I wonder what passenger service was like when first built?  I wonder if moving to East 30 or 22 would make a difference?  Also, if the community is upset about the station why aren't they using it more?  What has the community done in the past to partner with RTA to discuss uses for the station as well as passenger usage.  I spoke on this before and I'm old enough (hush KJP) to remember when the Cleveland Rapid portion of this station was better than the Shaker Rapid and there were, IMO, quite a few people using this station that were going to Tri-C and CSU.

 

To bad this can't be a subway from TC under Broadway, Woodland or Orange, then back to the current route route.

 

There was long ago talk of relocating E. 34 to E. 30, which always made sense because it would be a straight walk up E.30 (under I-77) to Tri-C.  But the proposal somehow fizzled along the way.  Another factor screwing things up is that the huge central Post Office faces completely away from the station (I know because I once tried to use E. 34 to get there ... and walked, seemingly for over a mile).  At the very least they could have had a customer entrance facing E. 30th that would have made it a little closer to the RTA station.  An e. 14 station would make sense if the area filled out residential-ly as KJP notes, but I think the E. 30th relocation plan should be revived...

 

It does seem that a few more Tri-C students (or seeming Tri-C students; young adults with backpacks) are using E. 34 nowadays; perhaps as part of the general uptick in popularity of the Rapid in general; so it would be absurd to close this station altogether with no alternative ... just because RTA is too cheap to build an elevator (esp while they're in line to build a 2nd one at E 105/Quincy!).

MTS, what was it like when the Shaker Rapid exited the private right of way at East 34th and ramped up onto Broadway?

 

Back when the Shaker Rapid first began, East 34th was at the edge of a low-income neighborhood comprised of ill-maintained, 100-year-old wooden homes that were encrusted with emissions from nearby steel mills and refineries which had no pollution controls. Few people of means wanted to live there. So it was also the first place that southern blacks settled before the First World War. Tremont and Ohio City were the same age but were upwind of the industries so they suffered fewer effects and remained attractive to middle- and working-class residents. But block-by-block, the neighborhood near East 34th was leveled -- first by the Northern Ohio Food Terminal in the 1920s and then, more massively, by the Willow Freeway in the 1950s sending many poor African-Americans to relocate into Hough. The East 34th station also was a popular transfer point with the #11 Broadway and #12 Union streetcar lines, as well as the Northern Ohio Traction & Light interurban which ran on the Cleveland Railway Co.'s streetcar tracks down Broadway to Bedford and then to a private, 80 mph right of way to Cuyahoga Falls, and then back on streetcar tracks into downtown Akron (and on to Canton and New Philadelphia).

 

Needless to say, none of those traffic generators remain today. The best traffic generator is the roughly 1,000 employees at the Main Post Office, which relies more on low-wage part-time workers these days. The others, like Tri-C and St. Vincent Charity Hospital, are walled off from the station by I-77.

 

Maybe someday this city will figure out how to support its rail system with land use planning and incentives that encourage dense, mixed-use land uses to locate at rail stations rather than dismissively allow used car lots, self-storage facilities, scrap metal yards, or a women's prison to be built next to stations.

^ Damn, you are a walking history book.  :-P

Would be interesting to see what is within a half mile WALK! Really is the only thing that matters.

 

Indeed.  This might be the worst located rail transit station anywhere.

 

An East 14th station would be worse, the walk from that location isn't pretty. It is and wild continue to be a maze of highway over passes, and 9 lane high speed roads.

 

More info on Infill stations here.

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2768.msg713140#msg713140

 

 

 

 

 

MTS, what was it like when the Shaker Rapid exited the private right of way at East 34th and ramped up onto Broadway?

 

X8VSSdteKqM

MTS, what was it like when the Shaker Rapid exited the private right of way at East 34th and ramped up onto Broadway?

 

 

:-D :-D :-D  :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

An East 14th station would be worse, the walk from that location isn't pretty. It is and wild continue to be a maze of highway over passes, and 9 lane high speed roads.

 

More info on Infill stations here.

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2768.msg713140#msg713140

 

 

Not if we develop the nearby flat land that's being opened up by the Inner Belt project. That's one thing the East 34th station site doesn't have -- open, flat land.

Red Line East Side construction ... continued... again.  Now there's no longer an end date posted, with RTA now going the "... until further notice" mode.  No way the completion of the UC/Little Italy station should take until 2016.

 

http://www.riderta.com/news/july-red-line-construction

Ive heard spring 2015. Btw Little Italy was packed tonight. This station should only make things better by making it easier for visitors and tourists to visit from downtown.

^ it's a Friday night in the summer...why wouldn't it be packed?

^ it's a Friday night in the summer...why wouldn't it be packed?

 

Just wait a month....

I would never have guessed the Red Line would be effectively shut down in some parts of the city for this long a time. The one time I tried the shuttle from Windermere to Cedar was enough to make me decide not to go back until this is all over. The Green Line is an OK substitute for me but adds quite a bit of time to my trip.

I would never have guessed the Red Line would be effectively shut down in some parts of the city for this long a time. The one time I tried the shuttle from Windermere to Cedar was enough to make me decide not to go back until this is all over. The Green Line is an OK substitute for me but adds quite a bit of time to my trip.

Shuttles are pointless, usually it takes 17 minutes to get form Windermere to Downtown but on the shuttle it took over an hour.

Shuttles are pointless, usually it takes 17 minutes to get form Windermere to Downtown but on the shuttle it took over an hour.

 

Yes, the shuttle does not seem to work very well, at least in the current Red Line situation. I only tried it once, but the trip from Windermere to W. 25th St. took three times longer than usual, so I will wait until the trains are running again before I go back. The connection between the shuttle and the train at Cedar-University was especially dysfunctional. I am glad to have other options.

Shuttles are pointless, usually it takes 17 minutes to get form Windermere to Downtown but on the shuttle it took over an hour.

 

Yes, the shuttle does not seem to work very well, at least in the current Red Line situation. I only tried it once, but the trip from Windermere to W. 25th St. took three times longer than usual, so I will wait until the trains are running again before I go back. The connection between the shuttle and the train at Cedar-University was especially dysfunctional. I am glad to have other options.

My mind is just blown on how long it's taking for these stations, it went from June, to July 16, to "until further notice". Pretty frustrating especially since the east side always bears the grunt of the shutdowns.

My mind is just blown on how long it's taking for these stations, it went from June, to July 16, to "until further notice". Pretty frustrating especially since the east side always bears the grunt of the shutdowns.

 

It's not like the center of the Red Line was taken out of service for six weeks last year between West Boulevard and West 117th with a bus bridge between them. Or the Airport Tunnel was taken out of service for six months from November 2012 to April 2013. There have also been service suspensions this year, too, for major trackwork projects (ie: installation of new switches).

 

The difference with the east-side station project is that it is taking longer than expected and that breeds frustration. No one likes to see construction last longer than expected and cause service to be disrupted accordingly. That said, I am happy that GCRTA is in the midst of a $180 million, five-year rail program. I hope the rest of it goes more smoothly.

My mind is just blown on how long it's taking for these stations, it went from June, to July 16, to "until further notice". Pretty frustrating especially since the east side always bears the grunt of the shutdowns.

 

It's not like the center of the Red Line was taken out of service for six weeks last year between West Boulevard and West 117th with a bus bridge between them. Or the Airport Tunnel was taken out of service for six months from November 2012 to April 2013. There have also been service suspensions this year, too, for major trackwork projects (ie: installation of new switches).

To be pushed back from June 22nd, to a month later on July 16th was pretty bad already but to not have a tentative date set now is worse. I understand the west side faced a major shutdown, I guess I'm just frustrated because it seems the east side is shut down to frequently, albeit mostly due to the interbelt project.

 

I am not sure if this is the correct thread to post this under, but is there a construction reroute/service alert for the 55 bus that is not posted on RTA's website? I was waiting at the westbound stop at Chester and E 17th from 9:55pm until 10:20 and saw no bus (supposed to arrive at 10:05pm). I checked NextConnect and the map showed that the bus had already passed me. I was just wondering because I plan on making this trip very often.

I am not sure if this is the correct thread to post this under, but is there a construction reroute/service alert for the 55 bus that is not posted on RTA's website? I was waiting at the westbound stop at Chester and E 17th from 9:55pm until 10:20 and saw no bus (supposed to arrive at 10:05pm). I checked NextConnect and the map showed that the bus had already passed me. I was just wondering because I plan on making this trip very often.

 

Looks like you had the wrong schedule. The #55 departures before and after the time you were waiting has them leaving the STJ Transit Center at 9:44 a.m. and 10:34 a.m. The earlier departure gets to Public Square at 9:53 a.m. and the later one gets to Public Square at 10:45 a.m.

 

Here is the #55's schedule in two formats:

http://www.riderta.com/routes/55/schedules/current

http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/schedule-pdfs/55.pdf

I've had great experience using Google Maps.

I am not sure if this is the correct thread to post this under, but is there a construction reroute/service alert for the 55 bus that is not posted on RTA's website? I was waiting at the westbound stop at Chester and E 17th from 9:55pm until 10:20 and saw no bus (supposed to arrive at 10:05pm). I checked NextConnect and the map showed that the bus had already passed me. I was just wondering because I plan on making this trip very often.

 

Looks like you had the wrong schedule. The #55 departures before and after the time you were waiting has them leaving the STJ Transit Center at 9:44 a.m. and 10:34 a.m. The earlier departure gets to Public Square at 9:53 a.m. and the later one gets to Public Square at 10:45 a.m.

 

Here is the #55's schedule in two formats:

http://www.riderta.com/routes/55/schedules/current

http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/schedule-pdfs/55.pdf

 

KJP, look again. This was in reference to a westbound PM trip.

 

That being said, no reroutes I'm immediately aware of. This was the last westbound trip of the night, something else may have happened.

Thanks. Wow, to miss the last bus of the night.... What route did you take to get home, townley? The #26?

I ended up taking the Healthline to Public Square and then the 26 home to Lakewood. I could always do this route, but would prefer the 55 since it seems to take about half the time. I triple checked the bus schedule with Google Maps, the RTA timetable, and NextConnect, but couldn't figure out what was up. Hopefully just a one time thing

I know it is frustrating that the Red line is taking so long but I was at the University Circle stop last night making a connection, and I am really excited about the improvements being made. The new transit stop for buses will be closer to the rapid exit and entrance. This means no more walking along a long underpass to get to the buses.

^I thought you still have to walk the underpass to get to a bus area, just on the sidewalk on the other side of the road.  Am I mistaken?

I know it is frustrating that the Red line is taking so long but I was at the University Circle stop last night making a connection, and I am really excited about the improvements being made. The new transit stop for buses will be closer to the rapid exit and entrance. This means no more walking along a long underpass to get to the buses.

 

I despised that thing back in the day, especially when the roads were wet.  One can still have to walk there to get to the campus.

Robust public transit and central location helped bring Republican convention to town

 

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on July 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM, updated July 23, 2014 at 3:32 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Republican officials say that fundraising ability and hotel space were key factors in picking Cleveland to host its 2016 convention.

 

But perhaps not far behind came the transportation logistics of dropping 50,000 visitors into town for a few days.

 

On two key measures – public transit and walkability – Cleveland ranked first among the six finalists for the 2016 Republican National Convention. A third benchmark – traffic congestion – rated Cleveland almost the least likely to have gridlock, trailing only Kansas City.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/07/robust_public_transit_and_cent.html

Robust public transit and central location helped bring Republican convention to town

 

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on July 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM, updated July 23, 2014 at 3:32 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Republican officials say that fundraising ability and hotel space were key factors in picking Cleveland to host its 2016 convention.

 

But perhaps not far behind came the transportation logistics of dropping 50,000 visitors into town for a few days.

 

On two key measures – public transit and walkability – Cleveland ranked first among the six finalists for the 2016 Republican National Convention. A third benchmark – traffic congestion – rated Cleveland almost the least likely to have gridlock, trailing only Kansas City.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/07/robust_public_transit_and_cent.html

That article just showed the importance of rail over bus transportation.

Gotta make sure the help gets to the convention! ;)

Gotta make sure the help gets to the convention! ;)

 

... as well as Billy-Bob delegate from Pulaski, Tennessee.  :wink:

Gotta make sure the help gets to the convention! ;)

 

... as well as Billy-Bob delegate from Pulaski, Tennessee.  :wink:

 

Only if he's feeling adventurous and doesn't want to use the GOP provided-shuttle buses to downtown hotels.  ;) ;)

Gotta make sure the help gets to the convention! ;)

 

... as well as Billy-Bob delegate from Pulaski, Tennessee.  :wink:

 

Only if he's feeling adventurous and doesn't want to use the GOP provided-shuttle buses to downtown hotels.  ;) ;)

 

Cleberger, you must not be reading the news too well... The GOP (and DNC) have chosen (are considering) Cleveland in large part because of it's quality transit facilities, most notably the airport Rapid-to-indoor walkway to the Q.  Other cities, esp Columbus and KC, were eliminated because of the lack of such facilities... No way will this so-called shuttle you keep talking out be able to handle the gigantic throngs (conventioneers, media, protesters and others) for this convention.  Especially at our small-ish airport with limited park 'n' pickup areas.... And contrary to stereotypes, all Republicans are not rich and can afford chauffeur-driven limos.

Greater Cleve RTA @GCRTA

Shuttle buses to replace trains btwn CLE Airport & Tower City Sat 7/26-Sun 7/27 due to construction.

 

A few pics I shot this week during my commutes home......

 

 

 

Gotta make sure the help gets to the convention! ;)

 

... as well as Billy-Bob delegate from Pulaski, Tennessee.  :wink:

 

Only if he's feeling adventurous and doesn't want to use the GOP provided-shuttle buses to downtown hotels.  ;) ;)

 

Cleberger, you must not be reading the news too well... The GOP (and DNC) have chosen (are considering) Cleveland in large part because of it's quality transit facilities, most notably the airport Rapid-to-indoor walkway to the Q.  Other cities, esp Columbus and KC, were eliminated because of the lack of such facilities... No way will this so-called shuttle you keep talking out be able to handle the gigantic throngs (conventioneers, media, protesters and others) for this convention.  Especially at our small-ish airport with limited park 'n' pickup areas.... And contrary to stereotypes, all Republicans are not rich and can afford chauffeur-driven limos.

 

I'm not digging on Republicans or Democrats.  I often work in the convention business and know that transit is not normally considered in a business that routinely books in coaches to shuffle attendees 4-5 blocks from a hotel to a restaurant or meeting center.  So while Republicans may be giving the rail access some lip service, the vast vast vast majority of attendees will probably be bussed in on prearranged transport.   

 

With this being said, I'm glad we are getting the convention, no matter what their reasoning.  The economic benefits and exposure will be tremendous.  I just hope our safety forces are up for the task.  But that is for another thread....

 

 

^Cleburger, I don’t doubt your experience or what you’re saying … for normal, large conventions.  I’m just noting that this is a not convention normal large convention, but one on a scale that few cities have ever experienced --  certainly not Cleveland in modern times; and you’d have to think that the 1936 Republican convention here was modest in scale compared to today’s standards, in communications alone.  I just disagree with your premise that the Rapid won’t be used that much during the RNC, when planners pointed to it as a key factor as to why we got it… Yeah, we’ve heard all the old tired Cleveland “it’s several blocks to the hotel” excuse for non-transit use, when other cities (esp those not named New York) force travelers/conventioneers, to schlep the bags a lot farther.  And you don’t think cabbies aren’t going to be lined up outside Tower City like a pack of hungry wolves?  (hell, I may even apply for a hacker’s license and sit out there waiting for fares myself)… 

 

I also think you continue to ignore the thousands of people who will be here who are not directly part of the RNC (like news media: reporters, some of them low budget bloggers and stringers from all over the world)  who will be here, some only here a day or 2 during the 4-day convention (meaning they’ll be traveling light and may, and will, carry their bags to their hotels…. I think you also overlook that downtown’s compactness and walkability were also factors that led to our RNC 2016 win. 

 

Trust me, the Rapid like every other local transport service, is going to be slammed that week, and RTA would be smart to run 3-car trains all week long to handle regular daily riders in addition to the RNC-related visitors.  At least 2-car trains on the Blue, Green and Waterfront Lines should be run, as well; probably 24/7 … yeah, I know that last one hurts Jerry & JetDog.

 

^ They will probably use that week to renovate all of the Red Line cars and run one car trains instead  :wink:

 

Or ODOT might have to shut the rail lines down for construction!

Retention wall collapses at Rapid Station; blue, green lines suspended

POSTED 5:38 PM, JULY 27, 2014, BY DARCIE LORENO, UPDATED AT 10:32PM, JULY 27, 2014

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — RTA and Cleveland Fire Department officials say a retention wall collapsed sending debris onto the tracks at the RTA Buckeye-Woodhill Rapid Station.

 

No one was injured. The station is located at 9528 Buckeye Road, and it happened just before 4:30 p.m.

 

The collapse was the result of heavy water flowing down Buckeye during the heavy storms.

 

The RTA’s blue and green lines were temporarily suspended. RTA is running shuttle buses in their place through Monday morning’s rush hour.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://fox8.com/2014/07/27/retention-wall-collapses-at-rapid-station-blue-green-line-suspended/

This isn't the first time this station has been an issue.

 

If the station, isn't flooded, the walls are crumbling down.

So yesterday the only trains operating were Red Line trains between Tower City and University Circle and the Waterfront Line?  The Red Line was shut down between University Circle and Windermere AND Tower City and the Airport.  Then the Green and Blue Lines were completely shut down.

 

Today, the only trains operating are the Blue Line between Van Aken and Shaker Square, the Red Line between University Circle and the Airport, and the Waterfront Line?  It feels like you're lucky if you're able to actually take the train anywhere anymore.

 

I know the Green and Blue Lines aren't RTA's fault, but hopefully they'll work quickly both to get the E. 93rd station fixed and the Red Line fully reopened.

No, the west-side Red Line was shut down only this weekend. It is back up and running between the Airport and UC-Cedar today.

 

Greater Cleve RTA ‏@GCRTA  9m

Trains running Blue Line btwn Van Aken to SSq, shuttle buses SSq to TC. Green Line still buses only. Crews are aiming for Tues. service.

No, the west-side Red Line was shut down only this weekend. It is back up and running between the Airport and UC-Cedar today.

 

Greater Cleve RTA ‏@GCRTA  9m

Trains running Blue Line btwn Van Aken to SSq, shuttle buses SSq to TC. Green Line still buses only. Crews are aiming for Tues. service.

 

Yes, I know.  Reread my post.

Blue/Green lines will be back up and running tomorrow morning......

 

Greater Cleve RTA ‏@GCRTA  14m

Blue/Green Trains still served by buses between TC & Shaker Sq & rest of Green Line. Blue Line TC to Van Aken open. Trains back TUES AM.

Good to hear!

So yesterday the only trains operating were Red Line trains between Tower City and University Circle and the Waterfront Line?  The Red Line was shut down between University Circle and Windermere AND Tower City and the Airport.  Then the Green and Blue Lines were completely shut down.

 

Today, the only trains operating are the Blue Line between Van Aken and Shaker Square, the Red Line between University Circle and the Airport, and the Waterfront Line?  It feels like you're lucky if you're able to actually take the train anywhere anymore.

 

I know the Green and Blue Lines aren't RTA's fault, but hopefully they'll work quickly both to get the E. 93rd station fixed and the Red Line fully reopened.

 

Obviously the Blue/Green Line wall collapse couldn't be avoided, and happily the trains are back up and running.  Also, the U-Circle to Windermere shutdown I can live with because the very important UC-Little Italy station is going up... But there are still way too many total rail shutdowns given the size of our Rapid network.  I still have not seen a valid justification for the total West Side shutdown for the past 2 weekends other than "track work."  It's up to RTA communications to be much clearer than this.

 

... In case you haven't noticed, RTA has so many routine shutdowns, that RTA now has (permanently) installed rail shutdown bus stops outside of regular stations along the various nearby and/or parallel streets, like Van Aken and Shaker, at Public Sq and across from the W. 25th station, among others.  That's pretty disturbing imho.  You need a friggin’ jigsaw puzzle to figure out what rail line is/isn’t running these days thanks to RTA.

 

Come on people. Get over it. Rail lines are closed and updated all over the place all the time. It happens.

Obviously the Blue/Green Line wall collapse couldn't be avoided, and happily the trains are back up and running. 

Perhaps, perhaps not.

 

But has this failure mode been isolated and actions taken to prevent (or at least reduce the likelihood of) recurrence?

 

That's something that the private sector (at least in manufacturing) is expected to do when something goes wrong and if not in place, it's a good thing to add to continually improve the system.

Come on people. Get over it. Rail lines are closed and updated all over the place all the time. It happens.

 

Let us know if that closure is extended first into October and then indefinitely.

Come on people. Get over it. Rail lines are closed and updated all over the place all the time. It happens.

 

Little bit different in NYC, where you have such a huge rail network with so many intersecting and parallel lines that provide alternative service.  I don't deny that sometimes train lines need to be closed.  It just seems it happens too much with RTA.

First I've heard of this...

 

From GCRTA: Remember, 7 pm Red Line buses replace rail btwn Tower City and W117, while Norfolk Southern works on bridge over tracks. Work till done.

First I've heard of this...

 

From GCRTA: Remember, 7 pm Red Line buses replace rail btwn Tower City and W117, while Norfolk Southern works on bridge over tracks. Work till done.

 

We received notification late in the day that Norfolk Southern needed to perform some work on one of their bridges near the W 98 Rapid Station. Notifications were sent out via all channels beginning at approximately 3:00pm.