Does Ohio need a purely membership-based, intraurban-transit-focused, statewide advocacy organization to lobby for transit funding in Columbus? (As I understand it, All Aboard is not exclusively INTRA-urban-focused; Ohio Public Transit Association is SYSTEM rather than member-based; other orgs like GCBL are not statewide and/or not entirely transportation focused - Greater Ohio is statewide but not transportation-only, etc.)

If 10,000 members statewide could pay a $10/year membership fee, a full-time Columbus-based advocate could be hired? This would be more effective as a sustained operation as opposed to ad hoc flurries of postcards each time public meetings are called to protest RTA's latest threatened cuts.

 

It is the job of the staff to present recommendations to the Board. Eliminating weekend service was mentioned as an option -- one that many other systems have used. Right now, that is all it is, an option...not a scare tactic, as someone alluded to.

Jerry: Is it a realistic option? One getting serious discussion and consideration?

As the PD story said, the Board will meet in May to review the issues with staff and give the staff direction on how to reduce the projected deficit. So at this point in time, before the Board meets to discuss it, your question is way too premature. Your interest is appreciated. It has always been RTA's intention to affect the least number of people when reducing service, and that continues to be the policy this year. I will keep you posted, as I always have, but please, do not ask me to comment on things before they happen. I won't do that.

Does Ohio need a purely membership-based, intraurban-transit-focused, statewide advocacy organization to lobby for transit funding in Columbus? (As I understand it, All Aboard is not exclusively INTRA-urban-focused; Ohio Public Transit Association is SYSTEM rather than member-based; other orgs like GCBL are not statewide and/or not entirely transportation focused - Greater Ohio is statewide but not transportation-only, etc.)

If 10,000 members statewide could pay a $10/year membership fee, a full-time Columbus-based advocate could be hired? This would be more effective as a sustained operation as opposed to ad hoc flurries of postcards each time public meetings are called to protest RTA's latest threatened cuts.

 

 

A possibility is for All Aboard Ohio's parent organization, the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers, to serve as the parent and fiscal agent for a statewide association of transit riders. The benefit is to tap into OARP's non-profit tax status, which can take a couple of years to get from the IRS. This is similar to the Midwest High Speed Rail Association which also has an arm which operates the Transit Riders Alliance independently. See: http://www.transitridersalliance.org/

 

Something to consider....

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1292

 

Red Line upgrades fare collection system

 

CLEVELAND -- Red Line customers will see a new fare collection system in May on the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA).

 

New signs and new machines are now being installed in Red Line rail stations. When the proof-of-payment system is ready for use, staff will be on hand to help customers use it. The new system is already in service in many other transit systems around the country. Customers on RTA’s HealthLine on Euclid Avenue have been using this new fare collection system since February.

 

A faster ride

The proof-of-payment system offers many benefits:

 

* A faster ride, because there is no more on-board fare collection. With an active farecard or pass, you simply get on and go. This speeds up the boarding process and eliminates backups.

 

* The ability to use personal credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) to pay for your fare.

 

* More Transit Police to enforce fare collection and ensure your safety.

 

* Improved revenue flow, so RTA can more fully capture revenue and provide service.

 

How the system works

 

Whatever you currently buy from the operator or booth attendant, you can will be able to buy before you enter a “fare paid zone.”

 

You can buy your All-Day Pass, or 1-ride or 2-ride farecard, from a ticket vending machine in each station. Look for a sign that reads Pay fares here. These machines also activate farecards and passes. Some stations are also equipped with stand-alone activation scanners.

 

A ticket or pass purchased using the TVM will already be activated.

 

In addition, busier stations will have a customer service kiosk that offers a full range of RTA fare media. Look for a sign that reads Passes and farecards.

 

You must retain your fare media when you enter a “fare-paid zone” and at all times while riding the train. The “fare-paid zone” will be clearly marked with new signs at all stations.

 

Fare collection officers from Transit Police will be on trains regularly, asking you to show a proof-of-payment. You must retain your fare media until you have exited the rail system.

 

You can use a fare purchased earlier (such as a weekly or monthly pass).

If you are a student at a college that offers a U-Pass program, keep your college ID card with you at all times.

 

If you do not have a valid pass or farecard, you will be required to pay a violation fare of $76 within 14 days, or be issued a criminal citation.

 

A ticket vending machine…

 

* Offers Braille and audio features for sight-impaired customers.

 

* Accepts coins and bills, but does not give change.

 

* Accepts debit and credit cards – Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

 

* Issues magnetic tickets for any kind of All-Day Pass and receipts for one-way cash fares. In other words, it simulates an on-board farebox.

 

What needs to be activated (validated) before you board

 

* 7-Day Flex Passes must be activated before first use only.

 

* All-Day Passes must be activated.

 

* On 5-Ride Farecards, each ride needs to be activated.

 

Monthly Passes are already activated for the month they were purchased for.

 

Passes and farecards can be activated at any ticket vending machine. Some platforms also offer a smaller unit for activation only.

Why doesn't the RTA just install turnstiles that people need to swipe their pass through to get in? Too expensive? Or is this already in place and I'm reading all of this wrong?

Not in place at University Station.  Tower City has them, but they don't force you to swipe your card to go through.

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1293

 

Update on weekend rail service

 

CLEVELAND – Construction work by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will affect all three rail lines this weekend, from 8 p.m. Friday, May 1, through 3 a.m. Monday, May 4.

 

Light-rail service on the Blue/Green lines

 

Blue and Green Line rail service will be replaced by shuttles buses, as RTA performs $1.6 million of needed track maintenance work.

 

Shuttle buses will operate between Tower City and Van Aken - Warrensville and Tower City and Green Road.

 

Shuttle buses pick up on Public Square in front of Tower City. Blue/Green line customers who wish to continue on the Waterfront Line at Tower City should ask the bus operator for a courtesy transfer. Waterfront Line customers who wish to continue on to the Blue/Green line should also ask the rail operator for a courtesy transfer. These transfers only apply to customers who paid a cash fare.

 

While delays will be kept to a minimum, customer should allow extra travel time.  Regular rail service will resume on Monday morning.

 

RTA regrets any inconvenience to its customers during this time.

 

Heavy-rail Red Line service

 

Because of bridge reconstruction on the east end of the Red Line, trains will not operate east of East 120th Street Station.

 

No shuttle bus service will be provided. Customers who need to travel east to stations at Superior and Windermere will be directed to use the HealthLine.

 

Rail operators will issue a courtesy transfer at the East 120th Street station to passenger who wish to travel east on the HealthLine. Red Line operators will also visually accept a HealthLine proof-of-payment document from westbound passengers boarding at E. 120th St.

 

"A ticket vending machine…

* Accepts coins and bills, but does not give change."

 

I don't understand why machines had to be put in that won't give change.  Could it really have been that much more expensive to put in a new machine that makes change vs. ones that don't make change? Most people do not have exact change.

"A ticket vending machine…

* Accepts coins and bills, but does not give change."

 

I don't understand why machines had to be put in that won't give change. Could it really have been that much more expensive to put in a new machine that makes change vs. ones that don't make change? Most people do not have exact change.

 

I agree.  This is a huge annoyance.  And while I guess it should be easy just to remember to pack your RTA $$ every day, it doesn't always work that way.  Plus, considering few people ever deal with something that does not give change, this will be obnoxious.

In the past two days I've helped four people who could not figure out how to pay for their bus rides on the Silver Line. I have a monthly pass, so I never had to use the machine before.

 

They are NOT intuitive at all.

 

To be fair, two were fairly old and un-tech savvy. One obviously could not read well (at all?). The other, though, was a frustrated boomer with a blackberry on his hip who said he doesn't think he can remember all those steps and "next time I'll just drive."

 

I was able to figure it out, but it took me a while. And it took a LOT of button presses.

 

KSU has an Information Architecture and Knowledge Management degree program. I bet a grad student would love a chance to redesign that interface at low/no cost to RTA.

In the past two days I've helped four people who could not figure out how to pay for their bus rides on the Silver Line. I have a monthly pass, so I never had to use the machine before.

 

They are NOT intuitive at all.

 

To be fair, two were fairly old and un-tech savvy. One obviously could not read well (at all?). The other, though, was a frustrated boomer with a blackberry on his hip who said he doesn't think he can remember all those steps and "next time I'll just drive."

 

I was able to figure it out, but it took me a while. And it took a LOT of button presses.

 

KSU has an Information Architecture and Knowledge Management degree program. I bet a grad student would love a chance to redesign that interface at low/no cost to RTA.

 

True, except that RTA probably already has contracts with someone on the equipment that would be violated by reprograming. I don't think the machines are that bad, but they could certainly be better.

 

I agree with the above posts that change would be nice, and can't cost that much more. How many other vending machines don't give change anymore other than the one's that dispense candy or temporary tattoos for a quarter?

True, except that RTA probably already has contracts with someone on the equipment that would be violated by reprograming. I don't think the machines are that bad, but they could certainly be better.

 

I'm sure the vender would have to rework the interface, and RTA wouldn't reprogram it itself. Frankly, after the implementation of the machines were delayed at the outset, it's disappointing that this is what was unveiled. Unless this was the simplified version of some even worse interface.......

 

This evening I'm going to count how many button pushes it takes to buy a one-trip pass. I bet it's at least five. That's ridiculous.

"A ticket vending machine…

* Accepts coins and bills, but does not give change."

 

I don't understand why machines had to be put in that won't give change. Could it really have been that much more expensive to put in a new machine that makes change vs. ones that don't make change? Most people do not have exact change.

 

it is a space and cost issue.  there isn't space in the smaller machines to introduce a change function.  credit/debit availability is much better imo anyway.  If you see one of the smaller machines open, the entire machine is already full. 

 

At some of the key stations, including the airport and tower city and maybe a few others, there are (or will be) larger fare machines that sell more types of media and do provide change, with the dollars and coins inserted into the machine to purchase fare media being used real time to provide change to other customers, reducing restocking of the change slots.

I've also never been a fan of having to push buttons that are located on the right side of an interface (similar to Chase ATMs).  I am always paranoid about misjudging the alignment.  If there were just one button, fine.  But, when there are like 5-6 different options, I think the possibilities for error greatly increase.

 

 

A national magazine included RTA in a story on fuel hedging.

 

http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=8483&pageNum=1

 

April 23, 2009

 

Beat the Price at the Pump

 

from Mass Transit

 

Price hedging can help transit agencies reduce overall fuel costs, but it isn’t without risk.

 

In the current fuel climate, even the goals of reducing cost and price risk can be contradictory. Take the Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority. The authority locked in diesel prices at $3.17 for this year, a price significantly higher than the retail market price right now. But, the price seemed like a good idea when the Cleveland RTA locked it in last year. Plus, at that price, the system’s fuel costs will come in at budget for sure, no matter how wildly prices swing in the remainder of the year, says Gale Fisk, executive director of the office of management and budget for the Cleveland RTA.

 

What looked like a good price at the time for Cleveland now looks like an outrageously high price, but it is still accomplishing what the transit authority set out to do. Such is the world of fuel price hedging. One can seek the greatest possible savings, the most stable price or to save a couple of cents per gallon over the average price, and there are a number of ways to accomplish those goals or a blend of those goals.

 

.....

 

Pricing for the Future

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority has turned to commodity buying to help hedge fuel prices. The transit authority locked into a fixed-price contract at $3.17 per gallon for this year. At the time that seemed like a great price and, despite being significantly above the market now, will still allow the Cleveland RTA to meet budget on fuel prices, says Fisk, the executive director of the office of management and budget.

 

“At that time we felt really good about that price level,” Fisk says.

 

The RTA pushed for a state law that would allow the mass transit organizations to buy fuel futures. Currently, the organization is buying futures at $1.80 per gallon for 2010.

 

“When the futures mature we sell them and use the excess or the deficit as an offset to augment the actual market purchase price,” Fisk says.

 

Fisk says investing in future commodities rather than locking into a single long-term contract makes a lot of sense. The contract represents a single decision point, a price at a specific moment of time. And that can turn out to be really right or, like the $3.17 contract, really wrong in terms of where the market is heading, Fisk says. Buying futures lets the mass transit organization make a hundred different decisions over time, something that should lead to a better price.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority has a fleet of roughly 500 buses and served some 57.9 million passengers in 2008.

 

Like the other transit organizations, reducing cost fluctuations is the main goal.

 

“The first thing is managing risk and second is saving money,” Fisk says.

 

While managing risk is a sure thing with a well constructed program, saving money is more of a gamble since predicting the market perfectly is an impossibility.

 

With where the market is now, Cleveland anticipates reducing its fuel budget to around $9.8 million in 2010, down from a recent peak of $18.8 million. That $9.8 million figure would be the lowest amount spent on fuel since 2004, Fisk says. To do that, Cleveland will have some 90 percent of its fuel for the upcoming year hedged with futures.

 

Long-Term Investment

The Cleveland RTA was spurred to look at fuel cost containment after determining its prices had gone up 200 percent between 2004 and 2008 and another 60 percent in 2008. 

 

Those wild fuel price fluctuations forced Cleveland and Austin to look at how they could control the risk associated with fuel price cost, but hedging prices to avoid spikes isn’t a new invention.

 

.....

Does anyone know anything about what is going on with the Red Line E120 station move to Mayfield Road?  There has been no activity in the area besides a bridge repaint and a few guys looking at the boarded-up old Van Sweringan stairwell in the bridge a few weeks ago.  I'm just curious if anyone had any news.  The last I heard was that they were going to break ground sometime in the fall of 2009.

 

Are there plans to re-use the Van Sweringen stairwell if feasible?  I have always wanted to check it out for myself -- another piece of interesting Cleveland history :)

^I am checking.

A national magazine included RTA in a story on fuel hedging.

 

Smaller fleets probably don’t have someone with commodities market experience on hand and hiring someone or employing an outside consultant might create more costs than savings. But, for something as complex as investing in futures, instead of simply seeking a long-term fuel contract, the risks are high for people without significant financial market experience, Penello says.

 

Jerry, since hiring someone with with commodities market experience would be cost prohibitive, has RTA considered partnering with with some of the transit agencies from neighboring counties to purchase fuel? Then the cose of hiring someone could be spread around further.

RTA has a contract with an outside consultant who has the needed experience. The consultant also works with transit agencies in 6 other cities, two of which are in Ohio. Market conditions can change rapidly, and RTA can react within an hour, or less, if need be. Fuel hedging means buying when the time is right. It is different from say, bidding on bulk, when you get a better price for 1,000 units of paper than you would for 100 units of paper.

What is going on with the Red Line E120 station move to Mayfield Road?....Are there plans to re-use the Van Sweringen stairwell if feasible?

 

RTA staff met with the architect this week. We are moving forward with the design. The five-year capital budget calls for construction to start in 2011. About the stairwell, RTA is planning to use the vault space as the main station area, adding a new connection under the westbound track and two new stairs up either side.

I presume many of you saw the article in this morning's PD about the possibility of a 3-C Corridor train station at the RTA's Puritas stop. If not....

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,18328.msg392523.html#msg392523

 

It appears that some minor change orders may be in the offing for the station design. It doesn't sound like much would be needed, such as adding stairwells/escalators from the overhead walkway to the NS tracks below. The question is, where would the fare collection/turnstiles area be? Or, since RTA is going to POP, is a fare collection area even needed? But surely there would be turnstiles to provide accurate data on boarding/alighting.

^ Every Red Line station will have a clearly marked "fare paid zone." You must have your proof-of-payment before entering the "fare paid zone."

 

So has the rebuild of the Puritas station been delayed to take this inot account or can most of the prelimianry work be completed while the final decsion on stops is made?  It seems like adding stairwells and elevators would be simple enough to connect into the bridge spanning the platform.  Just hoping that the station gets updated soon as it really needs it.

^Ground breaking ceremony is set for 11:30am on May 27.

FYI this morning on the red line it sounded like the robot voice was telling people they can connect with the 326 at West Boulevard.  Is there still a 326?

This morning on the Red Line, it sounded like the robot voice was telling people they can connect with the 326 at West Boulevard. Is there still a 326?

I checked RTA's Web site, and no, there is not a #326, but there IS a connection at that station to the #26. I will ask that the script for that station be double-checked.

i saw this on ffffound, the addictive image website, they liked it -- awesome graphic!  :clap:

 

This morning on the Red Line, it sounded like the robot voice was telling people they can connect with the 326 at West Boulevard. Is there still a 326?

I checked RTA's Web site, and no, there is not a #326, but there IS a connection at that station to the #26. I will ask that the script for that station be double-checked.

 

The #326 used be the Detroit-Superior line. But something like a year ago, they split the routes 3 - Superior, and 26 - Detroit.

This morning on the Red Line, it sounded like the robot voice was telling people they can connect with the 326 at West Boulevard. Is there still a 326?

I checked RTA's Web site, and no, there is not a #326, but there IS a connection at that station to the #26. I will ask that the script for that station be double-checked.

 

The #326 used be the Detroit-Superior line. But something like a year ago, they split the routes 3 - Superior, and 26 - Detroit.

 

It was that way for many decades before it was joined.  So it's nothign new. ;)    I'm sure Jerry is well aware of that fact.  lol

^ I was just trying to make the point that I get most of my information off the RTA Web site. I encourage its use.

[Jerry, a UO forumer by the handle "ccars" posted this entry a while back, but I'm not sure if it ever was brought to your attention. I thought it might be worth looking into for RTA? Obviously, there are many people on this forum and in Cleveland in general who would love to see this type of service, and even though the price tag might still be out of reach at this time, it could be useful for future implementation? Just a thought:]

 

<a href=http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19045.msg390207.html#msg390207>A cheaper way to implement streetcar service</a>

« on: April 26, 2009, 02:00:18 PM »

 

First post...this is a great website!  As a native of Cleveland I am very happy to see such active discussion of what's going on around the city.

 

I've always had an interest in resurrecting Cleveland's streetcar service and one day decided to research just how much it would cost.  The figures of $20-30mm per mile thrown around in Cincinnati streetcar discussions just seem absolutely ridiculous.  Well, here's something I came across --

 

http://www.lr55-rail-road-system.co.uk/

 

This type of rail system, called LR55, was developed in the UK to solve some traditional in-street roadbed problems and reduce construction cost and time.  It has been used in Sheffield since 1996 without significant failures and by now other cities as well.

 

The track, encased in concrete and polyurethane, can be laid in existing roadbeds without significant excavation at a rate of as fast as 1500ft/week.  For a little more information, check out the minutes of a meeting regarding the implementation in the town of Bath (they're from 1998, so the money figures may not be as accurate).

 

http://www.tramdev.clara.net/TfB.htm

 

The notable line in here is this:

"3.5 Km track in the centre of Manchester cost £14M to install, with LR55 that should reduce to £5M."

 

£5M for 3.5 km works out to be roughly $3.7 million per mile (in 1998 dollars and exch. rate).

 

A far cry from those astronomical numbers proposed.

 

I'm curious to see if anyone has seriously discussed the accurate pricing of streetcar systems?  It seems that there is truly a dearth of accountants involved in local government and transit authorities....

^ Thanks for sharing. I passed it along.

This may be a month old, but it's still very applicable......

 

http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=4&ArticleID=672

 

 

Contact: Christie Hyde

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 407-444-8003

 

Despite lower fuel prices, AAA reports costs to own, operate vehicle remain constant

Orlando, Fla. - 4/8/2009

 

Motorists spend 54 cents per mile on average according to AAA’s 2009 edition of “Your Driving Costs,” only 0.1 cent drop from 2008 

 

AAA’s 2009 edition of “Your Driving Costs” shows the average cost of owning and operating a new car in the U.S. has remained relatively unchanged despite lower fuel costs. The average cost for a new sedan driven 15,000 miles per year is 54 cents per mile, only 0.1 cent less than reported in 2008.

 

“While motorists are experiencing relief at the pump, those savings have been countered by revised Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates and increases in vehicle ownership costs such as insurance premiums, depreciation, finance charges and other fees and taxes,” said AAA Automotive Vice President Marshall L. Doney.

 

New sedan costs average $8,095 yearly

 

AAA estimates the cost to own and operate a typical new sedan driven 15,000 miles yearly is $8,095, only $26 less than last year’s estimated cost of $8,121. Small sedan costs were unchanged at 42.1 cents per mile, or $6,312 annually. Medium sedan costs dropped 1.1 cents per mile to 54.0, or $8,105 per year, thanks to maintenance cost savings and lower depreciation. However the costs for large sedans rose 0.7 cents per mile to 65.8, or $9,870 yearly, due largely to increased depreciation.

 

SUV costs drop, minivan’s jump

 

SUV owners, whose vehicles get lower fuel economy, benefitted most from the drop in fuel prices. Their estimated operating costs dipped 1.3 cents per mile to 68.4 cents, or $10,259 per year, despite a relatively large increase in depreciation and insurance premiums. Meanwhile, minivan costs jumped 1.2 cents per mile to 58.8 cents, or $8,815 yearly. The growth is due to cost increases in every area except fuel and included the largest rise in depreciation of any vehicle class.

 

New EPA baselines provide better “real world” results

 

AAA’s 2009 edition of “Your Driving Costs” uses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s revised fuel-economy estimates that are intended to better reflect “real world” results.

 

“AAA was a strong advocate for updating the EPA’s guidelines for calculating fuel economy so new car buyers could have a realistic estimate of a vehicle’s miles per gallon before their purchase,” Doney said. “The ability to use EPA estimates more closely based on ‘real world’ conditions in our calculations has made ‘Your Driving Costs’ an even more valuable tool for consumers.”

 

Understanding the calculations

 

AAA’s calculations are based on both operating and ownership costs that include:

 

Operating Costs: Fuel, Maintenance and Tires

 

Ownership Costs: Insurance, License, Registration, Taxes, Depreciation and Financing

 

The costs are based on typical use of a vehicle for personal transportation over five years and 75,000 miles of ownership. Fuel costs were based on $2.30 per gallon, as reported by the AAA Fuel Gauge Report (AAAFuelGaugeReport.com) in late 2008.

 

AAA’s analysis covers vehicles equipped with standard and optional equipment. The driving costs in each category are based on the average expenses for five top-selling models selected by AAA. The models included in the study are:

 

Small Sedans: Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla

 

Medium Sedans: Chevrolet Impala, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry

 

Large Sedans: Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon

 

SUVs: Chevrolet Trailblazer, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner

 

Minivans: Chevrolet Uplander, Dodge Grand Caravan, Kia Sedona, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna

 

“Your Driving Costs” availability

 

A hard copy of the “Your Driving Costs” brochure is available upon request, and subject to availability, from local AAA clubs. The brochure also can be downloaded free of charge from the AAA Exchange at AAA.com/publicaffairs.

 

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

 

###

Jerry,

 

RTA's website lists, re the Federal Stimulus package under "Large Projects Advertised", the Van Aken Blue Line extension, probably as part of the Van Aken/Warrensville/Chagrin/Northfield TOD reconfiguration.  As Shaker Heights has already been awarded $4M in planning money, this project looks like a go... But has RTA dusted off plans for extending the Blue Line further to Chagrin Highlands?  Wouldn't it make sense to do so given the prospect of the short extension thru the difficult, above-ref'd intersection -- perhaps the most difficult aspect to a Chagrin Highlands extension?  ... and as has been discussed in the TOD thread, this corridor is rapidly growing business/commercial wise, it seems RTA would want to strike the iron while it's hot.

Jerry,

 

RTA's website lists, re the Federal Stimulus package under "Large Projects Advertised", the Van Aken Blue Line extension, probably as part of the Van Aken/Warrensville/Chagrin/Northfield TOD reconfiguration.  As Shaker Heights has already been awarded $4M in planning money, this project looks like a go... But has RTA dusted off plans for extending the Blue Line further to Chagrin Highlands?  Wouldn't it make sense to do so given the prospect of the short extension thru the difficult, above-ref'd intersection -- perhaps the most difficult aspect to a Chagrin Highlands extension?  ... and as has been discussed in the TOD thread, this corridor is rapidly growing business/commercial wise, it seems RTA would want to strike the iron while it's hot.

Is it shovel ready?

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1297

 

May 14, 2009

 

RTA hosts June 9 meeting to discuss

design of new University Circle Station

 

Web site includes: a rendering of the proposed platform and headhouse for the new University-Cedar Rapid Station (click for larger image)

 

CLEVELAND – The design of a new Red Line rail station at University Circle will be the topic of a community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9.

 

The rail station, operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), is at 11150 Cedar Ave., near the border of Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.

 

The meeting is at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, One Monticello Blvd. at Mayfield Road.

 

Design architect Merhdad Yazdani will present his design concept. Residents who cannot attend the meeting can view the project summary. They can e-mail comments to RTA’s Maribeth Feke ([email protected]), or write to her at RTA, 1240 W. Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113.

 

Cleveland Heights Mayor Edward J. Kelley, who is also Vice President of the RTA Board of Trustees, urges residents to attend.

 

“The University Circle Station is part of the gateway to Cleveland Heights,” he says. “The project is vital to our City. It’s appropriate for residents to view the proposed design and offer feedback. We all have the same goals. We want this to be a world-class transit facility that is user-friendly to many residents of our city, as well as people from around the world who visit University Circle.”

 

The design process

 

In October 2007, the RTA Board of Trustees awarded a contract to URS Corporation to design a new rapid transit station. The project design included:

* A detailed traffic study.

* A land use and development plan.

* A new design of the bus loop area.

* The station entrance building and platform.

 

Web site includes: the site location plan of the proposed new University-Cedar Rapid Station (click for larger image)

 

The station is being designed as a signature piece of architecture that is a gateway to University Circle, Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. The Cleveland Foundation, Case Western Reserve University and the University Hospitals Health Systems (UHHS) contributed a total of $250,000 towards this project.

 

The $1.25 million design process will end in spring 2010. Depending on funding, contracts will be awarded in fall 2010. The construction cost of the station is budgeted at $10 million. It will take some 24 months to complete.

 

Existing station conditions

 

The University Circle Station – also called the University-Cedar Station – is an important transit hub in RTA’s transportation network. Built in 1953, it is a primary bus transfer point on the East Side, with 7 RTA bus lines serving the station -- #7, #8, #9, #32, #48/48A, #50, #821 and the free Circle Link service, operated by University Circle Inc.

 

The station’s proximity to Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, Cleveland Heights and the University Circle institutions provide a constant stream of traffic, among the highest in RTA’s system.

 

The station, located on the Rockefeller and Ambler Park Trust Greenways, now consists of several loops, lots of concrete, a tunnel, platform, and bus entrances on either side of Martin Luther King Blvd. The presentation will illustrate the dramatic difference the proposed station elements will contribute to the existing environment. 

 

Proposed station design

 

The new station may incorporate the following:

* Consolidation of bus loop and passenger areas to the north side of Cedar Hill/MLK

* Removal of the southern entrance and bus slip ramp

* Expansion of the pedestrian walkway from the rapid station to the bus station

* Signature architecture symbolizing the regional gateway of the station

* Station headhouse constructed to maximize glass and visibility of passengers

* Park-like plaza entrance and park-like area, maximizing green space setting

* Public art

* Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program.

* Treatment of railroad underpasses

 

RTA staff and the architectural design team are working through the complicated tasks involved in building a rail station in a confined space along a busy city street adjacent active rail tracks under traffic.

 

 

RTA's Web site lists, re the Federal Stimulus package under "Large Projects Advertised", the Van Aken Blue Line extension, probably as part of the Van Aken/Warrensville/ Chagrin/ Northfield TOD reconfiguration. As Shaker Heights has already been awarded $4M in planning money, this project looks like a go... But has RTA dusted off plans for extending the Blue Line further to Chagrin Highlands?

 

I just checked. The Blue Line extension is NOT shovel ready. By law, the stimulus money cannot be used for planning purposes. Some of the money IS being used for pre-design work. Thanks for asking.

What are the five best transit systems in the world?

 

Interesting story.

 

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/free-ride-the-five-best-mass-transit-systems-worldwide/1095

By law, the stimulus money cannot be used for planning purposes. Some of the money IS being used for pre-design work. Thanks for asking.

 

Hair-split time here -- what constitutes planning vs. pre-design work. I ask because of this AP article......

 

http://www.blnz.com/news/2009/04/13/Ohio_wants_57M_stimulus_highway_7614.html

What are the five best transit systems in the world?

 

Interesting story.

 

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/free-ride-the-five-best-mass-transit-systems-worldwide/1095

 

That is an interesting article. Thanks, Jerry.

 

My question is, what will it take for a mentality shift for people to start using mass transportation more and more, perhaps even as a primary means of getting around? I'm in Chicago now, actually, and I'm constantly surprised by how many people just don't take advantage of the L. A lot of them do. But there's still so much traffic here, and a lot of it is right along L lines! Ridiculous ..

^As I have said time and time again, those who should be taking a leadership position simply aren't. How many times do you see (well, I know I do) an event being held and the only thing mentioned about transportation is "Ample parking in _____ lot/garage"? I'm talking about the groups that are the go-to people when it comes to sustainability issues. They'll happily add "Please consider the Earth before printing out this page" to emails, but they can't say "Please consider the Earth - take RTA to our event"? If we can't get the "green" people on board, how can we expect anyone else to get it?

 

A few groups *are* starting to get it more and more - I got an invite from an event at the library, co-sponsored by Cleveland Public Art which says "The event is accessible from RTA (www.riderta.com)". Short, simple, and lets people know that the option exists. I know I'm broken record, but the real kick in the rubber parts was an eco-friendly gardening seminar at the Botanical Gardens which was co-sponsored by GreenCityBlueLake (who, aside from this flub-up - do amazing work). The opening text on the event website said "Go Green - start in your own backyard!" and then "Ample parking in our garage!". I sent an email to the folks at GCBL and to their credit said it should have been fixed. Still, the more people see things like "Our event is adjacent to the East 18th Healthline station" - the less people will say "that was a waste of $XYZ dollars".

 

We just need to get awareness is raised; those in charge need have it hardwired into their brain to mention public transportation options, and eventually I think more people will be comfortable utilizing it.

We just need to get awareness is raised; those in charge need have it hardwired into their brain to mention public transportation options, and eventually I think more people will be comfortable utilizing it.

 

I totally agree. I've sent my own e-mails to organizations about the same sort of things with no responses whatsoever.

 

I mean, what is the big deal about adding mass transit information?? Or even just directing people to Google Transit or something if the directions are too complicated, etc. Do people even know about Google Transit and how easy it is to use? Or the Trip Planner on RTA?

 

I'll definitely do my own part in trying to bring this to organizations' attention when they don't list this. It would be such a relatively simple thing to change, but it can really help to revolutionize people's thinking about mass transit.

^As I have said time and time again, those who should be taking a leadership position simply aren't. How many times do you see (well, I know I do) an event being held and the only thing mentioned about transportation is "Ample parking in _____ lot/garage"? I'm talking about the groups that are the go-to people when it comes to sustainability issues. They'll happily add "Please consider the Earth before printing out this page" to emails, but they can't say "Please consider the Earth - take RTA to our event"? If we can't get the "green" people on board, how can we expect anyone else to get it?

 

A few groups *are* starting to get it more and more - I got an invite from an event at the library, co-sponsored by Cleveland Public Art which says "The event is accessible from RTA (www.riderta.com)". Short, simple, and lets people know that the option exists. I know I'm broken record, but the real kick in the rubber parts was an eco-friendly gardening seminar at the Botanical Gardens which was co-sponsored by GreenCityBlueLake (who, aside from this flub-up - do amazing work). The opening text on the event website said "Go Green - start in your own backyard!" and then "Ample parking in our garage!". I sent an email to the folks at GCBL and to their credit said it should have been fixed. Still, the more people see things like "Our event is adjacent to the East 18th Healthline station" - the less people will say "that was a waste of $XYZ dollars".

 

We just need to get awareness is raised; those in charge need have it hardwired into their brain to mention public transportation options, and eventually I think more people will be comfortable utilizing it.

 

Preach Brother HBIC, preach!

^As I have said time and time again, those who should be taking a leadership position simply aren't. How many times do you see (well, I know I do) an event being held and the only thing mentioned about transportation is "Ample parking in _____ lot/garage"? I'm talking about the groups that are the go-to people when it comes to sustainability issues. They'll happily add "Please consider the Earth before printing out this page" to emails, but they can't say "Please consider the Earth - take RTA to our event"? If we can't get the "green" people on board, how can we expect anyone else to get it?

 

A few groups *are* starting to get it more and more - I got an invite from an event at the library, co-sponsored by Cleveland Public Art which says "The event is accessible from RTA (www.riderta.com)". Short, simple, and lets people know that the option exists. I know I'm broken record, but the real kick in the rubber parts was an eco-friendly gardening seminar at the Botanical Gardens which was co-sponsored by GreenCityBlueLake (who, aside from this flub-up - do amazing work). The opening text on the event website said "Go Green - start in your own backyard!" and then "Ample parking in our garage!". I sent an email to the folks at GCBL and to their credit said it should have been fixed. Still, the more people see things like "Our event is adjacent to the East 18th Healthline station" - the less people will say "that was a waste of $XYZ dollars".

 

We just need to get awareness is raised; those in charge need have it hardwired into their brain to mention public transportation options, and eventually I think more people will be comfortable utilizing it.

 

Agreed.

I just checked. The Blue Line extension is NOT shovel ready. By law, the stimulus money cannot be used for planning purposes. Some of the money IS being used for pre-design work. Thanks for asking.

 

Jerry,

 

thanks as usu for your quick & thoughtful response... Even though not a "shovel ready" Fed Stimulus package project, it seems clear being listed as an RTA "Large Project Advertised" that RTA (w/ the short Blue Line extension thru the intersection) is joining Shaker Hts, which has finally settled on a TOD design for the (now) awful intersection and is quickly moving forward with this project... I still would like to know whether, given this fact, is RTA considering dusting off the Blue Line-to-the-Highlands extension project that, I believe, was shelved early in the new millennium under by RTA?  This extension could certainly help concentrate the tremendous growth in the planned rail path as well as serve growing Tri-C East.

 

 

RTA Board meets May 19

 

CLEVELAND – The Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will meet at 9 am. on Tuesday, May 19, at RTA's Main Office, 1240 W. Sixth St. Here is the agenda.

 

9 a.m., Finance Committee meet to discuss RTA’s Energy Risk Management Program, and a proposal to extend the maximum hedging time period from 24 to 36 months. If the Committee approves it, the full Board may vote on it at the meeting that follows.

 

The full Board will then meet to consider resolutions, including:

 

* Award a $400,000 contract to the TransSystems Corp. to design the rehabilitation of the 3,500-foot S-curve track on the Red Line, between the West 98th and West 117th Street stations. The project will use federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

 

* Approve a lease agreement with Josef Askie to operate a restaurant inside the Windermere Rapid Station in East Cleveland.

 

After the meeting, the Board will:

* Meet in executive session to discuss the 2008 external audit.

* Hold a working session with staff to discuss a projected deficit in the 2009 budget.

 

Hair-split time here -- what constitutes planning vs. pre-design work. I ask because of this AP article......

 

http://www.blnz.com/news/2009/04/13/Ohio_wants_57M_stimulus_highway_7614.html

 

From what I have seen, planning work considers alteratives and may not lead to construction, and thus, to jobs. Pre-design work means an alternative has been chosen, so the work will definitely lead to jobs.

Jerry:

 

  Curious what the timeline of the clifton boulevard brt project is.  Aren't stimulous funds being used for that?