This is Dennis being Dennis. 

 

In the first place, most polling places are within half a mile of one's residence.

 

Second of all, most campaigns have "ride to the polls" programs when needed.

 

Third of all, the idea that an agency associated with Cuyahoga County government would attempt to suppress voting in this county, particularly in the city proper (which presumably is whom we are talking about here), is somewhere on the far side of stupid.

 

As Conyers is just as big of a publicity seeking idiot, the call for hearings may actually go somewhere....especially when McCain carries Ohio.

RTA press release, Oct. 6, 2008

 

RTA delays schedule change

 

CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is pushing back the Nov. 2 schedule change for 1 week, to Nov. 9.

 

“This will put to rest any concerns that the schedule change will negatively impact voter’s ability to access polling locations,” says CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese.

 

Last week, RTA officials said they would provide free rides on Election Day to anyone who was impacted by the service changes. They became concerned however, that news of this free ride offer could not be communicated with 100 percent certainty.

 

“If even one voter misses the message, it would be one voter too many,” Calabrese says

 

Calabrese thanked officials of the ATU Local 268 for their cooperation, which allows a schedule change in the middle of a two-week pay period.

 

Delaying the service change one week will cost RTA around $80,000.

 

“We want every one of our customers to be able to vote on Election Day, or before,” Calabrese says.

 

 

Now Kucinich will ask for a USDOT investigation, alleging that RTA is wasting money merely to satisfy a myopic politician.

Everybody knows Dennis is a showboat and a mass transit nincompoop (funny, he's often been a wet blanket for rail/transit projects).  And yes, most (but not all) voters are w/in a .5 mile of a polling place -- but what of those who are not or, even w/in a half mile, who have ambulatory issues?  The cuts will mostly impact Cleveland residents who have one of the highest transit dependencies in the State… Despite the head case known as Dennis, Calabrese did the right thing by engineering the postponement of the cuts a few days until after the election.  With the continuing suspicious eyes being cast upon Ken Blackwell and the Ohio Republicans from Election 2004 polling-place irregularities, the last thing this State needs in this emotional, hotly-contested presidential election is even the hint of any manufactured voter-suppression schemes that would largely impact the poor and minorities.

 

 

From: Press, Kucinich <[email protected]>

Sent: Mon Oct 06 15:26:29 2008

Subject: Kucinich Declares Victory for Working Class Voters

 

For Immediate Release:

 

Contact: Joe Benny (216) 228-8850

 

Kucinich Declares Victory for Working-Class Voters

Under Pressure RTA Agrees to Maintain Service During Election

 

Washington D.C. (October 6, 2008) --  In response to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) announcement that it would not cut service on November 2, 2008, two days before the national election, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) made the following statement:

 

“I am glad to know that RTA, after being subject to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation, relented and will not institute service cuts two days before the national election.  Unfortunately, it was only after learning that the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary had requested a DOJ investigation of its practices did RTA respond. 

 

“I am not satisfied that there was no ill intent on the part of the transit agency to deprive Cuyahoga County voters their ability to get to the polls on Election Day.  I am not satisfied with RTA’s slash and burn approach to cutting off service to its riders in the face of its budget shortfalls.  I am not satisfied with RTA’s philosophy of threatening and instituting fare increases and service cuts before exploring other options for meeting its budget. 

 

“I am satisfied that voters will be able to use RTA to get to and from the polls on Election Day.  Therefore, I thank Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers for responding to my request of September 24, and to the DOJ for any work they have done so far in responding to Chairman Conyers’ call.

 

“Despite the fact that this was done under the pressure of a costly and time-consuming civil rights investigation and potential lawsuit, it is nevertheless a victory for working men and women of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, who may not have otherwise been able to get to the polls”

 

Background:  On September 24, 2008, after learning of RTA’s call to cut service to riders two days before the November 4 election, Congressman Kucinich sent Judiciary Committee Chairman Conyers the following letter: available here <http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/rta%20cony.pdf> .

---end of release --

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have already formed an opinion on this statement. I trust you will do likewise.

 

 

www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1214

Commuter Advantage update

“I am not satisfied that there was no ill intent on the part of the transit agency to deprive Cuyahoga County voters their ability to get to the polls on Election Day. I am not satisfied with RTA’s slash and burn approach to cutting off service to its riders in the face of its budget shortfalls. I am not satisfied with RTA’s philosophy of threatening and instituting fare increases and service cuts before exploring other options for meeting its budget.

 

 

Yep, my opinion is that Kucinich has been more a problem than a solution. Rather than rag on RTA, which faced prospects of no funding support from elected officials other than Gov. Strickland, Kucinich should support the transit agency for its responsible decisions. Furthermore, if Kucinich truly wants to be a leader, he should stand up and call together Greater Clevelanders for a series of public discussions on what the community wants from its transit system and how the community, state and federal leaders will pay for that system.

 

One thing is clear: The current transit funding situation is broken. It is overdependent on local funds from a stagnant metro area. We are not getting our fair share of transit funding from state and federal sources. We need dialogue, not threats; ideas, not grandstanding; and solutions, not investigations.

 

If Kucinich's style-not-substance approach is indicative of how our leaders will handle the massive problems facing our corrupt financial institutions, our cash-strapped transportation systems, our energy constrained future, and our credit-deprived economy, then I hold little hope for this nation.

 

So that's my opinion.

“I am not satisfied that there was no ill intent on the part of the transit agency to deprive Cuyahoga County voters their ability to get to the polls on Election Day.  I am not satisfied with RTA’s slash and burn approach to cutting off service to its riders in the face of its budget shortfalls.  I am not satisfied with RTA’s philosophy of threatening and instituting fare increases and service cuts before exploring other options for meeting its budget."

 

“I am not satisfied that there was no ill intent on the part of the transit agency to deprive Cuyahoga County voters their ability to get to the polls on Election Day. I am not satisfied with RTA’s slash and burn approach to cutting off service to its riders in the face of its budget shortfalls. I am not satisfied with RTA’s philosophy of threatening and instituting fare increases and service cuts before exploring other options for meeting its budget."

 

 

A helmet for warding off Kucininich's psychic powers? :)

Jerk.

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

 

He could have dealt directly with RTA.  Doing this was divisive!

He should have dealt directly with RTA. But he seems to assume that no one else is reasonable or that there is some underhanded conspiracy to keep people from the polls. That's why he makes these outrageous claims. And he makes them publicly to show he's on top of the situation to help his constituents. So my comments are directed at Kucinich's total failure (and total disinterest) to understand what ails transit, and instead use citizen anger over the service cuts/fare increase to elevate his position in the community. If his consitutents were more educated on the issues affecting transit, Kucinich would not be able to acquire political capital from his recent attacks. Citizens would realize how absolutely baseless and destructive his attacks actually are. In that regard, Kucinich has much to gain by not taking on a true leadership role and bring the community together to find workable solutions to the transportation crisis. If he did that, they would realize his call for an investigation of RTA's finances is as full of sh!t as a composing center...

 

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

 

He could have dealt directly with RTA.  Doing this was divisive!

 

According to his letter posted on the previous page he had been dealing with the RTA. Their response, again according to his letter, was to make the cuts less wide spread but the date of the cuts apparently was just released which does pose a legitimate concern of disenfranchisement. Again it may not have been the most constructive approach but it was effective.

Knowing Kucinich (yes, I've worked with him and interviewed him quite a few times), it was a one-way conversation. Contacting RTA to voice your displeasure and dealing/working with them are as different as telling the waiter the food could be better vs. going into the kitchen to help cook the food.

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

 

In my personal opinion, if Congresswoman Tubbs Jones were still here, she would have picked up the phone, called Joe Calabrese, said "Joe, we have a problem...how can we fix it?" and the problem would have been taken care of before the phone call ended.

 

The lack of media attention to the Congressman's press release speaks for itself.

 

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

 

He could have dealt directly with RTA.  Doing this was divisive!

 

According to his letter posted on the previous page he had been dealing with the RTA. There response, again according to his letter, was to make the cuts less wide spread but the date of the cuts apparently was just released which does pose a legitimate concern of disenfranchisement. Again it may not of been the most constructive approach but it was effective.

 

** THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BELOW ARE MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND WILL BE MY FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY STATEMENT ON THIS MATTER **

 

I fail to see anywhere in the entire text of his letter there was an indication, implied or expressed, of "dealing with the RTA". Our reduction in the service cuts had absolutely ZERO to do with any actions on Kucinich's part, and everything to do with Governor Strickland's instructions to NOACA and the other regional planning agencies to free up available CMAQ funds for use by transit.

 

The specific date of the service reduction implementation was announced on or about September 23, so the idea that the date of the cuts was "just released" is also erroneous. Had Kucinich chosen to constructively work with the Authority, he'd have been in the know and could have voiced his concerns in a manner that might have yielded the same results, albeit in a less public fashion.

Jetdog or JMasek - can you tell me how regular maintenance is scheduled/handled with regard to the trains?

 

Many mornings I have been on a train that has significant delays because of the dozens of times at each stop the driver has to close and open the doors because one of the doors doesn't shut right.  Often we are sitting at EACH STOP for an extra 2-4 minutes while they open and close, open and close, open and close, call dispatch, open and close some more.  Yesterday, the driver was actually coming out of her cage at each stop and physically pushing shut the door enough so that the light went off.  After several delays at each stop, she finally did something so that the front door would be locked and told everyone to use the middle or end of car doors for that first car.

 

How are these things usually addressed/fixed?  This door shutting problem has been in place literally for several months.

 

Also, during even a moderate rain there is a LOT of leaking into the cabin.  If you are anywhere in the front of a car water drips on you from above, it runs onto the floor making it slick and some of the windows are not sealed tight, and people can't sit right next to them or sometimes in either seat next to a window because it is wet from runoff from the inside of the window.

Jetdog or JMasek - can you tell me how regular maintenance is scheduled/handled with regard to the trains?

 

Many mornings I have been on a train that has significant delays because of the dozens of times at each stop the driver has to close and open the doors because one of the doors doesn't shut right.  Often we are sitting at EACH STOP for an extra 2-4 minutes while they open and close, open and close, open and close, call dispatch, open and close some more.  Yesterday, the driver was actually coming out of her cage at each stop and physically pushing shut the door enough so that the light went off.  After several delays at each stop, she finally did something so that the front door would be locked and told everyone to use the middle or end of car doors for that first car.

 

How are these things usually addressed/fixed?  This door shutting problem has been in place literally for several months.

 

Also, during even a moderate rain there is a LOT of leaking into the cabin.  If you are anywhere in the front of a car water drips on you from above, it runs onto the floor making it slick and some of the windows are not sealed tight, and people can't sit right next to them or sometimes in either seat next to a window because it is wet from runoff from the inside of the window.

 

Question, you don't mention this, but did you write down the car number so that Jerry could forward your concern, if you or if the driver already have not contacted RTA?

Jetdog or JMasek - can you tell me how regular maintenance is scheduled/handled with regard to the trains?

 

Many mornings I have been on a train that has significant delays because of the dozens of times at each stop the driver has to close and open the doors because one of the doors doesn't shut right. Often we are sitting at EACH STOP for an extra 2-4 minutes while they open and close, open and close, open and close, call dispatch, open and close some more. Yesterday, the driver was actually coming out of her cage at each stop and physically pushing shut the door enough so that the light went off. After several delays at each stop, she finally did something so that the front door would be locked and told everyone to use the middle or end of car doors for that first car.

 

How are these things usually addressed/fixed? This door shutting problem has been in place literally for several months.

 

Also, during even a moderate rain there is a LOT of leaking into the cabin. If you are anywhere in the front of a car water drips on you from above, it runs onto the floor making it slick and some of the windows are not sealed tight, and people can't sit right next to them or sometimes in either seat next to a window because it is wet from runoff from the inside of the window.

 

Question, you don't mention this, but did you write down the car number so that Jerry could forward your concern, if you or if the driver already have not contacted RTA?

 

No, I didn't write it down.  I would still like to know what the maintenance schedule is even though I don't write down train numbers every day on my way to work.

I feel like I'm venturing into shark infested waters here but I for one congratulate Congressman Kucinich on ensuring there would be no disenfranchising due to a cut back of RTA service. His method may have seemed like grandstanding but with little time left before the election it was probably the quickest way to get action.

 

He could have dealt directly with RTA.  Doing this was divisive!

 

According to his letter posted on the previous page he had been dealing with the RTA. Their response, again according to his letter, was to make the cuts less wide spread but the date of the cuts apparently was just released which does pose a legitimate concern of disenfranchisement. Again it may not have been the most constructive approach but it was effective.

 

** THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BELOW ARE MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND WILL BE MY FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY STATEMENT ON THIS MATTER **

 

I fail to see anywhere in the entire text of his letter there was an indication, implied or expressed, of "dealing with the RTA". Our reduction in the service cuts had absolutely ZERO to do with any actions on Kucinich's part, and everything to do with Governor Strickland's instructions to NOACA and the other regional planning agencies to free up available CMAQ funds for use by transit.

 

The specific date of the service reduction implementation was announced on or about September 23, so the idea that the date of the cuts was "just released" is also erroneous. Had Kucinich chosen to constructively work with the Authority, he'd have been in the know and could have voiced his concerns in a manner that might have yielded the same results, albeit in a less public fashion.

 

My apologies JetDoG, I should have been more precise as to the letter I was referencing. The letter dated Sept, 24th written to John Conyers Jr. of the House Committee on the Judiciary.      "...  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 did not qualify the nature of the dealing simply that there was contact with the RTA. You've confirmed that implementation of the cuts were announced on or about Sept 23. Congressman Kucinich wrote his letter on the 24th this is only two weeks ago; one day after the RTA announcement and with roughfly only five weeks to the election. These facts clearly do not make my comment of just released "erroneous" when it is an obvious reference to a short period of time. You have made it clear you do not want to continue this discussion and it is not my intent to antagonize only clarify. You are correct that in my post I implied that it was his actions earlier in the year that brought about the changes in the cuts and that was simply sloppy writing on my part: the congressman did not imply that in his letter. I do not want to turn this thread into a discussion on the pros and cons of Dennis Kucinich but I will say I respect and admire him. I would hope he could, on occasion, visit this thread to read some of the many constructive and knowledgeable posts concerning RTA and mass transit. Perhaps he would be enlightened, by the constructive ones that is.

West Shore Flyer will continue service until end of the year

 

Avon Lake

By Bryan Wroten

 

The Greater Cleveland RTA has decided to continue its West Shore Flyer into Avon Lake for at least the rest of the year.

 

......

 

www.2presspapers.com

Thanks for posting that.

I would hope he could, on occasion, visit this thread to read some of the many constructive and knowledgeable posts concerning RTA and mass transit. Perhaps he would be enlightened, by the constructive ones that is.

 

We share a common desire in that... and I believe we can agree to disagree on some of the other points raised. Your input and feedback is certainly welcomed here.

Oct. 10, 2008                                                       

 

RTA Board to vote on fuel surcharge at Oct. 14 meeting

 

CLEVELAND – At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will hold a special meeting to consider adding a 25-cent fuel surcharge to the RTA base fare.

 

The fuel surcharge would take effect Oct. 27, and is expected to generate $4.8 million annually. Here’s how it works.

 

A fuel surcharge is not a fare increase. A fare increase is permanent, while a fuel surcharge can go up or down, depending on the cost of diesel fuel.

 

The base fare + fuel surcharge = the fare you pay.

 

For instance, for Bus/Rapid cash fare, you would pay a base fare of $1.75, plus a fuel surcharge of 25 cents, or $2 total, under the proposal now being considered.

 

Because RTA was able to lock in the price of diesel fuel at $3.17 a gallon for 2009, additional fuel surcharges will not change until after Sept. 1, 2009. If additional State funding becomes permanent, fares may not even increase then.

 

If additional State funding is not in place by Sept. 1, 2009, fares could change as often as once every three months, depending on what RTA pays for diesel fuel.

 

If the cost of diesel fuel drops below $3 a gallon, the surcharge goes away.

 

If the cost of diesel fuel is between $3 and $4 a gallon, the fuel surcharge is 50 cents. Because Gov. Strickland was able to allocate an additional $9 million to RTA, officials are seeking a 25-cent increase, instead of the 50-cent increase discussed at recent public hearings.

 

If the cost rises to $4.01-$4.75, a gallon, the fuel surcharge is 75 cents.

 

If the cost of diesel fuel rises to more than $4.76 a gallon, the fuel surcharge is $1.

 

 

 

 

A fuel surcharge is not a fare increase. A fare increase is permanent, while a fuel surcharge can go up or down, depending on the cost of diesel fuel.

 

The base fare + fuel surcharge = the fare you pay.

 

Thanks Jerry.  Be prepared for lots of skepticism from your friends on Cleveland.bomb

PR people have no friends. It is one of the perks of the job.

Preview of Oct. 14 meeting

 

CLEVELAND – The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Main Office Building, 1240 W. Sixth St.

 

The Board will consider a resolution to implement a 25-cent fuel surcharge.

 

The fuel surcharge could take effect as early as Oct. 27. It will help offset a projected $20-million deficit in 2009 – a deficit caused by increasing costs in diesel fuel, and reduced State funding. How a fuel surcharge works.

 

After the special meeting, the Board’s Planning and Development Committee will meet to:

 

* Hear an update on the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project. Service on the new HealthLine begins Oct. 24.

 

* See a demonstration of the new fare “proof-of-payment” fare collection system that will be used on the HealthLine. A ticket vending machine has been installed in the Board Room.

PR people have no friends. It is one of the perks of the job.

True!  True!

Edit:  I am a stupid donkey

 

I had a question about how oil price fluctuations would affect the surcharge....answered quite nicely in the article above.

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1218

 

Some routes change as HealthLine opens

 

 

RTA Board approves fuel surcharge, to start Oct. 27

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1220

 

How "proof-of-payment" works

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1219

 

Some routes change as HealthLine opens

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1218

 

RTA sponsors Disability Awareness Day Thursday

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1217

any fare hike is ridiculous. who can i complain to at RTA about this? and why do more frequent riders get hit the most by this i.e. week/month passes

 

 

with gas prices going down will RTA make these fare hikes permanent if they receive more funding? im not talkin about the fuel surcharge, im talkin about the fare increase/route cuts in november

 

so RTA is raising fires twice in the span of a few weeks?

"who can i complain to"

 

Your elected officials - they're the ones who have put Ohio in the lowest ranks for transit funding. Yelling at RTA is preaching to the choir.

MayDay is correct. RTA gets 70 percent of their funding from the countywide sales tax -- a source of funding that isn't growing in a county that isn't growing economically. Yet fuel costs have risen 119 percent in the last two years. Something has to give, and riders end up doing the giving.

 

At transit agencies in other states which actually care about public transit, you'll typically see sources of funding split in thirds among fares, local and state sources. Federal operating funds for transit systems serving population centers larger than 200,000 people went away a decade ago thanks to an anti-transit Congress and a president who claimed to support public transit but failed to defend it when the chips were down.

 

In other words, your elected officials have let you down. That's why Kucinich is blaming RTA for the fare hikes and service cuts. Because he and his staff don't care to understand the economics facing transit and don't wish to accept responsibility for what ails transit. It's always someone else's fault. I wish Kucinich would follow Gov. Strickland's lead, as he stepped up and pushed NOACA to devote more than $10 million of its unspent federal CMAQ allocation for transit. If Kucinich should be pissed off at anyone it's NOACA. Kucinich wanted those federal dollars for use in Northeast Ohio. Why were they unspent? NOACA will likely say they never got a request to use those funds for local transit. I say it's time for NOACA to show some leadership if they want their planning principles to mean something more than text on a page.

well i sent letters to them already............didnt change the fact rta voted by themselves for the fuel surcharge. elected officials arent gonna do anything

 

guess im gonna have to get a driver's liscense  :x

so RTA is raising fires (sic) twice in the span of a few weeks?

 

I'm sorry, please explain what is meant by this comment. The last increase we had was in January of this year, and was the second stage of a two-stage fare increase that began in 2006, which was the first fare increase in 13 years up until then.

 

The adjustment going into place on October 27 is not a fare increase, it is a fuel surcharge. There is a more-than-semantic difference, as detailed in the release cited above. The fuel surcharge is a variable addition to the base fare that can go up or down, or conceivably fall to zero, based on the market price of diesel fuel.

 

At present time, the market price of diesel fuel calls for a 50 cent fuel surcharge, which has been reduced by half to 25 cents due to the one-time funding received from NOACA. Should the trailing three-month average market price fall below $3.00 per gallon, the fuel surcharge would fall to zero. Conversely, should the state not come through with any kind of dedicated funding prior to September 1, 2009, the fuel surcharge would increase to its full 50 cents. Should the trailing three-month avergae market price increase to between $4.01 and $4.75 per gallon, the surcharge would increase to 75 cents. The surcharge will be adjusted quarterly as permittedby the resolution passed by the board.

well i sent letters to them already............didnt change the fact rta voted by themselves for the fuel surcharge. elected officials arent gonna do anything

 

guess im gonna have to get a driver's liscense  :x

 

I guess you prefer hyperbole over sound economics. A month-long transit pass will cost $76 (vs. $63 at present). If you drive 10,000 miles per year, that's 833 miles per month. According to AAA, the average cost of driving a car you own is 56 cents per mile. That's $466 per month.

 

Let's see.....  $76 for transit vs. $466 for driving. Hmmm. So you're going to incur a $403 cost increase because you don't want to pay $13 more for transit.

 

Brilliant!

In terms of the proof to payment system, can someone please tell me when they plan to role this out on the Red Line?  I'm getting kind of tired of waiting 5 minutes at Puritas for people to pay their fare at night.

In terms of the proof to payment system, can someone please tell me when they plan to role this out on the Red Line?  I'm getting kind of tired of waiting 5 minutes at Puritas for people to pay their fare at night.

 

Posted in the Healthline thread.

-Redline trains will switch to Proof of Payment ticketing in December 08

and why do more frequent riders get hit the most by this i.e. week/month passes

That's the part I don't like.  Cash fares are going up 12-14%, but monthly passes are going up 20-21%.  (More than the $0.25 fuel charge, by the way, so it IS a fare increase)  Way to reward the most loyal customers!  Previously, they did away with discounts on 5/10-ride farecards.

Again, it's not just Cleveland. 

 

Since I've lived parttime in NYC the monthly passes have had the biggets increase. 

 

I think it started out in you had to pay per swipe, NYC didn't even have a "pass" until late '97, and it was 54, then increased to 63, then 69 now 81.

 

Anyway, the idea is that people who buy a monthly pass are using it to pay for all transportation.  There are days when I swipe that card 10/12 times while out and about.  So it really does pay for itself.

A couple of not so good Red Line experiences in close proximity... Friday morning, I was boarding at Brook Park to get downtown.  The 7:09 was canceled without explanation.  Fortunately, I was early so it didn't bother me.  A couple of people had to ask for late slips (btw, when proof of payment is adopted, how will people get "late slips"?). 

 

On Saturday morning the train I was on(#190) broke down at W. 117th (This would have been the 7:47 at Brook Park).  This was definitely going to make me late and totally screw up my morning.  Fortunately, I was able to call KJP and he graciously agreed to give me a ride to CSU where I was headed.  That saved my rear end.  (thanks KJP!). 

You're welcome.

 

Public transit is often called part of the economic safety net. I am now the public transit safety net, but don't get any funny ideas out there in UO land. I'll charge the rest of you the AAA per-mile cost of 56 cents.  :evil:

Question: I was trying to plan a couple of trips on the RTA Trip Planner AND on Google Transit, but on both of them, it said this:

 

"Sorry, we don't have transit schedule data for a trip from tower city cleveland to 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106 (Cleveland Institute of Art) at the time and date you specified."

 

I tried several different times, dates, and places, and all of them gave me the same message. What gives?

 

The true cost of driving is still much more than public transit when you consider upkeep on a vehicle, parking costs, license plates, parking tickets, insurance, toll road fees, car payments, interest on car payments, etc. etc.

 

I picked up postcards which already have a message to Gov. Strickland. They are located at the RTA desk in the train waiting area in Tower City. I pass them out on the bus and trains (with stamps on them which I purchased). They ask the governor to restore the funding to public transit. It was cut drastically by the previous governor.

 

To anyone to thinks that public transit should "pay for itself and not be subsidized". Our roads are subsidized. We pay public health costs for people who end up in hospitals due to accidents and pollution from automobiles.

 

Tranist is fun, you can read, and talk to people, save money and headaches.

Way to go, Justine!

 

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Question: I was trying to plan a couple of trips on the RTA Trip Planner AND on Google Transit, but on both of them, it said this:

 

"Sorry, we don't have transit schedule data for a trip from tower city cleveland to 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106 (Cleveland Institute of Art) at the time and date you specified."

 

I tried several different times, dates, and places, and all of them gave me the same message. What gives?

 

 

My guess is that since there is no bus to the address, it got confused. I don't know why it doesn't list the nearest stop.

Question: I was trying to plan a couple of trips on the RTA Trip Planner AND on Google Transit, but on both of them, it said this:

 

"Sorry, we don't have transit schedule data for a trip from tower city cleveland to 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106 (Cleveland Institute of Art) at the time and date you specified."

 

I tried several different times, dates, and places, and all of them gave me the same message. What gives?

 

 

I don't know if this is related, but I've noticed that Google Maps no longer shows the next train or next bus times when you click on a bus stop or train stop.  I hope it's only temporary, because I thought that it was an awesome feature.

Question: I was trying to plan a couple of trips on the RTA Trip Planner AND on Google Transit, but on both of them, it said this:

 

"Sorry, we don't have transit schedule data for a trip from tower city cleveland to 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106 (Cleveland Institute of Art) at the time and date you specified."

 

I tried several different times, dates, and places, and all of them gave me the same message. What gives?

 

 

I can understand that happening for one location. But I tried several .. maybe they're updating things to include the new Health Line and other changes? Anyway, I was just curious about that.

 

My guess is that since there is no bus to the address, it got confused. I don't know why it doesn't list the nearest stop.