Urban Life I have heard these Reasons before, I feel this is more of a copout than a valid reason.

 

I Actually developed a solution to all the issues About

 

here

 

The key was to use existing mounting points and to use rust proof materials.

 

the solution is simple.  I would be happy to build a mock-up for RTA.

 

biker16 - i agree with you about this being a copout, however the resistance to the vertical racks runs deep across multiple departments, so it will take some effort - such as your proposed diagrams - to overcome.

 

there is also some debate about foldable seats.  the healthline was originally going to have a dedicated area for bikes and strollers and at the last minute foldable seats were added as well.  in practice what has happened is that the seats are folded down at the first stop and if you enter the healthline with a stroller or bike anywhere but the first stop, you must ask a sitting passenger to move.  the feeling now is that it is better not to even have a seating option so that the space remains available.

 

i will share your designs.

Red Line

 

        January  February March     April     May     June

2010 406,200 398,100 477,600 361,600 366,700 356,200

2011 451,700 446,000 500,500 459,300 463,900 452,100

2012 493,500 508,700 566,400 488,900 517,600 504,700

 

Urban Life I have heard these Reasons before, I feel this is more of a copout than a valid reason.

 

I Actually developed a solution to all the issues About

 

here

 

The key was to use existing mounting points and to use rust proof materials.

 

the solution is simple.  I would be happy to build a mock-up for RTA.

 

biker16 - i agree with you about this being a copout, however the resistance to the vertical racks runs deep across multiple departments, so it will take some effort - such as your proposed diagrams - to overcome.

 

there is also some debate about foldable seats.  the healthline was originally going to have a dedicated area for bikes and strollers and at the last minute foldable seats were added as well.  in practice what has happened is that the seats are folded down at the first stop and if you enter the healthline with a stroller or bike anywhere but the first stop, you must ask a sitting passenger to move.  the feeling now is that it is better not to even have a seating option so that the space remains available.

 

i will share your designs.

 

the seats used on the HL are not the seats I would use the seats I would use would be seats that by deflt are up, and are only down when a person sit on them. 

 

these types of seat are used on the Paris metro.  they allow for primary use to be flex ADA/Bike Or standee space.  and if not being used for those purposes It can be used as a seat.

 

If the flip seats are not an option, placing a "butt" bar ala the HL stations that can also provide a handhold for standees.

 

I am aware of the resistance to hanging bike racks by RTA, but the objections they have put forth are not valid, iMO.

Are the red line cars going to get their interiors refurbished anytime soon? They are hideous.

 

Plus there always seems to trash in the Red Line cars. I wonder if that is because of how crappy the interiors are. When I ride the Green/Blue lines which have far nicer interiors, I notice little to no trash, and a overall much cleaner car.

 

 

Not sure you're a regular Blue/Green Line rider.  I frequently see trash on them; last time I rode, I recall an annoying Snapple bottle rolling/bumping into my foot every time the train accelerated.

biker16 - i agree with you about this being a copout, however the resistance to the vertical racks runs deep across multiple departments, so it will take some effort - such as your proposed diagrams - to overcome.

 

there is also some debate about foldable seats.  the healthline was originally going to have a dedicated area for bikes and strollers and at the last minute foldable seats were added as well.  in practice what has happened is that the seats are folded down at the first stop and if you enter the healthline with a stroller or bike anywhere but the first stop, you must ask a sitting passenger to move.  the feeling now is that it is better not to even have a seating option so that the space remains available.

 

i will share your designs.

 

Biker16, I like your ideas very much. This is something All Aboard Ohio is very interested in advocating.

 

Let me know if you experience any pushback.

 

Photo above is from my ride home from work last evening. Glad to see such good crowds, which graphically demonstrate the 16 percent ridership jump seen on the Red Line in August, and 11 percent rise overall this year.

 

I also noticed the Red Line train I used heading to downtown in the morning rode VERY smoothly. Does that mean RTA finally got a new wheel lathe for it Central Rail Facility?

Red Line

 

        January  February March     April     May     June

2010 406,200 398,100 477,600 361,600 366,700 356,200

2011 451,700 446,000 500,500 459,300 463,900 452,100

2012 493,500 508,700 566,400 488,900 517,600 504,700

 

Holy St. Paddy's day, Batman!

^

Now if only the Browns won the superbowl, Indians the world series, and the Cavs the championship, we could have three additional huge parades and crowds which would provide RTA with a huge year! :D

Through the deluge on Friday eve, we had a pleasant experience taking the Red Line to/from Ohio City; pleasant because 2 RTA cops were on site at the station, which was busy even til around 10:30p, when we headed back across the river to the East Side.  With cop presence, everyone was well behaved and there was a palpable air of safety.  Another poster has complained that RTA should have manned stations at key, busy points like Ohio City.  I like the POP system, and would not welcome fare collectors, but there's no reason cops shouldn't be posted at that station around the clock.  RTA's latest bulletin touts the Red Line as the best means to visit Ohio City, and that's hard to argue with.  But if RTA wants the public, including some rare visitors, even tourists, to use the Rapid, why not invest in security? Why can't cops be stationed at key stations like Ohio City? Trust me, using that station during off peak hours is much more intimidating without the police presence.

 

... What say you, Jerry? Can we get cops permanently posted at Ohio City and similar stations?  What reason would RTA have for not doing so, esp since so many bored looking cops sit around Tower City, which already is patrolled by both Cleveland cops and Tower City's only security force (if not directly at the station, they float all around it)?

^ Thanks for your comment. I will pass it along.

The October Riders Digest is now available on-line:

 

http://www.riderta.com/pdf/RidersDigest/OCT-2012-RD_1.pdf

clvndr asked: "Can we get cops permanently posted at Ohio City and similar stations?"

 

Transit Police Chief John Joyce responds: "Safety is always our main concern. We are trying to move more police onto rail cars and platforms, and we welcome your suggestions."

Riders Alert, Saturday, Sept. 29, from 4:30 am-3 p.m., buses replace Red Line trains from Puritas to Hopkins. Contractor will work in the area to test, install and remove cables, as work continues to repair the signals.

Riders Alert, Saturday, Sept. 29, from 3 am.-3 p.m., buses replace Red Line trains from Puritas to Hopkins. Contractor will work in the area to test, install and remove cables, as work continues to repair the signals.

 

So when are you going to fix those signals so the trains can run every 15 minutes again?!?!

Er, how can you do this to me -- replace my trains with buses for 12 hours?!?!

 

....I can just imagine someone who said the former would also say the latter.

clvndr asked: "Can we get cops permanently posted at Ohio City and similar stations?"

 

Transit Police Chief John Joyce responds: "Safety is always our main concern. We are trying to move more police onto rail cars and platforms, and we welcome your suggestions."

 

Hi Jerry, no disrespect as I know you're the messenger, but that seems like a pacifying statement.

 

The question we would like to know, is what is Chief Joyce's plan for increased presence at major train stations, rail cars and the Health Line?

Transit Police, like most other law enforcement agencies, respond to demands. You put your finite resources where they will do the most good.

 

Transit Police closely monitor activities and complaints. If a pattern shows that there are consistent issues at Station X at 3 p.m each day, police supervisors will assign more resources to that time and place.

 

As staffing permits, more officers will be assigned to station patrol. There are no guarantees because things change every day. Transit is a very dynamic animal. Chief Joyce is not about to promise things that won't happen. He came here from a long and distinguished career in the FBI.

 

He's also correct in asking for suggestions.  If all our riders become more aware of their surroundings and report improper activity, the easier it is for Transit Police to crackdown on problem areas.

 

 

 

I believe suggestion #1 would be transferring extraneous people out of TC and into outlying stations.  As a side benefit, these employees may contribute useful reports on conditions at these stations.  With all the police forces overlapping at TC, it does sometimes seem as though each thinks the other(s) will handle whatever comes up.

Red Line

For the months of January through June, from the year 1995 to 2012, the Red Line has carried over 3 million passengers only once. That was this year (2012) with 3,079,800!

Transit Police, like most other law enforcement agencies, respond to demands. You put your finite resources where they will do the most good.

 

Transit Police closely monitor activities and complaints. If a pattern shows that there are consistent issues at Station X at 3 p.m each day, police supervisors will assign more resources to that time and place.

 

As staffing permits, more officers will be assigned to station patrol. There are no guarantees because things change every day. Transit is a very dynamic animal. Chief Joyce is not about to promise things that won't happen. He came here from a long and distinguished career in the FBI.

 

He's also correct in asking for suggestions.  If all our riders become more aware of their surroundings and report improper activity, the easier it is for Transit Police to crackdown on problem areas.

 

 

 

 

A lot of the ridership, especially during hours when school lets out, probably sees nothing wrong with inappropriate activity that would warrant police presence, and it is a common lifestyle to some.....and so therefore, no complaints or reports get made, or, at least few. This does not mean there are not issues at many stations or that all is swell and we can sit back feel good about it.  Maybe police can be a little more watchful themselves as relying on people stepping forward to report is needed, but not likely enough to generate any necessary more pro-active presences by officers.

Are the red line cars going to get their interiors refurbished anytime soon? They are hideous.

 

Plus there always seems to trash in the Red Line cars. I wonder if that is because of how crappy the interiors are. When I ride the Green/Blue lines which have far nicer interiors, I notice little to no trash, and a overall much cleaner car.

 

 

yes.  1 car is currently being outfitted and then will be tested for comments and then all red line cars will be have interiors redone.

 

- basically it will be the same color scheme as the blue/green line cars with gray walls/ceiling, dark gray flooring, and use the same or very similar seats to the blue/green line cars. 

- all new windows

- all fluorescent lights will be replaced by LEDs with new plastic lenses

- some seats will be removed at the ends of the cars to provide additional space for wheelchairs/bikes/luggage

- trashcans are being added to the cars

- working on possibly having digital destination signs in each car, but communications problems between cars and limited weathertight connections between cars may prevent this

- no plans to update speaker system or to add a digital stop sign within the cars, but this may change

 

there may be some kind of public display in the next few months to get rider feedback before all of the cars are done.  expected timeline was over the next year to complete the project.

 

overall, it should look and function much better.

I feel like the digital destination signs are the most important think tbh. I say this because if you sit in quite a few red line trains the destination sign is either blank or white so this will solve that issue and a digital stop sign within the car like the healthline would be beneficial for riders as well and shouldn't be forgotten about to bring the cars into the 21st century. Also you said it will have the same color scheme as the Blue/Green line so will the outside be painted Grey/Blue as well?

Red Line

For the months of January through June, from the year 1995 to 2012, the Red Line has carried over 3 million passengers only once. That was this year (2012) with 3,079,800!

 

The ridership growth on the Red Line has been mighty impressive given the decline in employment and population over the years.  Hopefully increased service frequency, new UC stations, and continued downtown/UC development will keep the momentum going.  Though the S curve work is going to be a real bummer.

Worth reading. See also the presentation at:

http://www.leapinfo.org/NRDC%20Transportation%20Poll%209.18.12.pdf

 

Transportation Advocates Get Stats to Bolster Their Work

 

Nearly 70 percent of Americans think local governments should invest more in public transportation, and most Americans believe their state governments spend far more than they actually do on public transportation. Staff members from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) presented these and other results of their national poll on public attitudes on transportation options at a Sept. 18 meeting at LEAP’s Cleveland office. LEAP staff members, consumer advocates, and representatives from local government, transportation advocacy groups, and the Regional Transit Authority gathered for the presentation.

 

The NRDC, one of the nation’s most prominent environmental groups, conducted the telephone poll last summer with 800 likely voters nationwide. The telephone poll was preceded by focus groups in three regions, including Cuyahoga County.

 

Among the survey results:

 

READ MORE AT....

http://www.leapinfo.org/2012sept1_nrdc_presents_at_leap.aspx

 

yes.  1 car is currently being outfitted and then will be tested for comments and then all red line cars will be have interiors redone.

 

- basically it will be the same color scheme as the blue/green line cars with gray walls/ceiling, dark gray flooring, and use the same or very similar seats to the blue/green line cars. 

- all new windows

- all fluorescent lights will be replaced by LEDs with new plastic lenses

- some seats will be removed at the ends of the cars to provide additional space for wheelchairs/bikes/luggage

- trashcans are being added to the cars

- working on possibly having digital destination signs in each car, but communications problems between cars and limited weathertight connections between cars may prevent this

- no plans to update speaker system or to add a digital stop sign within the cars, but this may change

...

I feel like the digital destination signs are the most important think tbh. I say this because if you sit in quite a few red line trains the destination sign is either blank or white so this will solve that issue and a digital stop sign within the car like the healthline would be beneficial for riders as well and shouldn't be forgotten about to bring the cars into the 21st century. Also you said it will have the same color scheme as the Blue/Green line so will the outside be painted Grey/Blue as well?

 

I think digital destination and digital stop signs would be huge improvements, I think it has more to do with the old(er) technology that is on the trains that isn't planned for an upgrade making it harder to accomplish and probably some short staffing in actually figuring out how to implement on RTA's cars with the current equipment.

 

This project does not touch the exteriors, they remain stainless steel.

clvndr asked: "Can we get cops permanently posted at Ohio City and similar stations?"

 

Transit Police Chief John Joyce responds: "Safety is always our main concern. We are trying to move more police onto rail cars and platforms, and we welcome your suggestions."

 

Hi Jerry, no disrespect as I know you're the messenger, but that seems like a pacifying statement.

 

The question we would like to know, is what is Chief Joyce's plan for increased presence at major train stations, rail cars and the Health Line?

 

Agreed.  I'm not an RTA accountant, but I dare say transit cops could be redeployed to important, visitor-friendly stations like Ohio City (and the future UC-Little Italy station) at ZERO added costs.  Not only, as I've noted, that Tower City is covered by multiple police jurisdictions, it also appears to be one of the safest stations in the entire RTA system... The redeployment issue, then, comes down to a matter of RTA's priorities rather than costs:  is RTA more interested in using it's gun-toting cops to bust a few fare jumpers (which seem to be rare at TC, anyway, with turnstiles and fare personnel on site) or are they more interested in providing rider security and safety? 

Through the deluge on Friday eve, we had a pleasant experience taking the Red Line to/from Ohio City; pleasant because 2 RTA cops were on site at the station, which was busy even til around 10:30p, when we headed back across the river to the East Side.  With cop presence, everyone was well behaved and there was a palpable air of safety.  Another poster has complained that RTA should have manned stations at key, busy points like Ohio City.  I like the POP system, and would not welcome fare collectors, but there's no reason cops shouldn't be posted at that station around the clock.  RTA's latest bulletin touts the Red Line as the best means to visit Ohio City, and that's hard to argue with.  But if RTA wants the public, including some rare visitors, even tourists, to use the Rapid, why not invest in security? Why can't cops be stationed at key stations like Ohio City? Trust me, using that station during off peak hours is much more intimidating without the police presence.

 

... What say you, Jerry? Can we get cops permanently posted at Ohio City and similar stations?  What reason would RTA have for not doing so, esp since so many bored looking cops sit around Tower City, which already is patrolled by both Cleveland cops and Tower City's only security force (if not directly at the station, they float all around it)?

 

You might have been referring to me. And yes, I believe they should have a cop at all major stations, such as Ohio City Station, Little Italy-University Circle Station, Cedar-University Circle Station, and Tower City of course. It increases the real and perceived safety, and also cuts down on people not paying. If all major stops had an RTA cop at them, it would be harder for someone to not pay. This system wont be able to prevent people from riding from West Blvd to West 65th, or East 79th to East 105th, but in reality, that should be no concern as there will be hardly anybody riding that. It would make it much harder to get Downtown, Ohio city, or University Circle, all major traffic generators, without paying. On top of that, the cops can give information to people new to the city or system.

Agree 100% on spreading the transit police. I'd love to see police at the major stops. Rightly or wrongly, RTA has a safety perception problem among many people in Northeast Ohio. Concentrating transit police in the safest station (Tower City) does nothing to address that.

for the first time ever today I saw police on a green line car, and the red line, as well as in the Ohio city station, and what seemed like way more presence at TC

A ceremony to officially open the Buckeye-Woodhill Station is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23.

This got me excited!  From GCRTA Facebook:

 

"The web of steel at Settler's Landing Station on the Waterfront Line provides an interesting backdrop for this worker, who is preparing the station for re-painting. RTA is starting to spruce up the Waterfront Line in preparation for next spring, when seven-day service will return to serve the Flats East Bank development."

I didnt know they were doing that but I was thinking about it just the other day... time to fix the paint, missing lights etc.!  And another acknowledgement from RTA that the WFL will be back in service

 

 

This got me excited!  From GCRTA Facebook:

 

"The web of steel at Settler's Landing Station on the Waterfront Line provides an interesting backdrop for this worker, who is preparing the station for re-painting. RTA is starting to spruce up the Waterfront Line in preparation for next spring, when seven-day service will return to serve the Flats East Bank development."

I didnt know they were doing that but I was thinking about it just the other day... time to fix the paint, missing lights etc.!  And another acknowledgement from RTA that the WFL will be back in service

 

 

 

Hopefully they can take a look at some of the Red Line Stops once the WFL is fixed up. 

 

Actually for the most part the stations are in good shape, some just need to be completely replaced.  I'm looking at you Brookpark, and I know the situation so I'm not expecting much any time soon.  I am really looking forward to the new Little Italy station though, the old station at E 120th made Brookpark look like it was brand spanking new.

Highlights of the Oct. 9 Board Committee have been posted at http://www.riderta.com/newsroom/releases/?listingid=1794.

 

The release includes links to several important PowerPoint presentations.

1. How RTA will handle rail service when the S-curve repairs are made next year.

2. RTA capital budget for 2013. The second half of the presentation includes a list of projects that are in construction, design, etc.

 

There's lots of good information here. Enjoy.

 

Good info. Thanks. I see no mention of the West Side Transit Center proposed for the parking lot west of public square. Is that still in discussion???

^ Yes, The project is still very much "alive," but it does not move into the design and planning stages until all parties have been identified and funding has been secured.

^ Yes, The project is still very much "alive," but it does not move into the design and planning stages until all parties have been identified and funding has been secured.

 

Great! Thanks for your insight

So nobody has mentioned the RTA bus driver who got into a verbal altercation with a woman on a bus that escalated into him uppercutting her! Video on Cleveland.com and YouTube

I was waiting for someone else to post it. I just can't believe it!

What a cluster... This is trending on twitter via #GetOffMyBus and #Uppercut (and now #BusDriverUppercutPlaylist and Mortal Kombat)

 

Video shows Cleveland RTA driver punching woman on bus

By Brandon Blackwell, The Plain Dealer

on October 12, 2012 at 8:21 AM, updated October 12, 2012 at 10:44 AM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A cell phone video has surfaced showing a Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority driver uppercutting a woman on a bus.

 

The shaky video shows an escalating verbal confrontation between the driver of bus number 2802 and the rider.

 

The driver eventually leaves his seat and punches the woman in the face before tossing her from the stopped bus.

 

...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/10/video_shows_cleveland_rta_driv.html

 

This video is entirely NSFW or most anywhere with bystanders around.

(Full Video) Cleveland RTA bus driver upper cuts passenger

That video may be NSFW but everyone at work is watching it

 

WOW!!! Both were in the wrong here. She shouldn't have been standing there and belligerently provoking the driver. The driver should have called the police. I guess that's procedure?

NSFW... had to look that one up. Not Suitable For Work. Got it. Moving on to the next internet acronym!

NSFW... had to look that one up. Not Suitable For Work. Got it. Moving on to the next internet acronym!

You realize you're not required to remind us that you're old, right?  :-P

They were both in the wrong.  She should be arrested and he should be fired.

 

Wonder what the ATU defense of him will be. 

 

Honestly though, sometimes when I ride I don't know how this doesn't happen more often.

They should both be arrested.

 

NSFW... had to look that one up. Not Suitable For Work. Got it. Moving on to the next internet acronym!

 

tl;dr

NSFW... had to look that one up. Not Suitable For Work. Got it. Moving on to the next internet acronym!

You realize you're not required to remind us that you're old, right?  :-P

 

Or that you're young and trying to change the English language in unnatural ways! :-P x2

Some crazy scumbag got what she deserved. Sure the driver acted very unprofessionally, but he was being attacked by an animal and responded.

 

 

Some crazy scumbag got what she deserved. Sure the driver acted very unprofessionally, but he was being attacked by an animal and responded.

 

This is true to.

Oh my. #BusDriverUppercutPlaylist is trending on Twitter, as is RTA.

Blame her mom, or a bored intern at the maternity ward.  Imagine growing up with a name like Shidea.....

 

Our Highly Professional Only Local Daily Newspaper printed a scan of the police report, with SSNs deleted but phone numbers and addresses left in.

Our Highly Professional Only Local Daily Newspaper printed a scan of the police report, with SSNs deleted but phone numbers and addresses left in.

 

Outstanding.

This is disgusting.  This Bus Driver should not only be fired, but arrested for assault & battery.  Some of the passengers should be implicated too for seemingly goading on a ''hot" situation.  And no one stepped forward to intervene, just snap cellphone photos...

 

This is a sad for Cleveland and our society in general.  Also, it is a snapshot of what can happen when RTA's personnel can become aggressively rude and petulant.  Obviously, most RTA drivers and personnel aren't as foolish and violent as this one driver.  However, all too often I have seen RTA people who are hostile and unfriendly, and our transit agency has developed a reputation for unfriendliness.  And I don't think it's totally unfounded.  I'm not saying that there are not out-of-control people like this particular passenger, or that RTA's job is easy having often to deal with difficult passengers, but then again, RTA drivers are public ambassadors and chauffeurs and are paid to, and charged with having cool heads in hot situations like this one ....

 

I don't know all the facts, obviously, but in situations like this, it behooves drivers to use their radios (what are they there for) to contact RTA's roving security rather than taking things into their own hands, like obviously this hot-headed driver decided to do.