June 22, 201014 yr Author OK, we have plenty to discuss here without having to manufacture an argument. Discuss buses and trains, folks. Buses and trains. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 22, 201014 yr Why is everybody so gung-ho about BRT (on Clifton or Detroit) esp given that a Clifton BRT wouldn't adeequately serve this area as well anyway? ... because BRT is cheap? Will Cleveland always be defined by doing things cheaply as opposed to efficiently? Who is "everybody"? I'm not. It only takes one highly-placed person to be gung-ho about BRT. Since we have one, our planning and our federal funding requests are awash with BRT... despite the fact that nobody else is gung-ho about it. If it makes you feel any better, the current Clifton project isn't really BRT, it's just a general re-do of the road with new shelters. My question is why do we keep tearing up and re-doing what we already have, instead of trying to move forward? You wanna reduce traffic? Don't put obstacles in the road! Just increase transit services. Then we have two good options instead of none, and we don't keep expanding the amount of untouchable public "greenspace" we can't maintain. RTA should be building train tracks, not dead trees and bollards.
July 1, 201014 yr Great idea for some Cleveland-area journalism students, a report on each rapid station in Cleveland; a similar project was done in Chicago. http://streetsblog.net/2010/07/01/telling-the-story-of-chicago-one-train-stop-at-a-time/
July 2, 201014 yr Did anyone take the train dowtown for the fireworks at public square? I have heard some very negative things about the transit police attitudes and behavior at Tower City and was wondering if anyone witnessed anything similar
July 2, 201014 yr i have my own fantasies of a subway and rails and magic for cleveland, but are there any likely-to-be-created proposals to open maybe a second or third 'downtown' station? perhaps a euclid/ E 9th and E18th station near CSU and one near tri-c. there is such a huge dead zone between E 34th and tower city and the chance to connect tri-c and CSU campuses would be so nifty...
July 2, 201014 yr ^There are ideas (search for the waterfront line thread to see some thoughts about building a downtown loop), but I don't believe there are any real plans for additional downtown rapid stops.
July 2, 201014 yr Looks like the old Loop bus route that I used when I took classes at Tri-C, worked at CSU and lived in Shaker Heights.
July 2, 201014 yr Author Or like what was proposed by the Cleveland Transit System in 1944, 1947 and 1953.... http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,10253.msg496036.html#msg496036 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 6, 201014 yr i really wish there was a downtown loop that served playhouse square and csu http://www.riderta.com/pdf/Eline.pdf
July 31, 201014 yr Ok, I know this has been discussed here and the responsibility of clean-up of litter/full-to-the-hilt trash cans (My God we should have had recycling cans ages ago!) was supposedly the responsibility of the city to empty...and since they apparently need to be told about full cans, and since RTA is not solely responsible...the problems persist at these bus stops. Just today, I witnessed at least 5 cans spilling over on the west side. Now while this may not be totally RTA's responsibility... Here is why it might be a good idea to make it their responsibility. First, these cans are located very close to the bus stops, right next to them in fact...And secondly, most of the garbage in those cans is likely from RTA patrons--which it is good they put it in the cans, though, as some slobs have not even figured out what a trash can is for (let along a recycling can!) and simply use the ground as their garbage can instead---even when a can is RIGHT in front of them. Don't get me started on that. Anyway, third..these cans are in plain sight of RTA stations and are, whether applicable or not, image associated with RTA and makes RTA look bad..and makes the city look like is has no civic pride (which pride is FREE by the way, so everyone can afford to exude a bit of it!) Well, I just thought I would mention these cans spilling over.
August 1, 201014 yr Author Start a volunteer "Broom Brigade" like what this city used to have back in the day. Or, more recently, there was Cleanland and another volunteer group called Rapid Recovery. Too many of us look to others to take care of our own neck of the woods for us when the best answer is often right there in the mirror. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 1, 201014 yr ^ I agree completely, and if I had a a buck for each time I went and cleaned up someone else's crap....organized clean-ups/solicited volunteers/made phone calls, etc. to clean up someone else's neighborhood, I'd be able to buy the Queen Mary. I am not looking to anyone to do anything except for those who live in a given area to be responsible for their own mess, or for those who are supposed to be doing their part...to do exactly that. So, how about being a volunteer at Edgewater? We could always use enthusiastic help like that. The trouble is that this does not seem to concern people as it really should, enough to get involved. They're oblivious. This is because of their own lack of understanding---or worse--unwillingness to learn---as to just how serious the problem is and how it is connected to so many others they may see as bigger. (Example: The old "this begets... that and that begets... this..etc", idea) I hope you will come to the presentation being planned for several block clubs to educate them on why this must be kept under control, how to prevent it and how much is costs us socially, economically, environmentally to leave it get out of hand. Better examples have to also come from city leadership as well to promote an anti-litter cultural mindset.
August 1, 201014 yr I don't think people who don't ride the rapid really care what the line looks like, whether they "should" or not. I think a campaign to target the ridership would yield more volunteers.
August 1, 201014 yr ^ Good point. I have yet to see any friendly public service reminders anywhere. The issue goes even deeper because we have a society addicted to so much junk food--which that sort of packaging is what makes up the majority of the crap spilling over in the cans. If we can get more people off the junk, a lessening of the problem could ensue. But that's another story.
August 4, 201014 yr Couldn't they just put a 2nd can at the stops? More space for garbage and the pickup routes don't need to change.
August 4, 201014 yr I have resigned myself to the feeling that this issue will just get worse...and instead of making it right, it will be easier to romanticize it...and it will be glamorized someway as "giving the city character" or some absurd crap notion like that; just like we have slipped into denial and have sugarcoated/glamorized so many other slacking, underachieving shortcomings in society.
August 4, 201014 yr Author I just received this from RTA...... Dear Transit Supporter; We at RTA wanted to thank you for your interest and support of RTA and public transportation. Today we are asking for your input. A team working on Cuyahoga County reform is conducting a survey that includes a wide range of questions, including your suggestions regarding public transportation within the county. We encourage you to take this brief survey (about 10 minutes) to share your thoughts with Cuyahoga County. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hcqp "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 4, 201014 yr took the survey. who ever dreamed up the questions/answers should have to refund their fee.
August 4, 201014 yr Surveys can be crafted in such a way with certain questions that get favorable answers to make it look like that entity which is conducting the survey, is doing a good job.
August 4, 201014 yr Yes I am familiar with that process, you can usually spot it a mile away. Our support team developed the survey our customers rate them with....who could imagine that they would score 4.5 out of 5 every survey period. That survey is a "dog's breakfast" http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dog%27s%20breakfast The definitions of what the answers mean is longer than the survey. Who ever put this together should be on permanent pick up trash around RTA stops with their bare hands duty for 35-life. This was survey pre-mediated murder. This survey rivals the "decision" for poor planning/decision making.
August 4, 201014 yr Author I didn't think they were too bad. The questions were suitably open-ended to elicit a more thoughtful response, so I took my time writing them out to address the root source of many problems. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 4, 201014 yr Most people have a hard time figuring out if 1 or 5 is the best or the worst. Fund, Advocate, Connect and the 6 other things I can remember because the whole exercise gave me a headach????? with paragraphs defining what the terms mean? Anyone pointing to this survey as to why anything is being done should be run out of town on a rail. If the RTA or the county spent a nickle on that they should get 1) a refund 2) somebody should lose their job. They don't have any money for anything, they better not have spent money on that unreadable, unusable mess. You want to go into nuance and 2nd or 3rd derivative detail about questions run a focus group.
August 4, 201014 yr Author Oh I'm sure this survey was free. :roll: Yes, you actually have to read the survey and take some time to answer the questions. The horror. :-o "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 4, 201014 yr C'mon KJP, it's a little more than reading and thinking. I take surveys for money for 2 different companies in my spare time and have seen THOUSANDS of surveys built in hundreds of different ways. I can tell you this is absolutely one of the worst I have ever seen, ever. You're a writer, surely you can see that it's poorly written, difficult to understand, vague in it's concepts, etc.
August 4, 201014 yr Author I guess I'm just an easy-going guy. :) "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 4, 201014 yr Author Was Ward a little hard on the Beaver last night? Seriously though, I don't let things bother me as much as they used to. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 4, 201014 yr Most people have a hard time figuring out if 1 or 5 is the best or the worst. Fund, Advocate, Connect and the 6 other things I can remember because the whole exercise gave me a headach????? with paragraphs defining what the terms mean? Anyone pointing to this survey as to why anything is being done should be run out of town on a rail. If the RTA or the county spent a nickle on that they should get 1) a refund 2) somebody should lose their job. They don't have any money for anything, they better not have spent money on that unreadable, unusable mess. You want to go into nuance and 2nd or 3rd derivative detail about questions run a focus group. Joe C. nixed the budget for rails. You'll have to use the bumper from BRT bus. :evil:
August 5, 201014 yr I hope you will come to the presentation being planned for several block clubs to educate them on why this must be kept under control, how to prevent it and how much is costs us socially, economically, environmentally to leave it get out of hand. Who is doing this presentation? When is it?
August 6, 201014 yr Uh oh! RTA fire sends dozen to hospital, closes Cleveland tracks http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/rta-fire-sends-dozen-to-hospital%2C-closes-cleveland-tracks
August 6, 201014 yr oh BOY. I wonder WTF. There's an article on WKYC that says the driver left the train and left all the passengers stranded onboard.....
August 6, 201014 yr Author I wonder what kind of audible warnings we'll get as a result of this? "Warning: overhead wire is electrified. Do not use it as a clothesline. Warning!" "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 6, 201014 yr Author There's an article on WKYC that says the driver left the train and left all the passengers stranded onboard..... I think you're confusing that with this.... http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=138362&obref=obinsite Police: Driver slams into RTA bus stop, flees the scene CLEVELAND -- RTA says two people were injured when a black Ford Explorer struck an RTA bus shelter at Woodhill and Mt Carmel roads late Tuesday afternoon. RTA Spokesman Jerry Masek says there were 2 people in the shelter at the time who were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center but there is no word on their injuries. Police say that a black Ford Explorer was heading eastbound on Woodland and struck several cars, then hit a bus shelter. Police said the driver of the Explorer then fled the scene. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 6, 201014 yr I wonder what kind of audible warnings we'll get as a result of this? "Warning: overhead wire is electrified. Do not use it as a clothesline. Warning!" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I smelled something burning on that train more than a few times, but everyone else on the train says "it's normal" or "it's the brakes." I pointed it out to the driver once and she just shrugged.
August 6, 201014 yr There's an article on WKYC that says the driver left the train and left all the passengers stranded onboard..... I think you're confusing that with this.... http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=138362&obref=obinsite Police: Driver slams into RTA bus stop, flees the scene CLEVELAND -- RTA says two people were injured when a black Ford Explorer struck an RTA bus shelter at Woodhill and Mt Carmel roads late Tuesday afternoon. RTA Spokesman Jerry Masek says there were 2 people in the shelter at the time who were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center but there is no word on their injuries. Police say that a black Ford Explorer was heading eastbound on Woodland and struck several cars, then hit a bus shelter. Police said the driver of the Explorer then fled the scene. Actually, no. WKYC has since changed the wording of their article. It originally said something akin to "An eyewitness said the operator left the train without opening the doors, stranding the passengers inside and forcing them to kick out windows to escape."
August 6, 201014 yr Author I smelled something burning on that train more than a few times, but everyone else on the train says "it's normal" or "it's the brakes." I pointed it out to the driver once and she just shrugged. Hmm. I wonder what's up with that? The Tokyu train cars used on the Red Line just finished going through an eight-year, $15 million mechanical rehab program. I hope it was just the paint burning off like what happens to a new car's engine after you start driving it a while. Actually, no. WKYC has since changed the wording of their article. It originally said something akin to "An eyewitness said the operator left the train without opening the doors, stranding the passengers inside and forcing them to kick out windows to escape." Sounds like someone at WKYC got a case of the "ooops!" "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 6, 201014 yr WHOA :-o RTA fire sends dozen to hospital, closes Cleveland tracks Posted: 1:27 PM Last Updated: 36 minutes ago CLEVELAND - UPDATE: All RTA trains are running again after a train fire injured about 15 people and shut down trains between the Triskett Station and East 55th Street. Passengers on the red line could still expect delays lasting until later Friday afternoon. The incident occurred Friday on a Regional Transit Authority train car. A spokeswoman for RTA said there were about 75 people on the train when the fire broke out just after noon at West 65th Street and Lorain Avenue. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/rta-fire-sends-dozen-to-hospital,-closes-cleveland-tracks
August 6, 201014 yr Yeah, I'm not the biggest RTA supporter anymore but I'm not sure what the train catching fire has to do with the driver, or any noise that might have been on the train.
August 6, 201014 yr WHOA :-o RTA fire sends dozen to hospital, closes Cleveland tracks Posted: 1:27 PM Last Updated: 36 minutes ago CLEVELAND - UPDATE: All RTA trains are running again after a train fire injured about 15 people and shut down trains between the Triskett Station and East 55th Street. Passengers on the red line could still expect delays lasting until later Friday afternoon. The incident occurred Friday on a Regional Transit Authority train car. A spokeswoman for RTA said there were about 75 people on the train when the fire broke out just after noon at West 65th Street and Lorain Avenue. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/rta-fire-sends-dozen-to-hospital,-closes-cleveland-tracks You're late to the party, MH!
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