Hey Jerry -

I didn't want to bother you again about it, but after waiting 40 minutes at E. 12th and Superior this morning for an eastbound #9 bus to no avail, I'd like to know if they're actually still running as according to the map during the E. 12th construction. Thanks :)

 

P.S. - I walked to Euclid and took the healthline instead. It was my first time, and it was really nice!

 

my apologies for your extended wait this morning... to the best of my knowledge, the #9 is not rerouted off of E 12, but I will check with our Service Quality department right now to confirm this; I'm glad you enjoyed your HealthLine experience, hopefully it made up for some of the displeasure you experienced

Hey Jerry -

I didn't want to bother you again about it, but after waiting 40 minutes at E. 12th and Superior this morning for an eastbound #9 bus to no avail, I'd like to know if they're actually still running as according to the map during the E. 12th construction. Thanks :)

 

P.S. - I walked to Euclid and took the healthline instead. It was my first time, and it was really nice!

 

my apologies for your extended wait this morning... to the best of my knowledge, the #9 is not rerouted off of E 12, but I will check with our Service Quality department right now to confirm this; I'm glad you enjoyed your HealthLine experience, hopefully it made up for some of the displeasure you experienced

 

Thanks.  I'm not angry about it or anything (luckily it's not that cold today), I just kinda felt like an idiot standing at the street corner for 40 minutes, lol.  So, uh, I'd rather not do that again if I don't have to!

Hey Jerry -

I didn't want to bother you again about it, but after waiting 40 minutes at E. 12th and Superior this morning for an eastbound #9 bus to no avail, I'd like to know if they're actually still running as according to the map during the E. 12th construction. Thanks :)

 

P.S. - I walked to Euclid and took the healthline instead. It was my first time, and it was really nice!

 

my apologies for your extended wait this morning... to the best of my knowledge, the #9 is not rerouted off of E 12, but I will check with our Service Quality department right now to confirm this; I'm glad you enjoyed your HealthLine experience, hopefully it made up for some of the displeasure you experienced

 

Thanks. I'm not angry about it or anything (luckily it's not that cold today), I just kinda felt like an idiot standing at the street corner for 40 minutes, lol. So, uh, I'd rather not do that again if I don't have to!

 

Entirely understandable; there is actually a minor reroute for the eastbound #7, #9, and #32 that puts them on E 13 between St. Clair aqnd Superior, and then routes them back to E 12. This reroute was published on November 11, 2008, and the full text of it can be found here: http://www.riderta.com/nu_ridersalerts_list.asp?listingid=1154. Ideally, if you were waiting at E 12 & Superior, you should have seen a bus approaching you on Superior and making the left turn south onto E 12, so perhaps there was something else going on there if you didn't see any such bus approach you.

 

One of the web site enhancements we'll hopefully be implementing this year is "tagging" of reroutes so that they can be associated with given routes -- right now, the posting system for those notices is entirely date-centric, and not readily searchable or indexed. A tag-based system will allow all reroutes for a given route to be collected together and displayed en masse.

I am not sure if there is any solution to this, but there is a major clog up for traffic heading SB on E.17 right around 5,30/600 due to CSU students making a left hand turn into the parking garage.  I was north of Chester and was backed up due to the drivers' inability to make a left.  Maybe RTA coule reroute the SB travel on E.17?

Hey Jerry -

I didn't want to bother you again about it, but after waiting 40 minutes at E. 12th and Superior this morning for an eastbound #9 bus to no avail, I'd like to know if they're actually still running as according to the map during the E. 12th construction. Thanks :)

 

P.S. - I walked to Euclid and took the healthline instead. It was my first time, and it was really nice!

 

my apologies for your extended wait this morning... to the best of my knowledge, the #9 is not rerouted off of E 12, but I will check with our Service Quality department right now to confirm this; I'm glad you enjoyed your HealthLine experience, hopefully it made up for some of the displeasure you experienced

 

Thanks. I'm not angry about it or anything (luckily it's not that cold today), I just kinda felt like an idiot standing at the street corner for 40 minutes, lol. So, uh, I'd rather not do that again if I don't have to!

 

Entirely understandable; there is actually a minor reroute for the eastbound #7, #9, and #32 that puts them on E 13 between St. Clair aqnd Superior, and then routes them back to E 12. This reroute was published on November 11, 2008, and the full text of it can be found here: http://www.riderta.com/nu_ridersalerts_list.asp?listingid=1154. Ideally, if you were waiting at E 12 & Superior, you should have seen a bus approaching you on Superior and making the left turn south onto E 12, so perhaps there was something else going on there if you didn't see any such bus approach you.

 

One of the web site enhancements we'll hopefully be implementing this year is "tagging" of reroutes so that they can be associated with given routes -- right now, the posting system for those notices is entirely date-centric, and not readily searchable or indexed. A tag-based system will allow all reroutes for a given route to be collected together and displayed en masse.

 

Ah, so there was a re-route.  I was looking at December/January re-route news since there was a new #9 schedule that was just published in December but didn't include this information.  So a bus probably passed me by but I didn't see it cause it was going the other way.  Oh well.  So another question for you then - is there a stop on E. 13th between St. Clair and Superior where the bus will actually stop and pick me up, or do I need to go wait on E. 12th across from Embassy Suites?  Thanks :)

 

 

Ah, so there was a re-route.  I was looking at December/January re-route news since there was a new #9 schedule that was just published in December but didn't include this information.  So a bus probably passed me by but I didn't see it cause it was going the other way.  Oh well.  So another question for you then - is there a stop on E. 13th between St. Clair and Superior where the bus will actually stop and pick me up, or do I need to go wait on E. 12th across from Embassy Suites?  Thanks :)

 

For best/most reliable results, I'd recommend the posted stop on E 12 across from Embassy Suites. While any operator should be in a position to make a courtesy pick-up on E 13, as long as traffic conditions permit, I don't believe we've posted any temporary stops on E 13.

 

The new schedule wouldn't include the reroute information since it's perceived to be relatively short-term (we usually don't incorporate reroutes into printed documentation unless they have a duration of around a year or more, such as in the case of the Fulton St. bridge).

Ah, so there was a re-route. I was looking at December/January re-route news since there was a new #9 schedule that was just published in December but didn't include this information. So a bus probably passed me by but I didn't see it cause it was going the other way. Oh well. So another question for you then - is there a stop on E. 13th between St. Clair and Superior where the bus will actually stop and pick me up, or do I need to go wait on E. 12th across from Embassy Suites? Thanks :)

 

For best/most reliable results, I'd recommend the posted stop on E 12 across from Embassy Suites. While any operator should be in a position to make a courtesy pick-up on E 13, as long as traffic conditions permit, I don't believe we've posted any temporary stops on E 13.

 

The new schedule wouldn't include the reroute information since it's perceived to be relatively short-term (we usually don't incorporate reroutes into printed documentation unless they have a duration of around a year or more, such as in the case of the Fulton St. bridge).

 

Thanks :-D

Jerry,

 

were you ever able to find out when RTA plans to modify/finish the Red Line station at E. 105/Quincy to accommodate more than the current one car; esp given the impending completion of the gigantic Juvenile Justice Center a few blocks away?

 

As to 3-car trains-- they would be great on the Red Line.  But I've only been on one on the Blue/Green Line, and that was when a 2-car train was disabled at Shaker Sq. and had to be pushed by a single car that came and had to be coupled at SS... 3-car trains on those lines would be a headache at Shaker Square b/c the archaic button-push switch at the Shaker-Van Aken junction would cause a car to block northbound North Moreland while the driver stops, opens his/her window, sticks his/her head out (often in the cold) and pushes the button and waits for the traffic light... I'd gladly settle for the 2-car trains we used to have during rush hours, thank you very much.

Jerry,

 

were you ever able to find out when RTA plans to modify/finish the Red Line station at E. 105/Quincy to accommodate more than the current one car; esp given the impending completion of the gigantic Juvenile Justice Center a few blocks away?

 

As to 3-car trains-- they would be great on the Red Line.  But I've only been on one on the Blue/Green Line, and that was when a 2-car train was disabled at Shaker Sq. and had to be pushed by a single car that came and had to be coupled at SS... 3-car trains on those lines would be a headache at Shaker Square b/c the archaic button-push switch at the Shaker-Van Aken junction would cause a car to block northbound North Moreland while the driver stops, opens his/her window, sticks his/her head out (often in the cold) and pushes the button and waits for the traffic light... I'd gladly settle for the 2-car trains we used to have during rush hours, thank you very much.

 

I think the lights on North bound N. Moreland are red when they go thru the square, so when they push the switch, traffic is going east/west on Shaker Blvd.  The train doesn't sit there that long.

 

The red line definitely needs to upgrade to three car trains and I would like to see more and physical test of scheduled three car trains on the blue line.  It could be every other train or every third train.  The green line doesn't need them.

Awesome!!  Goonday is doing some "investigative" report on the RTA sometime soon.  :evil:  I just saw it advertised on CBS.  Does he have some vendetta against our beloved transportation system? 

Who is Goonday and why is this awesome?

I believe he's talking about this guy:

 

 

I believe he's talking about this guy:

 

 

 

love the coat!

Goonday = Monday (maybe not close enough)

"investigative"= I do not think it is really investigative, I actually think it's sh*t.

:evil:= infer I do not think it is awesome

^ At 11 p.m. today, TV-19 is planning to air a story to

1). follow-up on the Dec. 3 bus-train crash in Euclid, and

2). update a story that ran last year regarding the health of RTA's bus fleet.

 

To prep for this, TV-19 asked for certain public records, and interviewed 2 RTA officials.

 

I cannot comment further, except to say...Film at 11.

^^^Re: 3-car trains on the Red Line. RTA is experimenting with this now. There are some stations that cannot accommodate 3-car trains, and for those stations, the operator would have to announce, "All passengers exiting at XXX, please use the front two cars."

^^^Re: 3-car trains on the Red Line. RTA is experimenting with this now. There are some stations that cannot accommodate 3-car trains, and for those stations, the operator would have to announce, "All passengers exiting at XXX, please use the front two cars."

 

Which stations cannot accomodate a three car train, other that E.105-Quincy and E. 120 and Euclid?

I think that's all. Maybe the West 65th/Ecovillage can't, but don't hold me to that one.

^ I do not have that info. I can check later.

I think that's all. Maybe the West 65th/Ecovillage can't, but don't hold me to that one.

 

That's what I was thinking, I was under the impression that the Red Lines stations were built to accommodate five car trains.  Although I'm not sure if the older model cars are the same size/length as the current cars.

E. 105th and E. 120th are usually "front door only" exit stations aren't they?  Or has that changed since my undergrad years?  So, people are probably used to restricted exiting at those stations anyway...

^I'm pretty sure that the first generation of Red Line trains was significantly shorter than the current models.  Plus, several of the stations have been completely rebuilt, some with relocated platforms.  A 3 car train would be pretty sweet to see.

^I'm pretty sure that the first generation of Red Line trains was significantly shorter than the current models.  Plus, several of the stations have been completely rebuilt, some with relocated platforms.  A 3 car train would be pretty sweet to see.

 

Yeah but some of those stations were gigantic and then shortened like Unive. Circle

 

That's what I was thinking, I was under the impression that the Red Lines stations were built to accommodate five car trains. Although I'm not sure if the older model cars are the same size/length as the current cars.

 

The original Red Line stations were built so that all doors on the old Pullman Standard Co. "Bluebird" rapid transit trains in a six-car configuration could open their doors at all station platforms. The Bluebirds were considerably shorter than today's Tokyu Corp. cars. I'm not sure, but I think Bluebirds were 50-60 feet long whereas the Tokyu cars are about 75-85 feet long.

Nominate a volunteer

 

April 1 is the deadline to submit nominations for the F. Robert Wiesenberger Community Volunteer award, sponsored by RTA and its Citizen Advisory Board (CAB).

 

The award is given in honor of the late Mr. Wiesenberger, who served on RTA’s Advisory Board for more than 25 years. He was also active in the Rocky River city government, and served on committees throughout the county for more than 20 years.

 

Nominees should:

• Be residents of Cuyahoga County.

• Perform volunteer work in this region.

• Have demonstrated a willingness to get involved, an unselfish giving of oneself, an ability to lead others, and a desire to enhance the quality of life in the community.

 

Nomination forms:

• Are available on-line at riderta.com/CAB/cvaward.asp

• Will be accepted from individuals or organizations

RTV on display at Cleveland Auto Show

 

Visitors to the Cleveland Auto Show can again see a 63-foot long hybrid-electric Rapid Transit Vehicle (RTV) from RTA’s HealthLine. It is the longest public transit vehicle in Ohio. Thousands of visitors toured the RTV when it first appeared at last year’s show.

 

The Auto Show runs Feb. 28-March 8 at the IX Center. Show hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sundays, and noon-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Adult tickets cost $12 each.

 

RTA staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Citizens Advisory Board seeks nominations

 

RTA is seeking applicants who would like to serve on the 20-member volunteer Citizens Advisory Board (CAB).

 

Persons must have a strong interest in public transit, and be regular riders. Civic-minded adults, age 18 and older, must also be available to attend 1-2 morning meetings each month.

 

Members receive a monthly transit pass from RTA.

 

If you are interested:

• Download an application form from the Web

site. Follow this path: rideRTA.com > About RTA> organization > Citizens Advisory Board

• Send e-mail to: [email protected]

• Call 216-566-5251

 

CAB members serve RTA and the general public in a proactive role as the pulse of the community in the promotion and provision of high-quality transportation programs and services.

RTA is working with staff at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to promote Induction Week 2009, set for March 28-April 4. Artists and ticket information will be announced soon at rockhall.com. Here is the lineup for this historic week:

 

Saturday, March 28

The popular Magic 105.7 Moondog Coronation Ball will be held at Quicken Loans Arena. You can park free at many RTA rail stations, ride any Rapid Line into Tower City, and take the Walkway to the Q. Stay warm, safe and dry, and save money on parking and gas. Visit rockhall.com for more information.

 

Sunday, March 29

A free community gospel concert will honor Pastor Shirley Caesar, at a site to be announced. RTA provides convenient transportation to all major music venues in Cleveland. Caesar has recorded more than 40 albums. Inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in 1982, she is pastor of a church in North Carolina. She will perform, and various choirs will honor her through music.

 

Wednesday, April 1

The Rock Hall will open the world’s first exhibit devoted to the life and music of Bruce Springsteen. The Waterfront Line provides convenient access to the Rock Hall seven days a week.

 

Thursday, April 2

A free community concert will be held in the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University. The concert will include performances by past Hall of Fame inductees. Several RTA bus routes serve the site, and it a short walk from the HealthLine on Euclid Avenue. Visit rockhall.com for more information.

 

Saturday, April 4

The Rock Hall will be open free all day. The 24th annual Induction Ceremony will be held at Public Hall. It will be broadcast live to a national TV audience and streamed live to audiences around the world. Visit rockhall.com for more information.

www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-transit-crunch27-2009jan27,0,282938.story

RTA is part of this story

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

From the Los Angeles Times

 

A mass transit dilemma: Ridership up, funds down

Public transport systems are reeling from an economic crisis that has dried up tax revenue and blown gaps in state budgets. They are having to raise fares and cut services.

By Richard Fausset

January 27, 2009

 

Reporting from Miami — Demetrius McClain's late-morning commuter train sped smoothly past strip malls and palm trees, heading north to his job in Ft. Lauderdale, about 30 miles away.

 

.......

 

[email protected]

 

Times staff writer Steve Hymon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

 

 

^^ I wish they would publish that article in the PD.

www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-transit-crunch27-2009jan27,0,282938.story

RTA is part of this story

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

From the Los Angeles Times

 

A mass transit dilemma: Ridership up, funds down

Public transport systems are reeling from an economic crisis that has dried up tax revenue and blown gaps in state budgets. They are having to raise fares and cut services.

By Richard Fausset

January 27, 2009

 

...In Cleveland, ridership increased for the sixth consecutive year in 2008. But like every major public transit system in the country, Cleveland's relies on both fares and tax revenue for funding -- and county sales taxes, a key component of the budget, have plummeted in the stalled economy, Calabrese said.

 

In the last 13 months, Cleveland riders have seen their fares raised twice and services cut by 8%. Calabrese said another fare increase and 6% service cut may be necessary this year.

 

The shrinking tax revenues are particularly painful to transit systems that continue to be hammered by high fuel costs: Many of them, Calabrese said, are still locked in to high-price fuel contracts that they thought were good bargains when gas was $4 per gallon.

 

Similar stories are cropping up around the nation....

 

 

wow. that's concise & eye-opening. there's nothing you can say. until the fuel contracts expire everyone is toast. same for homeowners with heating oil contracts. and who's to say fuel prices will still be low by that time? hopefully transit agencies can hold the line w/o fare hikes for just a while longer. reason #436 why a bit higher investment upfront in rail service is a better choice than brt.

 

 

An answer to an earlier question:

<<For the #9 bus going eastbound, travel is supposed to occur on E. 12th between St. Clair and Chester (going westbound, the bus uses E. 13th).  Since E. 12th is torn up between St. Clair and Superior, does the bus still use E. 12th for the time being, or has it been diverted elsewhere?>>

 

I am told the bus now follows East 13th to Superior, and Superior to East 12th. Of course, you can always call 216-621-9500. Thanks for riding.

 

RTA image overhaul.

 

all we need is seed....

 

 

http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/

Yeah put that on the Shaker Rapid.

RTA image overhaul.

 

all we need is seed....

 

Although I'm not sure how far this would go in Cleveland - we can't get a green roof on a new station because of the concern about possible 3 times a year maintenance.

 

But, the concept of improving our rail corridors is an idea worth exploring in more depth, imo.  We have a system that has some legacy costs, one of which is the shared rail corridors with freight traffic, and often out of the way, right-of-ways and cut throughs.

 

I think there is a lot of room to significanly improve the rail corridors (airport to brookpark, downtown to e55, for instance), by cleaning up rails, tires, abandoned equipment.  For many peole this is their entrance to the city, their first experience coming into downtown Cleveland or getting off the airplane and seeing Cleveland for the first time.  In the case of the airport to brookpark red line section, this is also next to I71 and provides an opportunity to brand RTA in a positive manner.

 

Probably tough to get any funding for trees or flowers or even the general clean up, but I wish there was more attention payed to the look and first impression that our system gives.

RTA image overhaul.

 

all we need is seed....

 

Although I'm not sure how far this would go in Cleveland - we can't get a green roof on a new station because of the concern about possible 3 times a year maintenance.

 

But, the concept of improving our rail corridors is an idea worth exploring in more depth, imo.  We have a system that has some legacy costs, one of which is the shared rail corridors with freight traffic, and often out of the way, right-of-ways and cut throughs.

 

I think there is a lot of room to significanly improve the rail corridors (airport to brookpark, downtown to e55, for instance), by cleaning up rails, tires, abandoned equipment.  For many peole this is their entrance to the city, their first experience coming into downtown Cleveland or getting off the airplane and seeing Cleveland for the first time.  In the case of the airport to brookpark red line section, this is also next to I71 and provides an opportunity to brand RTA in a positive manner.

 

Probably tough to get any funding for trees or flowers or even the general clean up, but I wish there was more attention payed to the look and first impression that our system gives.

 

I think criminals should be forced to do community service and area's like this is where they should be sent.

Court Community Service does do work along Rapid lines. I'm sure they could more.

<<I think there is a lot of room to significantly improve the rail corridors (airport to brookpark, downtown to e55, for instance), by cleaning up rails, tires, abandoned equipment. For many people, this is their entrance to the city, their first experience coming into downtown Cleveland or getting off the airplane and seeing Cleveland for the first time. In the case of the airport to brookpark red line section, this is also next to I-71 and provides an opportunity to brand RTA in a positive manner.>>

 

I agree with you. So does almost every person in Cleveland (except the pigs who illegally dump stuff there).

 

Question: There is ONE pot of money. It can either be used to operate a transit system, OR part of can be used to clean up trash that should NOT have been dumped there in the first place. These dumpers are criminals who are again breaking the law. I do not want my transit dollars to go to clean up after them, especially when RTA needs every dollar it has just to fund basic services. This is especially a waste of funds because within a few days or weeks of making the corridor clean, the stupid idiots will just go and mess it up again. So, now RTA has just paid $$$ to clean an area, and has nothing to show for it. PERSONAL OPINION: I would rather put funds into better fencing, or in increased police patrols, so the criminals could pay for the cleanup (and do the labor).

 

Bottom line: Whether you drop a candy wrapper on a sidewalk, or dump tires in a rail corridor, there is a price to pay for being a pig, and we as a society have to come to grips with that.

Wow, WTF happened on the redline westbound yesterday?  When I got to the platform in Tower City, the train was absolutely mobbed with people, they were literally crammed onto each car like sardines and there were at least 100 more that were trying to get on.  I really, really had to get home so I went up towards the front car and shoved myself on with my back barely inside the door.  Everyone was literally nose to nose and they were not very happy.  The driver, whose nameplate was absent (car 185, departed around 5:40pm), was SCREAMING at people on the platform and everyone was alternately horrified or laughing at her.  "GET ON IF YOU'RE GETTING ON!" "GET AWAY FROM THE DOORS!"  To some passengers standing near her on the platform she yelled, "WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!" and they replied "WHEN is that one coming?" "WHEN IT COMES," she yelled.  From talking to the 5 people who I was practically making out with, it seemed everyone had been waiting and at least 2 trains were supposed to come that never showed up, possibly more.  One guy said he got down to the platform at 10 after and there were no trains that whole time (departed at 5:40 like I said).  She did appear to have some trouble with the doors closing at each stop, as she would open and close them several times before we could proceed.

 

Of course, during the ride the riders started complaining about how gas prices have come down and why haven't the fares and I mentioned that RTA had locked into their fuel contract when prices were still going UP in an attempt to stablize costs.  Then a few minutes later someone else near me started talking about how awful our system is compared to that of places like Chicago or Pennsylvania.  I mentioned that it was too bad our taxpayers didn't want more state funding going to transit but instead it goes to roads and bridges, and though my figures were probably way, way off I explained that PA, for example, has something like $180M for transit each year whereas our govt only allocates something like $12M.  I *know* that's wrong but I was talking off the top of my head and wanted to make a point.  I did wish aloud that it would be nice if some of the stimulus package money would be devoted to transit and that we could get that money, and that this would be what would enable us to expand, but that I feared it would all go to roads and bridges and tunnels, because transit doesn't seem to be what the taxpayers want to fund.  They probably thought I was some kind of RTA mole.

 

But anyway, what happened?  That driver seriously needed to take a chill pill, she was just nasty.

The 5:42 train has been like that the past few days for some unknown reason.  I've been waiting to see the 3-car trains if they are going to space out the train arrivals, but that has yet to materialize.  What's the deal?

The other riders said some trains hadn't shown up beforehand either, not sure what's going on.

^ checking

A friend at work just told me the red line WB has been stopping for long periods with no explanation, over and over again.  Her outlook was that a little notification would go a long way. 

The 5:42 train has been like that the past few days for some unknown reason.  I've been waiting to see the 3-car trains if they are going to space out the train arrivals, but that has yet to materialize.  What's the deal?

 

I think that the 3 car trains are only going to run from tower city to brookpark and brookpark-tower city.  They have been testing some of the runs, but my guess is we won't see it for at least another month as there are a number of training and operational issues, not necessarily mechanical issues.  Apparently brookpark station needs to be slightly modified as well.

The 5:42 train has been like that the past few days for some unknown reason.  I've been waiting to see the 3-car trains if they are going to space out the train arrivals, but that has yet to materialize.  What's the deal?

 

I think that the 3 car trains are only going to run from tower city to brookpark and brookpark-tower city.  They have been testing some of the runs, but my guess is we won't see it for at least another month as there are a number of training and operational issues, not necessarily mechanical issues.  Apparently brookpark station needs to be slightly modified as well.

 

Why does BP need to be modified?

I think that the 3 car trains are only going to run from tower city to brookpark and brookpark-tower city. They have been testing some of the runs, but my guess is we won't see it for at least another month as there are a number of training and operational issues, not necessarily mechanical issues. Apparently brookpark station needs to be slightly modified as well.

 

If this is true, how is this going to work? Are these 3-car trains going to shuttle back and forth between Brook Park and Tower City and not continue eastbound through the rest of the line? I don't get it.

I think that the 3 car trains are only going to run from tower city to brookpark and brookpark-tower city. They have been testing some of the runs, but my guess is we won't see it for at least another month as there are a number of training and operational issues, not necessarily mechanical issues. Apparently brookpark station needs to be slightly modified as well.

 

If this is true, how is this going to work? Are these 3-car trains going to shuttle back and forth between Brook Park and Tower City and not continue eastbound through the rest of the line? I don't get it.

 

on the current schedule during rush hours these trains already exist - they stop on the stub track in the middle on the redline side.  these will be replaced with the 3 car runs - to start with is my understanding, as this is where most of the demand exists and most of the stations can support the 3 car trains on the west side.

^Because ridership on the West Side is so much higher, even now several rush hour trains run only between the West Side stations and Tower City.

^Because ridership on the West Side is so much higher, even now several rush hour trains run only between the West Side stations and Tower City.

 

I think this has historically been the case and a main reason why the only major extensions of the entire Rapid, since the Red Line was built, have been on the West Side... it's true, running 3-car trains thru to Stokes-Windermere doesn't make much sense; ridership is much lower on the East Side Branch... Of course, the TOD work at/around Univ. Circle as well as the gigantic Juvenile Justice Center going up at E.105, could change the balance of power rider-wise.  Maybe it would make sense to turn 3-car rush hour trains back west at the U. Circle or the future Mayfield/Little Italy station.  RTA, and Shaker Heights before them, used to turn back (to Tower City) rush hour trains at Shaker Square.

^Because ridership on the West Side is so much higher, even now several rush hour trains run only between the West Side stations and Tower City.

 

I think this has historically been the case and a main reason why the only major extensions of the entire Rapid, since the Red Line was built, have been on the West Side... it's true, running 3-car trains thru to Stokes-Windermere doesn't make much sense; ridership is much lower on the East Side Branch... Of course, the TOD work at/around Univ. Circle as well as the gigantic Juvenile Justice Center going up at E.105, could change the balance of power rider-wise.  Maybe it would make sense to turn 3-car rush hour trains back west at the U. Circle or the future Mayfield/Little Italy station.  RTA, and Shaker Heights before them, used to turn back (to Tower City) rush hour trains at Shaker Square.

 

I was thinking the same thing and there is a cross over east just of the University Circle station.  They have switched trains there in the past.  I don't think running three car trains between BP and UC would be too difficult.