The sad thing about cutting the services is that we are left with few other options than to take a car...thus furthering the idea that public transport here needn't be funded as it should. Then, the car habit becomes worse. Vicious cycle.

The only time I use the 55 is at midday, evenings and on weekends. I have lived in my condo on Clifton since 1996, and the reason why I moved here was the good transit service. If these cuts go through, I am going to start looking for a new place to live.

 

I hope at the absolute minimum RTA retains weekday evening service until 10PM and Saturday daytime service (until 7PM).  The 55 gets full frequently during the day on Saturdays east of 117th.  I've seen pretty full 55's on Clifton up until about 10/10:30ish during the week. 

Please see the Save Transit Now, Move Ohio Forward! page at:

http://www.policymattersohio.org/SaveTransitNow.htm

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — December 30, 2009

 

Contact:

Ken Prendergast

Executive Director, All Aboard Ohio

(216) 288-4883

[email protected]

 

Amanda Woodrum

Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio

(330) 780-8321

[email protected]

 

CLEVELAND – For the first time ever, a host of transportation, public policy, social service, and environmental organizations have joined forces in a campaign to reverse the decline of public transportation here and around Ohio. These 10 organizations (see the list at end of press release -- more are being added) represent tens of thousands of members and clients in Greater Cleveland and statewide. They have united under the name "Save Transit Now, Move Ohio Forward!"

 

Save Transit Now, Move Ohio Forward! has suggested initial steps to safeguard public transit users from further service cuts/fare increases and to save Ohio’s economy and environment from further decline. These include:

 

+ Overturning the state constitutional prohibition on using Ohio gas tax revenues and motor vehicle fees for non-highway purposes, thereby freeing up that revenue to be used for mass transit.

 

+ Using flexible transportation funding sources currently available in Ohio – such as gas taxes collected from off-road vehicles, farming and landscaping equipment, and revenue raised from vanity license plates – to fund mass transit.

 

+ Wherever possible, and whenever not already doing so, the Ohio Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations should take advantage of flexible federal highway funds and use them for public transportation.

 

Public transit is heavily used in Ohio. More Ohioans travel on buses and trains within our metro areas each day than fly in and out of Ohio’s airports. More than 350,000 Ohioans each day use buses and trains to reach jobs, medical appointments, grocery stores, day care, pharmacies, schools, job training and other services.

 

"For many people – including people with disabilities, seniors and low income individuals – public transit is the only way to get around," said Donna P. McNamee, a Laketran Trustee (who is also transit dependent due to disability), and a member of ODOT’s 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force.

 

The Save Transit Now, Move Ohio Forward! campaign was inaugurated in Greater Cleveland because it has as many public transit riders as all other Ohio transit agencies combined. While the need for secure, stable and low-cost public transit is greatest in Greater Cleveland, the new coalition pledges to fight for transit funding for all Ohio.

 

Despite the need for public transportation, Ohio transit agencies have been forced to slash transit services and raise fares. A decade ago, elimination of federal operating funding for public transit systems serving communities of more than 250,000 people forced states and local governments to make up for the federal cut. While most states dramatically increased support for public transit, the state of Ohio has cut funding by 75 percent since 2002.

 

Less than one percent of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s budget is spent on public transit. "In fact," says Ken Prendergast, Executive Director of All Aboard Ohio, "the State of Ohio will spend more to cut the grass along its Interstates than for public transit operations."

 

Other states do better. Ohio ranks 40th in the nation for relative commitment to public transit, despite the fact we are the seventh most populous state. Even Indiana spends three times more than Ohio, and Pennsylvania spends 33 times as much.

 

Cuts to federal and state transit funding have forced Ohio transit agencies to rely on local sales, income and property taxes, which are difficult to procure and tumbling due to the economy. Because of this overdependence on local funding, all Ohio public transit agencies are in serious trouble.

 

"Sales tax revenues in Cleveland plunged 10 percent since December 2008 and nearly 20 percent since November 2007," said Economic Research Analyst and Greater Cleveland RTA Citizen Advisory Board member George Zeller, "amounting to a $2.9 million decline per month, annualized at $35 million per year." Declines are even steeper in Dayton and Toledo.

 

"It is no accident our public transit agencies are in crisis – it is the direct result of choices we Ohioans have made on how to spend our state transportation dollars," said Amanda Woodrum, research at Policy Matters Ohio. "We can make better choices."

 

According to the American Public Transit Association, for every $1 invested in public transportation, $6 is generated in economic returns. Consider that:

 

1. Investments in public transit produce nearly 20% more jobs than equivalent expenditures in new roads or highways.

 

2. Public transportation can provide more affordable and accessible transportation. Owning, operating, and maintaining a passenger vehicle is expensive. For seniors, and people with disabilities, it may not be an option at all.

 

3. A reliable system of public transportation can reduce dependence on polluting fossil fuels largely imported from elsewhere. Nationally, public transportation allows us to save 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day, and saves 37 million metric tons of CO2 from being emitted, annually.

 

4. Transit-oriented development is more environmentally friendly, and can serve to reduce urban sprawl and revitalize our cities, by concentrating economic development. Currently, Ohio has an incoherent transportation system, putting schools, workplaces, shopping, health, and child-care centers all over the map, and leaving Ohioans dependent on passenger vehicles.

 

5. Public transportation reduces traffic congestion. Each year, public transportation saves hundreds of millions of hours in travel time nationally.

 

6. Public transit creates healthier communities, ultimately reducing air pollution, which disproportionately affects low income neighborhoods and communities of color; encouraging people to walk more; and, increasing access to jobs.

 

"Successful and livable cities around the world offer a healthy mix of transportation choices," said David Beach, director of the GreenCityBlueLake Institute. "It’s time to invest in transit and make Ohio cities more competitive and sustainable."

 

"Ohioans want and need a transportation alternative that includes safe, reliable and convenient public transportation services and we urge the Administration and legislators to move on the long term solution for transit now," said Shanelle Smith, Coordinator of the Ohio Apollo Alliance, a coalition of labor, community, environmental, and business leaders.

 

END

 

Signers:

 

• Greater Cleveland RTA Citizen Advisory Board

• Laketran

• GreenCityBlueLake Institute

• Ohio Empowerment Coalition and Contact Center

• Ohio Apollo Alliance

• Policy Matters Ohio

• All Aboard Ohio

• Environment Ohio

• Ohio Environmental Council

• Bike, Walk Ohio!

 

To join us, sign our online petition at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/transOH/petition.html

 

Additional Resources:

 

Policy Matters Ohio’s transit funding report “Committing to Ohio’s Commuters: The Transit Ticket to the New Energy Economy” is found at: http://www.policymattersohio.org/OhiosCommuters.htm

 

Complete information about the RTA’s budget situation is provided at: http://www.riderta.com/budgetchallenges/

 

Several revenue sources could be considered to address the current transit funding crisis as documented by All Aboard Ohio at: http://members.cox.net/corridorscampaign/Operation-Sustain%20Transit.pdf

 

The Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force recommended in January 2009 that transit be provided a dedicated funding stream of $75 million annually in the initial year (increasing over a 6 year period to an amount representing 25% of the transit agencies’ operating costs plus 50% of the non-federal match for capital expenses). See: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/groups/tft/Pages/default.aspx

One step toward a more Regional Transit Authority?

 

---

The Morning Journal (morningjournal.com), Serving Northern Ohio

 

News

 

Local bus line may link up with Cleveland transit

Thursday, December 31, 2009

 

By KELLY METZ

[email protected]

 

LORAIN — The idea of a partnership between the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Lorain County Transit will be put forward by RTA as a way to solve both Cuyahoga and Lorain counties’ transit issues, according to RTA spokesman Jerry Masek.

 

Lorain County Commissioners had planned to shut down LCT on Dec. 2 due to a $4 million shortfall in the general fund. About two weeks later, commissioners and U.S. Rep Betty Sutton put together $276,000 in unused stimulus funds gathered from around the state in order to keep some LCT routes running through next year.

 

“Lorain County and Cuyahoga County and their transportation systems are more intertwined than ever before,” RTA President George Dixon wrote in a letter to commissioners dated Dec. 22. “The increasing suburban growth in Lorain and western Cuyahoga counties has created a seamless transportation market that traverses the county border.”

 

READ MORE AT:

URL: http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/12/31/news/doc4b3c91e0434bc568650849.prt

Just a reminder to everyone, please do not post full, copyrighted articles on UO. Thanks!

One step toward a more Regional Transit Authority?

 

If things work out this could be a first step in the right direction. I certainly hope that financial difficulties don't prevent some sort of arrangement, though I'm not sure how you compromise when only one partner has cash. (even if its only a small amount of cash) By reducing redundancy and sharing maintenance facilities, administration, purchasing together, they could potentially save a little money by merging. If it works out and does save money (which I'm not terribly optimistic about) it could mean good news for the rest of the region too.

Great New Year's Eve night sight: after the partying died down, saw a stretch (articulated) No. 26 bus headed west on Superior towards the D-S Bridge and Detroit Ave. loaded with revelers...  RTA should be the way to go on NYE.  Our party, along w/ many others, had downtown jumping off the hook last night; and many party goers were struggling with their liquor...

 

It still galls me that Joe Calabrese came in and ended the RTA tradition of all night Rapid service allegedly to save a few shekels... RTA is a SERVICE and not a BUSINESS and there can be no greater service than saving lives, which the expanded Rapid service was designed to do.  And because of our (thankfully) tight downtown configuration, whereby most clubs and restaurants are within a few blocks of the Tower Rapid terminal (in either Gateway or the WHD -- and the Flats, too, what entertainment Flats is left), Rapid use would be a natural... Kudos to the 26 riders (and other bus users) for doing the SMART thing and letting RTA do the driving... Meanwhile, more heat should be brought to bear on JoeC for doing the TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE thing of killing off all-night NYE Rapid service.

Great New Year's Eve night sight: after the partying died down, saw a stretch (articulated) No. 26 bus headed west on Superior towards the D-S Bridge and Detroit Ave. loaded with revelers...  RTA should be the way to go on NYE.  Our party, along w/ many others, had downtown jumping off the hook last night; and many party goers were struggling with their liquor...

 

It still galls me that Joe Calabrese came in and ended the RTA tradition of all night Rapid service allegedly to save a few shekels... RTA is a SERVICE and not a BUSINESS and there can be no greater service than saving lives, which the expanded Rapid service was designed to do.  And because of our (thankfully) tight downtown configuration, whereby most clubs and restaurants are within a few blocks of the Tower Rapid terminal (in either Gateway or the WHD -- and the Flats, too, what entertainment Flats is left), Rapid use would be a natural... Kudos to the 26 riders (and other bus users) for doing the SMART thing and letting RTA do the driving... Meanwhile, more heat should be brought to bear on JoeC for doing the TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE thing of killing off all-night NYE Rapid service.

 

Are you on the CAB? 

 

RTA is a service that must to be run like a business, if not we end up like the MTA or CTA.  If RTA management was irresponsible with funds (payroll, employment, projects, development, etc.), people would complain that there is a misuse of funds.  So therefore RTA is a business and is accountable to the people of Cuyahoga county.

Furthermore, RTA is required by law to have a balanced budget. It can't spend money it doesn't have. I don't know of any employees, suppliers, contractors, etc. who accept IOUs.

 

Plus... I had dinner last night with someone in RTA management. He said RTA has gone to the Amalgamated Transit Union local and asked them to take a pay cut to keep their drivers employed and the bus routes operating. Their response: we'd rather have our members lose their jobs.

^ We're talking only one night per year and 4 extra hours to cover the gap in rail service  from around midnight/12:30a to 4/4:30a (make it hourly train service if we must)... And maybe, per my 'let's think creatively/collaboratively mantra of above, the County should get involved in seeking funds for this annual service...

 

Of course, I don't think NYE rail is more important that bus routes to get auto-less people to/from their jobs.  And yes, MTS, I am going to get involved with CAB (and get a transit accountant involved, as well) because I want to scrutinize the cuts RTA is making vs. those it chooses not to.  In many if not most cases, I smell politics more than I do costs...

^ We're talking only one night per year and 4 extra hours to cover the gap in rail service  from around midnight/12:30a to 4/4:30a (make it hourly train service if we must)... And maybe, per my 'let's think creatively/collaboratively mantra of above, the County should get involved in seeking funds for this annual service...

 

Of course, I don't think NYE rail is more important that bus routes to get auto-less people to/from their jobs.  And yes, MTS, I am going to get involved with CAB (and get a transit accountant involved, as well) because I want to scrutinize the cuts RTA is making vs. those it chooses not to.  In many if not most cases, I smell politics more than I do costs...

 

Good!  :clap:

Good news from Hopkins Airport: I see after at least a year or more, the new-ish touch screen information system has FINALLY added, under Transportation Options (get this), the RTA Red Line rapid transit into downtown Cleveland.  They even have a photo of a Red Line rail car to emphasize the point!!  This means that our Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which was the 1st airport in the Western Hemisphere to be directly connected by a rapid transit/high speed rail line to its city's downtown 42-years ago, is now, actually, finally, listing the same rapid transit as a transportation option for new visitors as a means of getting to downtown Cleveland -- and listing it right up there with the cabs and limos, which were the only options listed as recently as last summer!...

 

... will wonders ever cease...

Offering free or extra service on NY Eve is certainly the wrong message for RTA to send after telling staff, union members and the public how BAD things are. The bottom line: with a annual operating budget of $260 million, RTA ended the year with around $1 million left, or enough to operate for two days. The Dec. 31 paycheck for some staff was even pushed back to Jan. 1 so the cushion could be created. How small of a margin is that? It is like going on vacation and returning with a dollar in your pocket. Would you be concerned on your drive home from your vacation? You should be.

 

When I hear statements like..."It galls me"....well, it just galls me.

 

A bit about terms...journalism is a profession, writing is a craft, but newspapering is a business. That is why The Plain Dealer is so thin every day.

It's not that the people there do not WANT to put out a thicker product, it's just that is there is no money to.

 

RTA provides a SERVICE, but in order for that SERVICE to be maintained in a long-range fashion, it must be run like a BUSINESS. You can debate that sentence all you want, but the reality will not change. I have had a front-row seat to this reality for the last 10 years, and I know it to be true. I will not engage in a debate here on that topic, as it would be a waste of time and energy. One does not debate facts.

 

Happy New Year to all of you. See you at the hearings.

I went Downtown early yesterday evening briefly...took the 55 to downtown.  Took the 26 back to Lakewood...full bus, even a couple of standees briefly from West 65th westward a couple of stops.  Bus had a full seated load all the way to West 117th.  This was around 7PM.  If the 26 has this kind of load..on a holiday...on a cold/snowy evening..it'll definitely need the artic back 7 days a week if/when weekend service is canceled on the 25 and 55, especially during the late spring/Summer, when more people go downtown in general.  Otherwise, the 26 will be a sardine can on the weekends/holidays. 

Furthermore, RTA is required by law to have a balanced budget. It can't spend money it doesn't have. I don't know of any employees, suppliers, contractors, etc. who accept IOUs.

 

Plus... I had dinner last night with someone in RTA management. He said RTA has gone to the Amalgamated Transit Union local and asked them to take a pay cut to keep their drivers employed and the bus routes operating. Their response: we'd rather have our members lose their jobs.

 

Another reason to love modern unions--screw the brotherhood--we want more for the senior members!  The collective good is cast off in favor of keeping the pay high for those in charge. 

 

Offering free or extra service on NY Eve is certainly the wrong message for RTA to send after telling staff, union members and the public how BAD things are. The bottom line: with a annual operating budget of $260 million, RTA ended the year with around $1 million left, or enough to operate for two days. The Dec. 31 paycheck for some staff was even pushed back to Jan. 1 so the cushion could be created. How small of a margin is that? It is like going on vacation and returning with a dollar in your pocket. Would you be concerned on your drive home from your vacation? You should be.

 

Thanks, Jerry for the chilling info.  Bleak times indeed.  In flusher times, RTA may be able to find sponsors for extended holiday service, but I imagine that's pretty impossible these days.

 

Here's to brighter things for you, RTA and its riders in 2010.

Offering free or extra service on NY Eve is certainly the wrong message for RTA to send after telling staff, union members and the public how BAD things are. The bottom line: with a annual operating budget of $260 million, RTA ended the year with around $1 million left, or enough to operate for two days. The Dec. 31 paycheck for some staff was even pushed back to Jan. 1 so the cushion could be created. How small of a margin is that? It is like going on vacation and returning with a dollar in your pocket. Would you be concerned on your drive home from your vacation? You should be.

 

When I hear statements like..."It galls me"....well, it just galls me.

 

A bit about terms...journalism is a profession, writing is a craft, but newspapering is a business. That is why The Plain Dealer is so thin every day.

It's not that the people there do not WANT to put out a thicker product, it's just that is there is no money to.

 

RTA provides a SERVICE, but in order for that SERVICE to be maintained in a long-range fashion, it must be run like a BUSINESS. You can debate that sentence all you want, but the reality will not change. I have had a front-row seat to this reality for the last 10 years, and I know it to be true. I will not engage in a debate here on that topic, as it would be a waste of time and energy. One does not debate facts.

 

Happy New Year to all of you. See you at the hearings.

 

The all-night NY Eve rail service should never have been dropped (I believe by the current RTA admin) in the 1st place (and btw, it was never free).  Now that it's gone, you're right, politically, it's probably difficult to get it back...

 

Both you and, particularly the Calabrese administration misses the point, nobody wants RTA to run at a loss, financially, because obviously it jeopardizes its ability to offer its SERVICE.  I have stated often here that I support JoeC's effort to receive increased subsidy from the State and like the idea of capitalizing bus fuel costs to remove them from barred "operating expenses" under Federal guidelines and allow funding as capital expenses.  People get that.  But if RTA is to be run like a business, and it should, it should not always give the public the impression it is being done so, because people rightly feel that with tax dollars funding it, through the 1% sales tax, capital projects as well as steeply increasing fares and its quasi-governmental status, it's a business that belongs to them...

 

And RTA has been very short on people skills.  Cleveland and Ohio cities are not the only ones who are having their transit systems squeezed to the max, dollar-wise -- just look at Chicago... But yet, here, people often don't sense that RTA is doing what it can to offer them the best service it can within its financial constraints... Cutting the NY Eve service is just one thing -- one relatively small thing, in the financial scheme of things, but one that has a great deal of impact, esp given the high number of drunk drivers that were (when it was offered) and can be removed from the streets... Cutting it, esp when there are seemingly smarter, more efficient ways to run the system, for example, ending oft redundant services, would seemingly be a better alternative.   

 

I'll leave it at this for now, ... but trust me, plastering window-blocking stickers touting a 2007 Best Transit System in N. America on RTA vehicles, when rail cars, buses and rail right-of-ways are filthy, there's a seeming lack of aggressive participation and/or rail/commuter rail expansion (or even discussion of such) by the GM, when such is happening in other cities -- other economically DISTRESSED cities like Cleveland (Pittsburgh, Detroit, the Twin Cities, St. Louis... and others – and even here under JoeC’s RTA predecessor; the same predecessor who, according to KJP and others, had numerous expansion “studies” shut down by JoeC), isn't going to win RTA many friends... even when there are the cool, slick-looking, new buses cruising down a slowly rebuilding Euclid Ave....

 

^ "And RTA has been very short on people skills."

 

"trust me, plastering window-blocking stickers touting a 2007 Best Transit System in N. America on RTA vehicles, when rail cars, buses and rail right-of-ways are filthy, there's a seeming lack of aggressive participation and/or rail/commuter rail expansion (or even discussion of such) by the GM, when such is happening in other cities -- other economically DISTRESSED cities like Cleveland (Pittsburgh, Detroit, the Twin Cities, St. Louis... and others – and even here under JoeC’s RTA predecessor; the same predecessor who, according to KJP and others, had numerous expansion “studies” shut down by JoeC), isn't going to win RTA many friends... even when there are the cool, slick-looking, new buses cruising down a slowly rebuilding Euclid Ave.... "

 

I second these sentiments 110%!!! Get the basics right before anything else can happen! Such as what is described above, does not make anyone want to take the transit. That's the inconvenient truth that no amount of signs and sugarcoating can hide.

^ "And RTA has been very short on people skills."

 

"trust me, plastering window-blocking stickers touting a 2007 Best Transit System in N. America on RTA vehicles, when rail cars, buses and rail right-of-ways are filthy, there's a seeming lack of aggressive participation and/or rail/commuter rail expansion (or even discussion of such) by the GM, when such is happening in other cities -- other economically DISTRESSED cities like Cleveland (Pittsburgh, Detroit, the Twin Cities, St. Louis... and others – and even here under JoeC’s RTA predecessor; the same predecessor who, according to KJP and others, had numerous expansion “studies” shut down by JoeC), isn't going to win RTA many friends... even when there are the cool, slick-looking, new buses cruising down a slowly rebuilding Euclid Ave.... "

 

I second these sentiments 110%!!! Get the basics right before anything else can happen! Such as what is described above, does not make anyone want to take the transit. That's the inconvenient truth that no amount of signs and sugarcoating can hide.

 

Other cities have they "best of" placards up as well.  Just look at any damn bus in LA.  Thats such a ridiculous thing for you both to single out.

• Who is cleaning the ROW's and where is the money coming from to do this?  Secondly, the system has to single track, causing delays.  There are probably other operational issues with having the system shut or slowed to do this work.  I dont know but it's not as easy to coordinate as it is to write on the internet
   
  
• The buses and trains are much cleaner than the buses or trains in Boston, Philly, Chicago and DC (the stations are nice and clean but the vehicles reek of urine)
   
  

^ "The buses and trains are much cleaner than the buses or trains in Boston, Philly, Chicago and DC (the stations are nice and clean but the vehicles reek of urine)"

 

First, I don't want to act like just because its dirty somewhere else, that it allows us to have our fair share of filth too. (in respect to public transport) I want to be better than them and set the examples--not follow. Besides, one reason they may be cleaner here is probably because there aren't many people riding them here as there should be. The question always goes back to "WHY?"

 

The basics I am talking about should not carry a huge budget to be able to implement. Most of it is the extreme basic that if a business cannot master, then they needn't be in business in the first place.

 

Customer service skills? From operators often poor mannerisms, road bullying.... to administration not Returning emails, calls, or letters?  Simply litter clean-up. I can tell you in another story how I know such trash and/or litter has been setting in the same place for years.

 

Don't get me wrong, I am all for being explained why this or that may not seem as it is....however....Why is it that nearly everytime someone offers some constructive criticism or suggestions on anything related to Cleveland, how to improve something, or the fact there needs to be improvement, you have to rationalize, excuse, or reason away as though the complaints/comments/suggestions are invalid.

 

Its time to stop saying WHY we cannot do this or that around here......and focus on HOW WE CAN. As for the remarks about the signs...those were more out of making the point that fancy advertising cannot always cover up the realities/problems.

^^ MyTwoSense, as a fellow 40-something who grew up in Shaker (riding the old yellow trolleys, up to when SHRT was flat broke and needed RTA to bail them out) and lives in Shaker Sq., you've got to be appalled at the condition of the trench from S. Square to Woodhill.  It's filthy and nasty like it's never been -- it's now a dump for trash (couches, matresses, Big Wheels, strollers -- you name it -- and it smells) and it's not being picked up... and in the spring/summer, the brush is not being trimmed and scratches train car windows...  Things have NEVER been this bad on the Shaker Rapid!!

 

And yes, cars are also filthy often with bottles and cans rolling around in them; I've gotten on at Tower City and seen drivers step right over such mess -- it's not their job to clean but they should be contacting maintenence to do so... that's not just the lack of $$$$

^ And the more they let this get out of control, the more trash it will attract as it is used for an illegal dumping ground. These right of ways need to be kept up by the transit authority--And the city needs to crack down on this illegal dumping via exercising their ability to enforce the state litter/dumping laws. Cleveland or wherever is not exempt. What kind of impression does this give of Cleveland? Disgraceful and inexcusable--and again, such maintenance should be part of the basic agenda and routine. Lastly, there should be NO open containers allowed on transit--or vending machines at stations because sadly, in this day and age, it simply encourages more trashing from those who have not learned what the hell a garbage can is for.....let along a recycling bin.

clvlndr it's easy, you just take the 24-hr Euclid bus to Stokes Blvd, then you walk 2 miles or so up Fairhill, while you're plastered at 3am.  Then you walk right past the railroad that closes 2 hours before the bars do.  RTA says:  We don't want you patronizing downtown establishments after 1230.  We want all your friends to see you leave early because you ride transit.  If we can just increase the stigma attached to public transit, then there will be less demand, then we can cut more routes, then we can balance our budget!  Now that's thinkin' with your dipstick!

 

Has anyone considered increasing RTA's sales tax, a la medical mart?  Is this something the county executive could do?  One would think so.   

Has anyone considered increasing RTA's sales tax, a la medical mart? Is this something the county executive could do? One would think so.  

 

Voters in Cuyahoga County approved the initial tax, so they would have to approve any additional tax.

Re: trash on the Rapid right-of-way...

 

If you go back a ways, you will see we've had this discussion before. Some points...

 

1. I agree in principle with everything you say. I hate litter.

 

2. There is a price to pay for being a pig, and some people are pigs. If you, as a taxpayer, decide that a clean right-of-way is a priority, then RTA can certainly beef us its cleaning efforts -- but the money has to come from somewhere. Our operating fund is already stretched to the max. The end result would be that service is cut so the trash is picked up, and we do not believe that RTA was created to remove trash that was placed there illegally.

 

3. The root cause -- people would still be pigs, and within a few weeks after the cleanup was done, you would not be able to tell that we were even there. Thus, the taxpayers' money would indeed have been wasted.

 

4. Much of the right-of-way that you perceive to be owned by RTA is actually owned by commercial railroads.

 

5. Volunteer efforts are used sometimes, but because of the dangerous nature of being close to tracks, the work has to be heavily supervised.

 

I do not mean to dismiss your ideas. I just want to interject some reality into your passion, which is indeed well-placed.

I think most rational people would agree the trash is unacceptable. Most people admit that it is and understand it. But, if this is the case, why do we not see much evidence of it?

 

Reminding again, by law this is illegal dumping in Ohio...and the cities, townships and counties have the right to enforce the laws--and even place pressure on the railroads to clean up their properties the way the rest of us are expected to do. Whether the cities/.counties, etc. do enforce this or not (solid waste districts) is another story. RTA could work with Cuyahoga County Solid Waste district on this issues. Is this happening? If not, why not...and is the district being made aware of the problem? The cost of doing nothing about this could prove to be even greater...as trash is party to the broken window theory that former Mayor Rudy in New York understood so very well. The more you allow to accumulate throughout this right of way....I see it leading to a loss in ridership.

 

Also, this is another reason, that IF there are any vending machines at stations, they need to be removed---And...no open containers should be permitted on these buses/trains...and the operators need to be advised that this rule must be strictly enforced, if there already is one...and if not, one needs to be made---if for no other reason---that  RTA lacks the money to clean up the likely mess that will be the result. If, by chance, there is some petty revenue coming in from the machines if any are placed near stations....it is not worth it when our stations, and vehicles get trashed and we have to pay someone to clean it up...or worse yet, the job does not get done. Again, loss of potential ridership. Maybe?

 

I can speak for a moment for myself and say that among many other reasons, this is one reason I refrain from riding the transit......and as in congress when letters are written and the figure is that there are about 10 other people who feel the same way for each letter they get--whether they hear from them or not--the same logic can apply in this situation with people not wanting to take the public transport.

 

I would suggest getting scouts involved at least once a year. Saying that this stuff gets cleaned up and will look the same way later on is no excuse to give up and not do it. My question now becomes not so much why can't this be done... But is RTA is looking at ways it CAN be done. I already made two simple suggestions that would at least curb some litter around stations and on vehicles.

 

If I had guests coming to Cleveland for the first time, this is not the first impression I want given about the city, and sadly, the issue of litter/dumping is a major one here and one that is not given priority at a time when it needs it the most. I have tried contacting the paper to address this issue and obviously they see it not a problem either. maybe its time we start looking at this from the outside in to see how serious it is and the bigger problems it can be party to setting the stage for.

I have repeatedly questioned whether or not that Medical Mart tax increase would be better served being given to RTA.  I'm sure they would love another 35-40 million per year to work with.  But it's not a practical question, and there is no way county voters would tax themselves another quarter percent in this environment, especially given the way their last quarter percent has been used, or at least the perception of same.

Re: trash on the Rapid right-of-way...

 

2. There is a price to pay for being a pig, and some people are pigs. If you, as a taxpayer, decide that a clean right-of-way is a priority, then RTA can certainly beef us its cleaning efforts -- but the money has to come from somewhere. Our operating fund is already stretched to the max. The end result would be that service is cut so the trash is picked up, and we do not believe that RTA was created to remove trash that was placed there illegally.

 

3. The root cause -- people would still be pigs, and within a few weeks after the cleanup was done, you would not be able to tell that we were even there. Thus, the taxpayers' money would indeed have been wasted.

 

 

I don't think the "broken windows theory" is the cure all that some believe it to be but I do think it has some validity. If trash is cleaned up on a regular basis, hen you're going to be a little less likely to toss your potato chip bag on the floor--especially if RTA personnel were making reminders about not littering. The DC Metro system doesn't allow eating, drinking or smoking in the stations or on the trains and it goes a long way toward keeping them clean. If Metro staff don't stop riders from littering, fellow passengers often will. Maybe RTA should consider adopting a similar rule and attitude.

 

Also, as a citizen and taxpayer, I find it a little offensive that a RTA employee--and especially the Public Relations Manager--would refer to people his agency serves as pigs. It may be true but I don't think its an appropriate comment for a public forum. Hopefully, this is just a personal opinion and not the view of RTA.

^ "If trash is cleaned up on a regular basis, then you're going to be a little less likely to toss your potato chip bag on the floor--especially if RTA personnel were making reminders about not littering."

 

Absolutely valid. Litter attracts more litter. While some do not care and will be dirt bags regardless...  Overall, the better a given place is kept up the less it will attract. When you have an area full of crap...the mindset is careless and one of "Oh well..everyone does it..what is one more piece?" They don't care that they are a piece of the puzzle that creates the larger problem. They need to be made to care or reminded. The leadership at Ohio State Parks acknowledges the "litter attracts more Litter" philosophy...and so should RTA---and for certain there needs to be better enforcement of either existing rules or new ones made since many lack the common sense to know better. Time to grow a spine on such issues.

 

Also, as a citizen and taxpayer, I find it a little offensive that a RTA employee--and especially the Public Relations Manager--would refer to people his agency serves as pigs. It may be true but I don't think its an appropriate comment for a public forum. Hopefully, this is just a personal opinion and not the view of RTA.

 

 

OK, you're being overly sensitive. There are pigs among us. When they foul the right of way used by Jerry's employer, Jerry has every right to call them pigs. I would have called them human garbage, but Jerry is a nicer person than I am.

 

Now, back to our topic!!!!

 

Also, as a citizen and taxpayer, I find it a little offensive that a RTA employee--and especially the Public Relations Manager--would refer to people his agency serves as pigs. It may be true but I don't think its an appropriate comment for a public forum. Hopefully, this is just a personal opinion and not the view of RTA.

 

 

OK, you're being overly sensitive. There are pigs among us. When they foul the right of way used by Jerry's employer, Jerry has every right to call them pigs. I would have called them human garbage, but Jerry is a nicer person than I am.

 

Now, back to our topic!!!!

 

^ I agree. However there is a footnote involved here.... unless the topic of trash/litter etc. what was mentioned here is addressed by RTA and they can implement some suggestions for improving the conditions (which many were offered to at least attempt or say whether they have done or not done so), I will refrain from riding and many others will too--and loss of ridership is important when PT becomes less appealing for many contributing reasons including this one.

When did RTA do away with allowing transfers on buses/trains? I took the 39 downtown last night and asked the driver for a transfer for the healthline to get to E 22nd and was told i either had to buy an all day pass for $5 or pay another $2.25 once i got on the healthline.

Yeah, unfortunately we seem to be hearing alot of rational for disfuntion, both from the general populace and the public officials in this region, as opposed to anybody actually addressing anything. 

I have heard some great questions and comments above, which I never see any responses to. 

Maybe after the 10 years of service it is easier to be complacent about things. 

 

I guess it shouldnt surprise me in a region where the Mayor of the largest citys moto seems to be "things are what they are" (with a shrug of the shoulders).   

When did RTA do away with allowing transfers on buses/trains? I took the 39 downtown last night and asked the driver for a transfer for the healthline to get to E 22nd and was told i either had to buy an all day pass for $5 or pay another $2.25 once i got on the healthline.

 

I think that was last spring. Whenever it happened, it was a while ago.

 

I have heard some great questions and comments above, which I never see any responses to.

 

 

 

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

I don't think the "broken windows theory" is the cure all that some believe it to be but I do think it has some validity. If trash is cleaned up on a regular basis, hen you're going to be a little less likely to toss your potato chip bag on the floor--especially if RTA personnel were making reminders about not littering. The DC Metro system doesn't allow eating, drinking or smoking in the stations or on the trains and it goes a long way toward keeping them clean. If Metro staff don't stop riders from littering, fellow passengers often will. Maybe RTA should consider adopting a similar rule and attitude.

 

Also, as a citizen and taxpayer, I find it a little offensive that a RTA employee--and especially the Public Relations Manager--would refer to people his agency serves as pigs. It may be true but I don't think its an appropriate comment for a public forum. Hopefully, this is just a personal opinion and not the view of RTA.

 

This is an important point, in my opinion.  I expected there to be a regular transit police presence on the red line after the POP changeover, but it seems to have really dropped recently.  I ride the red line and/or health line daily, usually during rush hour, and it has been months since my farecard was last checked. 

 

I frequently see large groups of transit police (usually four or more) outside the turnstiles at Tower City.  While it's fine to have them stationed there, as the most heavily-used stop on the system, I was hoping that after the POP roll out I would see them elsewhere, too.  It would help curb the near-constant smoking, spitting, and littering that I see at my neighborhood station (W. 25,) ESPECIALLY if the transit police issued citations to offenders.

^ "It would help curb the near-constant smoking, spitting, and littering that I see at my neighborhood station (W. 25,) ESPECIALLY if the transit police issued citations to offenders."

 

Gross! Such even evolves into a public health issue; especially the spitting. The question I have is this...  If RTA suddenly had all the funding it needed...would all these problems that have been discussed above be reduced? I am in doubt, because before such changes come and the funding to do so, it takes leadership that truly grasps/recognizes the importance of making the many issues above a real concern. By the lack of simple customer feedback, however, I am left with that reason to doubt. I hope I am wrong in drawing such conclusions. But, money cannot always fix the problems. There first needs to be a strong desire to want to deliver a superior product....and that needs to be in the hearts of every RTA employee. If it is, I see not a whole lot of evidence of it. 

When did RTA do away with allowing transfers on buses/trains? I took the 39 downtown last night and asked the driver for a transfer for the healthline to get to E 22nd and was told i either had to buy an all day pass for $5 or pay another $2.25 once i got on the healthline.

 

I think that was last spring. Whenever it happened, it was a while ago.

 

Thanks! That was the first time I've needed a transfer without having a CSU u-pass.

OK folks, on the trash/litter etc. stuff, before posting anything else can we ask ourselves "am I saying anything new here?", please?  If the answer is "no", then move on.  We're starting to go in circles.

I have also seen groups of transit police simply loitering near the turnstiles of Tower City, hands in their pockets.  I had an experience last week of taking the Red Line from the airport to Tower City... some drunk homeless guy was passing between the cars while the train was in motion.  When I got off the train I made a comment to one of the police officers about it, told him which train it was, etc.  While I took the escalators back up I glanced back down and the police simply resumed talking to one another.  I don't know if they ended up doing anything about it, maybe there was nothing they could do, but hanging around the turnstiles of Tower City looking intimidating isn't improving safety on the trains.  I can't imagine there are many safety concerns at Tower City compared to some of the stops the Rapid makes east and west of that stop.  Perhaps they should travel the trains more often or something... I have rarely seen them ride it, compared to sitting around the turnstiles...

^ They're in cocoons as long as they do not 'walk the beat' sop to speak....or if they remain in cars. One becomes very disconnected this way...complacent...the result? Let's collect the pay check and get home. Maybe we need a Buford Pusser of Joe Clark type to crack the whip on things like this.

RTA expects heavy turnout at hearings on cutting routes, hiking fares

By Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer

January 04, 2010, 4:00AM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --- The need for public transportation is never more apparent than when an agency proposes to reduce or eliminate service.

 

....RTA's budget woes are mirrored across the state:

 

Cincinnati Metro reduced service by 12 percent and increased fares on Dec. 27. The cost of a bus ride increased from $1.50 to $1.75.

 

The Central Ohio Transit Authority, which serves Columbus, raised the cost of a bus ride from $1.50 to $1.75 on Friday.

 

The Greater Dayton RTA increased the cost of a bus ride from $1.50 to $1.75 in August and reduced some service.

 

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority reduced service by 12 percent on Dec. 27 but left fares unchanged at $1 a ride.

 

As transit agencies statewide scramble to balance budgets because of declining sales tax revenue and other financial support, 10 transportation, public-policy, social-service and environmental organizations have formed Save Transit Now, Move Ohio Forward to stem the decline of public transit.

 

The group wants the state to identify a reliable, dedicated funding source for mass transit.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/01/rta_expects_heavy_turnout_at_h.html

 

 

RTA proposals to reduce and cut bus service draws ire of riders

By Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer

January 04, 2010, 2:47PM

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio Patty Girman depends on RTA's No. 55 Clifton bus to get her to and from work at Cleveland Public Library branches.

 

If evening and weekend service is discontinued she said she would probably have to move.

 

"I've been taking RTA for 15 years and I would have to walk close to a mile to catch another bus," she said. "Most of us need RTA to head to work. These jobs are not prestigious but they put food on the table. We can't afford a car or insurance."

 

Girman was among about 125 people who attended a public hearing this afternoon in the Cleveland Public Library Auditorium this afternoon to comment about RTA's plans to reduce bus service by 12 percent next April. It includes eliminating some weekend and evening service.

 

The hearing was the first of 10 that will be held this week throughout Cuyahoga County.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/01/rta_proposals_to_reduce_and_cu.html

 

Those unable to attend any hearings this week can e-mail comments to mailto:[email protected] or mail them to RTA Marketing and Communications, 1240 W. 6th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44113. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 21. Proposed changes in bus service could be modified after the hearings.

^Once again, RTA is reeeeaaallly making it hard for the transit agency to win friends and influence sympathizers when, on one side of (down)town, you have Joe Calabrese poised to wield a king-sized service meat cleaver on a severly economically struggling populace while, on the other, you have a bunch of, allegedly on-duty,  $50/60K (guesstimate) per-year transit cops hanging out in Tower City -- where it's not only safe but also at the one Red Line station where faregates actually prevent cheaters (so that, theoretically, the fare cops aren't even needed there), when RTA has drummed into us that these guys are supposed to enforce the new fare POP policy while making the system safe -- and yeah, in my 2 round Red Line round trips (Tower City to Airport) since POP has gone into effect, this is exactly the situation we witnessed... Isn't this exactly the type of Rapid fare irresponsibility/mismanagement the PD dinged RTA for last year when it reported probably tens of thousands of dollars in fares were wasted each year by non-collecting Rapid drivers and booth attendants?

 

Talk about a transit agency talking out of both sides of its financial mouth.

^ Agreed. Maybe its time to re-evaluate the existing pie and divide it differently until alternative funding sources can be identified and tapped into somehow. This is not helping RTA's case or the case for public transport. A lot of innocent people are being punished for this--and it making us a second rate city in terms of PT.

I can't imagine "public transit cop" is too high on the career totem pole for those aspiring for position in law enforcement, but it would be nice if these guys at least gave the APPEARANCE of giving a hoot by actually riding the trains individually, walking around and holding people accountable.  Too often I see these guys loitering about, 3 or 4 together at a time.  I'm sure some have done a fine job, but this is a crucial time with how RTA is being regarded amongst the public, and these cops have an opportunity while they're "making the rounds" to help not only shore up unpaid fares, but give a good face to an organization some have accused of squandering crucial funds.

 

But for starters, someone take away the benches or seats these guys seem to gravitate towards at Tower City.

Has anyone connected John Joyce with their concerns?

I hope RTA reads all of the comments here because there are many good observations. cleveland1979....Has many valid concerns. This is a time when those in uniformed positions should be placing the absolute best foot forward. Show pride in the job and don't act as though you couldn't give a bleep. Example:You know there is a problem with leadership when you witness even a Deputy Sheriff standing around IN UNIFORM smoking on the job, then littering by tossing the butt to the ground. Classy! One, this shows no pride in the job...two, he breaks a law that we expect him otherwise either enforce...or to set a better example, by littering. I witnessed this sort of thing and it truly is a reflection of leadership and a symptom of a larger problem from the top. While that might seem petty, (and if it is..it just shows how standards and expectations have continued to spiral downward to accepting mediocrity and seeing not a thing wrong with it) collectively, such example becomes a larger issue. And geez!....if they cannot even get the small things right...How on earth can we expect the bigger to be remedied.

FWIW transit cops regularly ride the afternoon Shaker trains.  It's not clear to me why RTA needs to run its own police force.  We have a sheriff's department already, and these narrow yet overlapping jurisdictions are unhelpful.  Same goes for CMHA.  We don't need all these specialized police forces in Cleveland, each answering to different masters.  Think if you're standing near 105 & Euclid... you might be in any of 4 jurisdictions: Cleveland, RTA, CCF, and/or Case.  More importantly, we don't need housing and transit agencies to be operating police forces with their scant fundage.

^ An even better idea!

  Well, large private institutions operating private security is hardly unique to Cleveland... Be it transit, universities, public housing authorities, or urban hospital campuses... these type of places all over the country have private security.  What are we suggesting?  That CPD take over all these duties?  That ought to work out well, afterall there's a glut of officers with nothing to do at CPD.

 

  That being said, the transit police do seem to be operated inefficiently.  Doesn't make much sense to have so many clustered at TC (which I see all the time) and so few on the trains (which unfortunatley I "don't" see all the time).

I hope RTA reads all of the comments here because there are many good observations. cleveland1979....Has many valid concerns. This is a time when those in uniformed positions should be placing the absolute best foot forward. Show pride in the job and don't act as though you couldn't give a bleep. Example:You know there is a problem with leadership when you witness even a Deputy Sheriff standing around IN UNIFORM smoking on the job, then littering by tossing the butt to the ground. Classy! One, this shows no pride in the job...two, he breaks a law that we expect him otherwise either enforce...or to set a better example, by littering. I witnessed this sort of thing and it truly is a reflection of leadership and a symptom of a larger problem from the top. While that might seem petty, (and if it is..it just shows how standards and expectations have continued to spiral downward to accepting mediocrity and seeing not a thing wrong with it) collectively, such example becomes a larger issue. And geez!....if they cannot even get the small things right...How on earth can we expect the bigger to be remedied.

 

Not likely.