, is being

made ready for completion with expensive BRT vehicles which run along newly cut lanes. The

project is quite expensive, with capital costs of $168.4 million. Of that amount, RTA has

directly contributed $17.6 million. RTA's annual operating cost for the current year is $213.2 million.

It may only be a coincidence, but RTA's estimated budget shortfall of $20 million is

remarkably close to RTA's capital contribution to the Euclid Corridor project.

 

I am also concerned about its compliance with Minority (MBE), Women's (WBE), Small

(SBE), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals. A recent exposé alleges that the

Euclid Corridor BRT project was used to steer MBE, WBE, and SBE, and DBE contracts to a

particular group of businesses which, while not qualifuing themselves, used minority, women,

small, and disadvantaged persons as a front for federal jobs, including Euclid Corridor.

 

The people of the Cleveland area depend on transit to get around. Many are students, senior

citizens, low income workers and persons with disabilities. Many cannot afford to own cars.

People depend on buses to get to and from work. A growing number are looking toward urban

and suburban transit as alternatives to the rising cost of gasoline. They are growing impatient

with a transit authority which is looking to cut them off from the bus lines they depend upon

while one route within the authority's jurisdiction is being lavished with resources. The people

need to know, as do I and their other elected representatives, how their resources are being

allocated. The people of Greater Cleveland need transparency and are not getting it. I ask that

you conduct a full investigation of how federal resources are being spent on the Euclid Conidor

project, what other resources are being spent on the project, and whether operating revenue from

RTA is being used to make up shortfalls in the Euclid Corridor budget.

 

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee is the principal oversight committee in

the House of Representatives and has broad oversight jurisdiction as set forth in House Rule X.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Jaron Bourke, Staff Director,

at (202) 225-6427.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dennis J. Kucinich

Chairman

Domestic Policy Subcommittee

^ Unbelievable. Less than $20 million in local funds to rebuild a 10 mile stretch of roadway that was approaching third-world conditions.

 

Cities like Boston to states like WV rake in hundreds of millions (billions for the big dig) in federal money thanks to their reps in congress and Cleveland gets this  :wtf:  :wtf:  :wtf:

Yeah, Dennis has historically been a knothead on mass transit.

Would he rather not have the Health Line?  Seriously?  Big projects like this always cause a bit of chaos whether it's transit or a building.  Would he rather just have Cleveland stay the same forever?  Not very forward-thinking.

It's funny how he complains about losing a few businesses, yet doesn't mention the fact that there are billions of dollars being invested in the corridor because it doesn't coordinate with his statement.  I'm speechless on his stupidity.

There's always the next election cycle...

"The people of the Cleveland area depend on transit to get around. Many are students, senior

citizens, low income workers and persons with disabilities. Many cannot afford to own cars."

 

I think this last statement goes to show his whole view on Public Transportation. 

He just trying to show he's all out for the little guy. But he's doing them no favors here by getting distracted from root issues. If he really wants to do something for the little guy, he should do what's being done in some cities in New York State (see below). There, state funding for transit was doubled in places like Ithaca and Rochester (when you read these figures, remember the State of Ohio provides just $16 for all transit systems statewide). Here are the results of New York's funding increase.....

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/nyregion/15rochester.html

 

Creativity Helps Rochester’s Transit System Turn a Profit

 

By WILLIAM NEUMAN

Published: September 14, 2008

 

At a time when public transportation systems around the country are struggling with soaring fuel costs and pinched budgets, the bus system in Rochester has done something that few others would contemplate: This month, it lowered its single-ride fare.

 

Rochester’s Regional Transit Service is no behemoth. It carries 15 million riders a year, as many as the New York City transit system carries in two days. But as economic hard times have reduced tax revenues and increased demand for government transit subsidies, its experiences may provide valuable lessons for larger cities that are planning fare increases, like New York, Minneapolis and Cleveland.

 

The Rochester system, which expects to run a surplus for the third year in a row, has been able to reduce its one-ride fare in part by eliminating some low-trafficked routes, avoiding debt and aggressively raising revenues from other sources. The fare fell to $1 from $1.25 on Sept. 1.

 

........

FYI, to date, The Plain Dealer gave the story two grafs -- one for the Congressman and one for our response. TV-5 did a very brief story (no RTA reaction), and TV-3 aired a longer piece, with our comment.

If the thing were in his district he'd be all puffy-chested about how he brought millions in capital improvements to the area.  He's a grandstander.

About 10 years ago in an interview, he told me he thought the bus rapid transit line should be routed down Carnegie Avenue and extended westward on Lorain Avenue. He said that would put it through the heart of the city.

 

I asked Dennis "wouldn't you consider Public Square to be the heart of the city?"

 

He replied "well then Carnegie is the aorta."

 

Whatever that means....

 

But he was all about trying to get Euclid Corridor extended westward.

What the hell did those aliens do to him all those years ago when he was abducted

About 10 years ago in an interview, he told me he thought the bus rapid transit line should be routed down Carnegie Avenue and extended westward on Lorain Avenue. He said that would put it through the heart of the city.

 

I asked Dennis "wouldn't you consider Public Square to be the heart of the city?"

 

He replied "well then Carnegie is the aorta."

 

Whatever that means....

 

But he was all about trying to get Euclid Corridor extended westward.

 

...that makes sense, wanted it to extend into his district

That part makes sense. What doesn't make sense is he is so critical of it that he's asking for an investigation of RTA's finances.

 

In the screwed-up world of those who have spent their entire careers in politics, this sort of thing is sometimes a ploy to nudge a transit agency to expand service to their district. But if I was chief of the transit agency, my response to such a ploy would be to tell the elected official where to shove it.

About 10 years ago in an interview, he told me he thought the bus rapid transit line should be routed down Carnegie Avenue and extended westward on Lorain Avenue. He said that would put it through the heart of the city.

 

I asked Dennis "wouldn't you consider Public Square to be the heart of the city?"

 

He replied "well then Carnegie is the aorta."

 

Whatever that means....

 

But he was all about trying to get Euclid Corridor extended westward.

 

A simple look at a map (thank you, Google) will demonstrate that from E 22 - E 105, Cleveland has no fewer than four major east-west corridor roads (Chester, Euclid, Carnegie, Cedar). Of those four, there are only two (Euclid and Cedar) that extend beyond MLK, and only one (Euclid) that does so without the major geographic headache that is Cedar Glen, and serves the core of the expanding CWRU campus.

 

Is the Carnegie/Lorain corridor a major artery? Absolutely. Heart (or aorta) of the city? Not hardly...

The aorta directly connects to the heart.  Carnegie doesn't directly connect to Public Square.  Somebody failed anatomy ;)

What isn't cool is the vacancy in the congressional seat representing the East Side (RIP, STJ)... leaving us without another locally elected congressional voice that could speak in defense of RTA.

The good Congressman just fired Round Two.

 

Kucinich Calls for Justice Department Investigation of RTA's Service Cuts

 

Timing of Service Cuts Would Disenfranchise Voters

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2008) - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today hand delivered a letter to Congressman John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, asking him to raise the issue of Greater Cleveland's Regional Transit Authority's service cuts with the U.S. Department of Justice.  As the service cuts take effect just two days before the Nov. 4 election, Congressman Kucinich is concerned that the service cuts cause the isenfranchisement of voters who depend on public transportation in Northeast Ohio.

 

The full text of the request to Rep. Conyers follows:

 

September 24, 2008

 

Chairman John Conyers, Jr.

Committee on the Judiciary

2138 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Chairman Conyers:

 

Yesterday I received a news release from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) reporting service cuts the authority plans to make on November 2, 2008, two days before the federal election. Intentional or not, this action would represent a clear act of voter suppression. Hundreds if not thousands of low-income Clevelanders rely on RTA to travel to and from their polling place.

 

RTA serves Cuyahoga County, Ohio, which includes the entire City of Cleveland and approximately 58 of its surrounding suburbs.The service area includes the entirety of Ohio's 10th Congressional District which I represent and the entirety of the 11th District which was represented by our late colleague Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

 

The people of Cuyahoga County depend on RTA to get to and from work, school, health care, shopping, and family obligations. RTA also helps them get to the place where they vote.

 

I contacted RTA earlier this year to voice my opposition to a series of draconian service cuts and fare increases which I believe would have greatly compromised RTA's ability to serve the people of Northeast Ohio. Public outrage at those actions caused RTA officials to rethink the service cuts and fare increases.  While yesterday's announced cuts are not as severe as those originally planned, as recently as yesterday morning at an RTA board meeting, fare hikes and service cuts were not on the agenda.

 

I oppose these cuts because they will have an adverse effect on the ability of seniors, students, low income workers, persons with disabilities and others to get around. I also think that service throughout the region is being sacrificed in order to better serve one route between Downtown Cleveland and the city's major hospital complexes.  I expressed these concerns in a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General shortly after learning about the service cuts yesterday.

 

I write to you today because I am deeply concerned about the timing of these cuts.  Without prior notice to its board or the public, and just a little more than one month before the election, RTA is now announcing service cuts to go into effect two days before the election.  (??) These cuts could contribute to the disenfranchisement of many voters in Northeast Ohio.  Because of the large number of minority voters in Ohio's 10th and 11th Congressional Districts, there could also be violations of the Help America Vote Act, the Voting Rights Act, and other civil protections our nations affords to its people.

 

Therefore, I ask that as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, you raise this issue before the U.S. Department of Justice. Our nation's transit systems must not be manipulated by public agencies in ways which could disenfranchise the people. With the election just weeks away, I ask that you take up this matter with all due urgency.

 

Thank you for your concern about the voting rights of the people of Northeast Ohio.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dennis J. Kucinich

Member of Congress 

Perhaps this jackass may actually be helping.  What if the investigation concludes that, "Well gee dennis, the reason services are being cut is because Ohio ranks 47th out of 50 states in terms of transit funding."

This is the kind of thing I would expect to read from an ignorant poster at Cleveland.com. Then I might be inclined to laugh it off. But since this is coming from a congressman, it's downright scary how off-base this guy is.

 

He would learn an awful lot about transit if he would only stop talking for a moment....

^Sounds like its time for a SP article which he might read. :)

Why does he keep stereotyping RTA riders as "low-income"?

SP?

SP?

 

Your employer.

Sun Press.

I was confused because we have no Sun Press out of the Sun Newspapers' West Office. We do have:  West Side Sun, Brooklyn Sun Journal, Lakewood Sun Post, Sun Herald, West Shore Sun and Sun Sentinel.

 

We'll see if an article or column appears in any one or more of those papers....

How about a letter first? .........

_____________________

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact information:

Andrew Bremer, Executive Director

[email protected]

w: 614-228-6005

c: 614-657-4184

September 25, 2008

Rep. Kucinich Asked to Consider Real Culprit Behind GCRTA Service Cuts

 

(Columbus, OH) A statewide nonprofit organization today sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-10), expressing its disappointment with the Congressman's request for a federal investigation of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's finances. In its letter, All Aboard Ohio said such an investigation is dismissive of the root causes of the funding crisis being experienced by two out of every three transit agencies nationwide and that such an investigation will not resolve RTA's financial issues.

 

Instead, All Aboard Ohio reminded Rep. Kucinich, a longtime supporter of public transportation, that RTA is overly dependent on a no-growth countywide sales tax for 70 percent of its budget due the near-absence of state or federal operating support. Further, All Aboard Ohio asked Rep. Kucinich to "lead an effort to investigate more sustainable funding solutions for transit agencies facing skyrocketing fuel costs in economically stagnant metro areas like Greater Cleveland."

 

All Aboard Ohio gave real-world examples from two New York State cities -- Ithaca and Rochester -- which have reduced fares and preserved most transit services thanks to increases in state funding. In fact, Rochester (population 206,759) receives twice as much transit funding ($32 million) from New York State as the State of Ohio divides among all transit agencies in a state of 11 million people.

 

"If Ohio provided similar funding support, imagine RTA being able to reduce fares and possibly expand services," wrote All Aboard Ohio President Bill Hutchison to Rep. Kucinich. "We are asking for just that and need your help to succeed."

 

####

All Aboard Ohio! is a state-wide non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio, advocating for improved public transit and the development of the Ohio Hub Plan. More information can be found at www.allaboardohio.org.

_____________________

 

 

Sept. 25, 2008

 

The Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich

U.S. House of Representatives

2157 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington D.C. 20515-6143

 

Dear Congressman Kucinich,

 

On behalf of our board of directors and the members of Ohio’s only organization of concerned citizens who support better transit and rail services, I am writing to express our disappointment at your request for an investigation of the Euclid Corridor project by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General.

 

It is difficult for me to write this letter to you because you have been such a staunch supporter of better public transportation services throughout your career. However, your Sept. 23 letter to Inspector General Calvin Scovell is incredibly unproductive and dismissive of the root causes of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s financial difficulties. None of these financial issues will be resolved by such an investigation. Thus I encourage you to take the time to better understand these issues to become a more effective proponent of public transit. I will broadly touch on some of these issues here.

 

Unlike many transit systems nationwide where funding comes from a more balanced mix of sources, RTA is overly dependent on local funding. More than 70 percent of RTA’s budget comes via the countywide 1-percent sales tax. Yet Cuyahoga County’s economy has stagnated, resulting in sales tax revenue increases of just 1 percent over the last four years while diesel fuel prices increased 166 percent.1 It would be more helpful to Ohio’s transit-riding public, which All Aboard Ohio represents, if you could lead an effort to investigate more sustainable funding solutions for transit agencies facing skyrocketing fuel costs in economically stagnant metro areas like Greater Cleveland.

 

Virtually every transit agency in the United States has been facing financial difficulties in recent years, and especially in the past year. More than 60 percent of all transit agencies in the U.S. have had to increase fares to cope with increased fuel costs. Also, 35 percent of all transit agencies in the U.S. have had to cut or plan to cut transit services in spite of growing public demand for transit.2

_______________________

 

1 Testimony of William W. Millar, President of the American Public Transportation Association before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Sept. 9, 2008.

 

2 Ibid.

 

 

 

 

Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich

September 25, 2008

Page 2

 

Some of these transit systems have major capital projects underway; some don’t. That’s not the common thread among them. What is the common thread are rising fuel costs and declining fiscal support from federal sources. As you may know, federal operating subsidies on a formula basis for transit were eliminated in 1998 for metropolitan areas with more than 200,000 population. Federal operating funds can be had on a competitive basis through other programs, such as Jobs Access/Reverse Commute and Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality. But because they are competitive grant programs with smaller dollar amounts, these cannot be relied on from year-to-year as a source of ongoing public support.

 

All Aboard Ohio is grateful for your June 26 vote in support of Senator Hillary Clinton’s bill, S. 3380 “Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008,” to authorize $1.7 billion in new transit investment and provide temporary relief to transit systems coping with increased fuel costs. This is a more productive solution, albeit temporary. Thus we encourage you to seek more lasting assistance by restoring federal operating grants for transit systems in metro areas with more than 200,000 population.

 

As is widely known, the transit funding situation is even worse in Ohio where state government provides just $16 million divided among all transit agencies. That is a tragic figure, especially when competing states that neighbor Ohio each invest hundreds of millions of dollars annually in their transit systems. To show the direct impact of meaningful state support, consider New York State.

 

In Ithaca, NY, increased state funding of 40 cents per rider allowed Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit earlier this year to reduce fares from $1.50 to 50 cents during off-peak hours, resulting in systemwide ridership increases of 33 percent.3 In Rochester, NY, a city with a stagnant economy like Cleveland’s, the Genesee Regional Transportation Authority was able to reduce fares from $1.25 to $1 on Sept. 1 thanks to a doubling of state funding from $16 million in 2004 to $32.8 million this year.4

 

In other words, Rochester, NY (2007 population: 206,759) gets twice the transit funding from New York State than Ohio divides among all transit agencies in a state of 11 million people. If Ohio provided similar funding support, imagine RTA being able to reduce fares and possibly expand services.

_______________________

 

3 “TCAT ‘Experiment’ Pays Off, Buses Sees Boost In Ridership After Fare Decrease”, by Tim Ashmore, Ithaca Journal, Aug. 23, 2008.

 

4 “Creativity Helps Rochester’s Transit System Turn a Profit”, by William Neuman, New York Times, Sept. 14, 2008.

 

 

Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich

September 25, 2008

Page 3

 

We are asking for just that and need your help to succeed. All Aboard Ohio is working with RTA, the Ohio Public Transportation Association and other like-minded organizations in Gov. Ted Strickland’s 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force. Among other recommendations, we ask that state transit budget cuts totaling 63 percent since 2001 be reversed.

 

Please support these efforts instead of calling for a baseless investigation. Two inquiries might be more worthwhile, however. One is to seek an independent evaluation of the economic impacts of the Euclid Corridor after it has been in operation for a period of several years.

 

Separately, we encourage you to inquire why the Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality funds used by Northeast Ohio transit agencies for temporary relief of surging fuel costs had not been tapped earlier by any user. Northeast Ohio has significant transit needs for which these funds can be used, such as for newer and more fuel-efficient buses, signal prioritization for buses to operate at steadier and more efficient speeds, safer and more comfortable transit waiting environments, marketing programs to encourage transit use as well as general operating support. You helped bring these federal funds to Northeast Ohio. Let’s make sure they are used for their intended, eligible purposes, rather than sit gathering dust while pressing needs are left unmet.

 

We believe these are far more productive uses of your time and talents when it comes to improving public transportation for Greater Clevelanders. We will support you if this is the course you wish to take.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

William Hutchison

President

I really, really hope you post the response.

I really, really hope you post the response.

 

I really, really hope you get a response.

I don't expect they'll get a response.

 

Odd thing: Kucinich considered Stephanie Tubbs-Jones like a sister. Yet she was a big supporter of Euclid Corridor. I suspect she's rolling in her grave with what Dennis is doing.

Just thinking about Kucinich depresses me.

 

As a change of topic, I've noticed the last few weeks that a lot of the shelters in downtown are being replaced as part of what I assume is RTA's Transit Waiting Environments project. I'm curious if I'm the only one noticing that the new shelters are a little bit smaller and have less seats than the old ones. My office has a lot of people that could use the exercise involved in standing for a couple minutes, and I think all the chubby folks have noticed less seats in the new shelters. They look much nicer and unique than the old ones, though the metal work on the roofs in a couple of them aren't quite as neat as they could be.

 

I know, I know, I'm nitpicking.

 

How depressing! First this idiot that rides and gets of with a criminal and now the bigger idiot Kucinich!

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/17588135/detail.html

 

Man Critical After Getting Hit By RTA Bus

 

CLEVELAND -- A 66-year-old Cleveland man was hit by an RTA bus Tuesday morning in downtown Cleveland.

 

 

.....

Will RTA’s service changes affect you on Election Day?

 

CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today released this statement from CEO & General Manager Joe Calabrese.

 

“We know that many key races in this year’s election will be extremely close, and every vote counts. We want to make sure that RTA’s service changes, which take effect Nov. 2, do not affect anyone’s access to the election.

 

We want everyone to register to vote by Oct. 6, and vote on or before Nov. 4.

 

RTA’s new service plan was designed to impact only a very small percentage of the 200,000 customers who ride RTA daily.

 

A concern has been voiced however, that these changes may impact some customers and their ability to get to voting locations on Election Day, Nov. 4.

 

Although RTA believes that this is only a remote possibility, and along with the Board of Elections suggests that as many individuals as possible vote in advance, RTA makes the following offer:

 

If you are concerned about how service cuts will affect you on Election Day, call us and we will help you plan your trip. If you cannot get to the polls because of the service cuts, we will get you a ride.”

 

Just call 216-566-5219 by Oct. 31, to make such arrangements.”

 

Background -- These service changes were first proposed in July, when high gas prices and reduced state funding caused RTA to project a $20 million deficit in 2009.

 

Background -- These service changes were first proposed in July, when high gas prices and reduced state funding caused RTA to project a $20 million deficit in 2009.

 

 

But Kucinich said the Euclid Corridor was to blame, based on his extensive research! Oh wait, his staff only saw a "near-coincidence" in the fiscal deficit and RTA's capital contribution to the Euclid Corridor. So why not make a highly inflammatory charge, then for a federal investigation? I hope Kucinich will have the decency to apologize for his careless showboating if any investigation finds RTA has acted appropriately.

The allegations of political motivations are no doubt baseless.  But all in all, I do think it a bit lousy to change any bus routes two days before a major election.

My understanding regarding the timing has to do with RTA's budgeting periods, which are every two weeks. RTA needed to implement the cuts at the start of November, and if my information is correct, the two-week budget period changes Nov. 2.

 

If this is inaccurate, I'm sure Jerry can and should correct me.

It is too bad about the timing, but come on... Dennis is demanding that the Federal Government launch a no doubt costly investigation of this situation when he could actually make a real difference by lobbying real support for our regional transit infrastructure?  Does he not see the hypocrisy in this?

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/17602789/detail.html

 

This is a link to the TV-5 story by Duane Pohlman that was broadcast at 11pm Wednesday and 6am today. It pretty much reflects the broadcast version. The broadcast includes an interview with Joe Calabrese.

 

KJP, "budgeting periods" are really payroll periods, and by agreement with the ATU, service changes can only occur at the beginning of payroll periods. To hold up the changes until after the election would cost more than $350,000.

 

I can't help but contrast all this to the Governor's reaction. When he learned more about how severe the proposed cuts were, he worked with NOACA and others to find $20 million in funds around the state for transit.

 

I guess RTA needs to do a better job of educating our other elected officials (working hard to keep all published statements here politically correct).

 

It is too bad about the timing, but come on... Dennis is demanding that the Federal Government launch a no doubt costly investigation of this situation when he could actually make a real difference by lobbying real support for our regional transit infrastructure? Does he not see the hypocrisy in this?

 

Seriously- the money wasted on such an investigation could probably pay for a delay in the service changes until the next budgeting period.

Dennis initiates investigations while other states leave Ohio in the dust as far as public transportation funding and alternatives -- see the Amtrack thread to get a feel for how far behind we are in Ohio...

My wife wanted to drop her car off at a mechanic in the vicinity of Bagley Rd and Blaze Industrial Pkwy in Berea and take the #68 bus home (we're a short walk from the stop at Bagley and Maple).  Anyway, there was no stop anywhere near the location.  She had our 3-year old with her.  It seems the stop density is pretty low along that section of Bagley, even though there are lots of employers (light industrial area) along that stretch.  It seems the nearest one west was in Olmsted Falls, and, unless she missed something, the next nearest one wast was at Bagley and Lindberg.