That's the frustrating part. I listened to that transit discussion on Idea Stream the other day, and Calabrese seemed content with the explanation that stuff like this should just be expected in winter. He pointed to Boston saying that they shut down the T but RTA hasn't ever had a system wide shut down due to weather. (There's a difference between shutting down temporarily for a huge storm and consistently breaking down for short periods. I'd much rather take the former). He also said that maybe when weather is bad, people should leave earlier and try to catch the earlier train than they normally would. I'm sorry, but if you tout your rail system as a more reliable way to get around than by car, but then aren't able to deliver a level of consistency, you aren't going to be gaining any riders. Yes, stuff happens that can't be avoided, but the issues with the Rapid lines this year are just unacceptable.

 

Edit: Here is the link to the above mentioned transit discussion on WCPN: http://www.ideastream.org/soi/entry/68102

 

MBTA has been doing both, actually.  Service has been extremely inconsistent throughout February, on all modes (ferry, bus, rapid transit, and commuter rail).  Approximately half the rail fleet on two of the lines is out of service.  I'd warn Joe C. against comparing RTA to MBTA too much, though... His counterpart here, Beverly Scott, was forced to resign over MBTA's handling of the weather-related service disruptions.  People in Cleveland might get ideas  :evil:

This winter (and last) has been a major disappointment. Meanwhile, the colder weather in Minneapolis doesn't interrupt its rail service. And it's not just that it's a newer system. That's a big part of it, sure. But it's also about maintenance and making major investments. GCRTA offers no major funding plan. Instead, it plays the victim.

 

This is an incredible statement and a horrible indictment of RTA management, which seemingly can't do enough chest-thumping about that 2007 "Best Transit System in North America" designation -- no matter how specious the designation's origin may be -- or the constant national fawning over the Health Line, much of which has been generated by anti-rail "think" tanks.

 

And my "victim" comment is too harsh. A better way for me to state it is, if I was running RTA I would hold a press conference with a detailed presentation summarized as: "We want to provide X level of service systemwide, including a service standard for specific types of bus routes, BRT routes, and rail routes that get 90 percent of the county's population to 90 percent of the jobs within 90 minutes of walking out their front door. That requires Y level of financial support. We have only Z level of financial support. Given fiscal realities at the state and federal levels, we are probably going to have to provide this funding from within the county. The alternative is we are going to have to scale down the transit services to match the resources available, which includes reducing bus, BRT and rail services. Winter weather exposes our shortcomings brought on by this lack of funding, and is already causing us to suspend services on our rail system a few hours each day. We can't afford to replace our trains, so we will run them until we can't run them anymore. When will that day be? Maybe it won't be for several years. But the Blue and Green line trains surely won't last 10 years, and probably sooner. Our maintenance workers at Central Rail will confirm that. So let's have a community conversation on how we in Cuyahoga County can support our transportation system, augmented by whatever outside funding we can still get. But increasingly, we need to come to grips that we're on our own. So let's design the transit system we want and match it with the resources that our most creative, politically astute minds can muster."

^ You're hired.  When can you start?

Some leaders of public-sector organizations see their funding resources as what they have to work with and trying to get the most of out it. They may nudge for funding now and then. But I take the reverse approach: I stand at a bully pulpit to urge the community to develop a consensus on what type of transit system it wants and then come up with the funding to fuel it. In the absence of the funding, then I implement a fare policy that changes with the cost of living and under that funding ceiling I provide the maximum level of service balanced with state of good repair standards. If I cannot achieve either with my budget, then I start cutting until I can.

How's Minneapolis doing? I have a friend who recently moved from there and takes (er, took) the Rapid here but got tired of the repeated service disruptions. Now she drives. Won't take the bus.

 

This potentially ties into previous discussions but it would be presumptuous to speak for her.  Why won't she?

It's like clockwork:

 

@GCRTA: All Rail (Red, Blue & Green Lines) are currently on a 20 minute delay.

I still don't understand how commuters are supposed to interpret info like that, given rush hour headways on the rail lines.

Some people have reported to AAO that they've been waiting longer than normal for trains. So some trains may not show up for up to 20 minutes after their scheduled time. I presume that means that intervals are up to 27-28 minutes on the Red Line (vs 7-8 minutes normally) and up to 30 minutes on the extremities of the Blue and Green Lines (vs 10 minutes normally).

Response from RTA's Facebook account regarding the cause of the delays, "Tom, this extreme weather we've been experiencing over the past few weeks has really taken a toll on our equipment. That being said, many trains are in for repairs and we are not able to run all equipment that is needed for full service. Our mechanics are working around the clock to fix this issue so we are able to provide a higher frequency of service. At this time, we are doing the best we can with the equipment that is available to us. Thanks for your understanding."

Some people have reported to AAO that they've been waiting longer than normal for trains. So some trains may not show up for up to 20 minutes after their scheduled time. I presume that means that intervals are up to 27-28 minutes on the Red Line (vs 7-8 minutes normally) and up to 30 minutes on the extremities of the Blue and Green Lines (vs 10 minutes normally).

 

If they mean trains are less frequent, so wait times are longer, shouldn't they just say something like that?  Speaking literally, if every train were delayed by 20 minutes, it wouldn't affect frequency at all, it would just shift the schedule.  Not a big deal, but I literally don't know what their message means, other than "trains are messed up," which maybe is enough.

^ I thought the same thing.  I rode the Blue Line this morning and the train came within 3 minutes of its scheduled time...so maybe it was the train that was scheduled before?

I know it's a dirty word, but RTA may have to consider a fare hike... but the hike I'm considering isn't that terrible, really.  I might consider hiking the All-Day Pass from $5 to $6... $5 is incredibly cheap for all-day rides and well below most systems I'm aware of... For example: Chicago's CTA  has a $10 all-day pass.  New York's is $8 or $9, I can't remember which (one of our crack UO researchers will come to the rescue on this ... probably mrnyc -- UPDATE, according to the internet, MTA's 1-day "Fun Pass" may be no more... true, mrnyc?).  Just because Cleveland isn't Chicago or NYC (but we're pretty damn good, as we all know), doesn't mean that our quality transit system should be forced to charge people peanuts because of our city's supposed lower prestige, especially with the local mushrooming interest in heavy rail transit areas like downtown, Ohio City, U.Circle and FEB, to name a few...

 

I would rather consider a slight fare increase as opposed to cutting services... Frankly, RTA is really at the bare-bones now when it comes to services.  The number of bus routes has not been this small for a century and the frequency of those routes is beyond paltry.  For example, we really don't even have a legitimate feeder bus system anymore with our super-infrequent N-S bus lines, most of which run once-an-hour during off peak and little better than once every 30 mins during peak time... Some routes don't run on weekends...

 

... and any talk of cutting back on Rapid service should be completely off the table since, really, a number of adversely-affected bus riders have been forced to turn to the Rapid (often walking great distances to Rapid stops) as a last resort.

I would think for rail, expected frequency and travel time would be much more important numbers, especially for riders who may be transferring. 

 

Is there any estimate of what percentage of trips involve a transfer? This could tie into the fare discussion above too.

^^Raising fare across the board by 10% would increase revenue by something like $5M over a year, a relative pittance. Raising the cost of an all day pass wouldn't really do anything except make the system unusable for many sports fans, given the inability of RTA to sell round trip fares at TVMs.

 

The MTA eliminated its "fun pass" a few years ago, in part because of all the fraud it enabled ("entrepreneurs" selling discounted swipes at stations).

^^Raising fare across the board by 10% would increase revenue by something like $5M over a year, a relative pittance. Raising the cost of an all day pass wouldn't really do anything except make the system unusable for many sports fans, given the inability of RTA to sell round trip fares at TVMs.

 

I don't understand, sports traffic, esp for the Browns, is one of the major constants for RTA.  Are you saying raising all-day passes will cause fans to thumb their noses at RTA? ...  because, if so, I can't agree. 

^^Raising fare across the board by 10% would increase revenue by something like $5M over a year, a relative pittance. Raising the cost of an all day pass wouldn't really do anything except make the system unusable for many sports fans, given the inability of RTA to sell round trip fares at TVMs.

 

The MTA eliminated its "fun pass" a few years ago, in part because of all the fraud it enabled ("entrepreneurs" selling discounted swipes at stations).

 

I hear a lot about riders violating the "honor system" at rapid stations.  Would there be any way to verify the frequency of this?

^^Raising fare across the board by 10% would increase revenue by something like $5M over a year, a relative pittance. Raising the cost of an all day pass wouldn't really do anything except make the system unusable for many sports fans, given the inability of RTA to sell round trip fares at TVMs.

 

The MTA eliminated its "fun pass" a few years ago, in part because of all the fraud it enabled ("entrepreneurs" selling discounted swipes at stations).

 

I hear a lot about riders violating the "honor system" at rapid stations.  Would there be any way to verify the frequency of this?

 

RTA officials indicate the number of cheaters is pretty small (5%?)... It seems the costs of the cheaters is offset by the personnel costs of manning/operating fare booths at RTA's 17 stations (not including TC of course, where fare attendants remain).

^^I really don't understand how people think they know when this is happening. If you have a pass, you don't need to swipe it anywhere, except at Tower City, which captures a very high share of rail riders. My hypothesis is that people who claim to see rampant abuse of the proof-of-payment system are full of crap, but I can't confirm.

 

^^^RTA currently encourages special event riders to purchase all day passes so they don't have to wait in line at a TVM for their return trip. This is currently a small rip-off, but only a small one.  If you jack up the prices of the passes, a lot of fans will (reasonably) refuse to buy them, meaning absurd lines at the TVMs outside First Energy on game days and, to a lesser extent, at Tower City. Or maybe not; maybe enough fans will buy 5-trip cards, I don't know. In any case, I doubt increasing the cost of the all day pass will raise more than a trivial amount of money, but will kill off some level of convenience.

Did you know that GCRTA sales tax revenue is up $40 million since 2009?

 

2009: $154.6 million

2010: $163.2 million

2011: $173.2 million

2012: $181.2 million

2013: $189.6 million

2014:  GCRTA projected $194.1 million for the year. Final data isn't yet publicly available.

 

It is possible that GCRTA would see a small increase in sales tax revenue as the general assembly considers widening the number of commercial activities that will be subjected to sales taxes. This is comparable to the Ohio legislature subjecting managed care to sales taxes in 2009, resulting in a jump of $5 million in sales tax revenues to GCRTA from the added Managed Care and an increase of $3.6 million due to an improved economy.

 

SOURCES:

http://www.riderta.com/annual/2013

http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/pdf/budget/2014/2014Budget_Full.pdf

 

^^^RTA currently encourages special event riders to purchase all day passes so they don't have to wait in line at a TVM for their return trip. This is currently a small rip-off, but only a small one.  If you jack up the prices of the passes, a lot of fans will (reasonably) refuse to buy them, meaning absurd lines at the TVMs outside First Energy on game days and, to a lesser extent, at Tower City. Or maybe not; maybe enough fans will buy 5-trip cards, I don't know. In any case, I doubt increasing the cost of the all day pass will raise more than a trivial amount of money, but will kill off some level of convenience.

 

OH OK, I get you.

Did you know that GCRTA sales tax revenue is up $40 million since 2009?

 

2009: $154.6 million

2010: $163.2 million

2011: $173.2 million

2012: $181.2 million

2013: $189.6 million

2014:  GCRTA projected $194.1 million for the year. Final data isn't yet publicly available.

 

It is possible that GCRTA would see a small increase in sales tax revenue as the general assembly considers widening the number of commercial activities that will be subjected to sales taxes. This is comparable to the Ohio legislature subjecting managed care to sales taxes in 2009, resulting in a jump of $5 million in sales tax revenues to GCRTA from the added Managed Care and an increase of $3.6 million due to an improved economy.

 

SOURCES:

http://www.riderta.com/annual/2013

http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/pdf/budget/2014/2014Budget_Full.pdf

 

I didn't realize this... Good to know... Sure would be nice if, at least as a regional voting block, we could get our local state pols to put pressure on the State House for more dedicated funds for transit... Actually, Cleveland could work along with other urban areas for this, esp the Big 3 and, say, Akron and Dayton, both of which I know have quality mass transit systems... Of course, as you note, RTA could achieve more sales tax revenue if the Legislature would widen commercial activities that can be subjected to the sales tax.  But raising taxes seems it could be as big a no-no as dedicating more state transit funds in Ohio's very conservative legislature... But I generally like surprises!

I know it's been said before, but there really should be an Ohio "League of Cities" type group to represent urban interests in the legislature.

I know it's been said before, but there really should be an Ohio "League of Cities" type group to represent urban interests in the legislature.

 

There's more rivalry between Ohio's three major metro areas than between either of them and any rural interests.

I know it's been said before, but there really should be an Ohio "League of Cities" type group to represent urban interests in the legislature.

 

There is: Ohio Municipal League

http://www.omlohio.org/

 

There also is an Ohio Public Transit Association. I don't know if OML attends political fundraisers or otherwise contributes to political campaigns, but I know that OPTA doesn't. Its transit agency members can't make political contributions but its private sector members can, namely transit industry suppliers. Ironically, in Indiana, they use the commercial activity tax on transit industry suppliers to fund public transit in that state. Although their governor is trying to cut transit spending $1.3 million to "protect the state’s $2 billion surplus" while transit agencies are already turning away poor and disabled customers. We are all just soylent green for the masters of the universe.

Did you know that GCRTA sales tax revenue is up $40 million since 2009?

 

2009: $154.6 million

2010: $163.2 million

2011: $173.2 million

2012: $181.2 million

2013: $189.6 million

2014:  GCRTA projected $194.1 million for the year. Final data isn't yet publicly available.

 

In real dollars, though, RTA's sales tax revenue is still significantly lower than it was 10 years ago.

 

Here's the trend since 2005, in millions of 2014 dollars, using the projected 2014 number and adjusting based on CPI (all urban consumers, Midwest):

 

Yes, but GCRTA cut back its system and increased fares in 2010 to reflect the financial reality of that time. In the fives years since then, they've gained $30 million in sales tax revenue to support a 2010 system that's been expanded only slightly since.

BTW, I think GCRTA has done a good job at keeping its buses clean of salt, etc this winter. The ClevelandStateLine buses are spotless, though I've seen some old, non-articulated on the 55/CSU/Clifton route.

 

Also, I experienced my first-ever transit accident today! My downtown-bound bus (coach 3216) this afternoon was side-swiped by a Ford or Lincoln pulling out of a parking space on West 3rd south of Lakeside. Not surprising, the car lost the bus-car fight. Our bus driver was pretty cool and professional about it, and I (and others on the bus) signed cards for attorneys to contact us in case anyone doubted whether the car's driver was at fault.

I know it's been said before, but there really should be an Ohio "League of Cities" type group to represent urban interests in the legislature.

 

There's more rivalry between Ohio's three major metro areas than between either of them and any rural interests.

 

Measurable voting patterns disagree.  These patterns also point to a certain existing nationwide organization that could serve the "League of Cities" purpose.  At minimum, it would be an important ally to any such League.  The groundwork is already in place for cooperation, there just needs to be more active cooperation.

There's more rivalry between Ohio's three major metro areas than between either of them and any rural interests.

 

I agree that the 3C's don't do much idea-sharing and experiencing each city's best practices because, I suspect, that each feels pride and that the other two Ohio cities don't have anything worth demonstrating. But as I've brought Cincinnatians to Cleveland, they're blown away that we have an actual rail system, have heavily used BRT and bus routes, are converting skyscrapers to apartments, and doing other cool stuff. But Cleveland has a lot to learn from Columbus and Cincinnati on neighborhood-scale investments, historic preservation and other efforts. Cleveland could certainly learn from Cincinnati's streetcar project, their redevelopment of Washington Park with a parking deck below it and more.

 

We could use more this kind of collaboration and "3C Exchange Programs" for lack of a better term. But moreso, the 3Cs are recognizing they MUST join forces to fend off anti-urban attacks from the rural/suburban-based leadership in the legislature which has existed under both parties. Threats have a funny way of turning rivals into allies.

Have you seen an update on sales tax reform? I was under the impression it was dead and buried.

@GCRTA 12m

All trains are currently on a 15 min delay EB and WB from Tower City due to a loss of switch control.

@GCRTA 12m

All trains are currently on a 15 min delay EB and WB from Tower City due to a loss of switch control.

 

Why have a 15 minute delay, when you can have a 30 minute delay?!

 

@GCRTA 17m All rail lines are currently on a 30 min delay.

Why have a 30-minute delay when you can have a 45-minute delay?

 

"@GCRTA: Due to loss of switch control at Tower City all trains are at a standstill. Delays of up to 45 mins to be expected."

 

"@RobynFantastica: .@GCRTA trains dropping off at Shaker Square w/ no shuttle buses. 100s waiting. Super fail."

 

"@CLESportsFan: @GCRTA Give me a break! Why don't you update your old equipment already?This is absolutely unacceptable EVERY DAY!"

 

"@KatieKing_KK: @AllAboardOhio @natekelmes @GCRTA @19ActionNews @fox8news I made it to work on time ONCE last week thanks to RTA."

 

 

Meanwhile, on the RTA website...

 

 

 

EDIT: the website has now been updated to include info about the delays.

Meanwhile, on the RTA website...

 

 

Maybe because it is normal service! :P Several people have tweeted to @AllAboardOhio that they were on-time to work only once last week!

Well, according to the esteemed CEO of the best public transit agency in North American in 2007, we should plan for delays when the weather is bad. Those rapid riders this morning should have known to leave an hour earlier than normal.

A few more "highlights" from this morning's fun...

 

Chris Balser ‏@IMRESLAB  16m16 minutes ago

@AllAboardOhio @GCRTA Please make tbe system more reliable. It's become very inconvenient to take GCRTA red line rapid.

 

JPL ‏@TheBlueWahoo  24m24 minutes ago

In 2015 you'd think a transit authority could at least communicate which lines are down. @GCRTA @AllAboardOhio @CityofCleveland

 

Katie King ‏@KatieKing_KK  25m25 minutes ago

@AllAboardOhio @GCRTA @fox8news @WEWS 19actionnews[/member] @wkyc I'm going to be an hour late for work and have been on the train for over an HOUR!

 

Katie King ‏@KatieKing_KK  40m40 minutes ago

@natekelmes @RobynFantastica @AllAboardOhio @GCRTA Sigh. Looks like I'll be researching monthly parking in downtown #CLE.

 

NWParsons retweeted some Tweets you were mentioned in

42m:  @KatieKing_KK @RobynFantastica @AllAboardOhio means they're sending people out to physically throw track switches.  There goes upgrade money

The reason I'm unbelievably frustrated with all this is more so the lack of communication from RTA and the lack of competence of RTA staff. Looking through the Tweets and Facebook posts, you see that people were not given clear instructions on what was happening. No answers to whether the trains were delayed, whether shuttle buses were coming, whether they needed to find an alternate way. When problems arise, people are significantly less likely to be very upset when you fully communicate the problem to them and you tell them how you are going to rectify it. And if you are friendly and apologetic about it, that also goes a long way. I'm going out on a hunch here saying that I doubt the RTA staff acted in such a way. This is not how you increase ridership on your transit system...

It was not a good morning, RTA-wise.

These problems start at the top.  Bad cultures develop; good cultures are developed purposely.  The agency's hostility toward rail is well known.  Every effort to promote BRT expansion is a plank in its argument against rail.  In public discussion, the current rail system is treated as more of a burden than an opportunity or a point of pride.  This will continue until there is fundamental change in how the agency is run.  The RTA Board is ultimately responsible.

@GCRTA 6 minutes ago

All trains are now running with a frequency of every 15 minutes.

As a rule, I consider all conspiracy theories nonsense.  But if I wanted people to dislike rail transit, I would make it as unreliable as RTA has been this winter.  Just sayin'.

 

Quick story: Last week my Mom had a conference downtown.  She didn't want to worry about parking and driving in the snow so she decided to take the Green line.  The trains were already delayed so she waited 30 mins at the Green Road station.  By then there were easily over 2 trains worth of commuters crammed onto the train into what amounted to standing room only, if that.  Some problem didn't allow the train to enter TC so they had to stop on the tracks for 30 mins before they decided to reverse, only to have the train die.  At this point, some woman had a full blown panic attack on the train and freaked out.  Another lady started screaming profanities.  They then had to wait for another Green/Blue Line train to come and push them into the TC station!  The push strategy overshot the train through the TC station, of course.  At that point, the driver just opened the doors and people were climbing up the walls onto the station.  My Mom's an urbanist at heart and no priss...but she had my sister driver her back home at the end of the day.

 

3rd world countries have more reliable systems than this.  And probably more funding too!

When a frozen Cleveland transit system melts down

kjprendergast on March 2, 2015

 

Bad winter weather causes pain from exposure. It exposes poor planning, insufficiently-maintained equipment and infrastructure, and a lack of attention to detail in response to bad weather.

 

Winter will also indiscriminately claim the overseers of transportation systems as victims, too. Just ask Chicago Mayor Michael Anthony Bilandic whose poor response to the Blizzard of January 1979 caused him to lose the primary election three months later. Or more recently, Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority General Manager Beverly Scott resigned Feb. 10, 2015 after a record-setting snowstorm crippled that city’s transit system.

 

Neither of those departures fixed, or will fix those cities’ transportation problems. Nor might the departure of top brass at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) after multiple missteps this winter. But even though winter happens every year, it seems that the people who run our transportation systems seem to get caught unprepared by its snow and cold. Yes, we understand that infrastructure is underfunded. Yes, we understand rail cars are old and need to be replaced. And we also understand that quick fixes aren’t going to happen immediately.

 

But too many mistakes are being repeated for All Aboard Ohio to remain silent and enable an otherwise beloved transit system.

 

MORE:

http://allaboardohio.org/2015/03/02/frozen-cleveland-rail-system-melts-down/

When a frozen Cleveland transit system melts down

kjprendergast on March 2, 2015

 

Bad winter weather causes pain from exposure. It exposes poor planning, insufficiently-maintained equipment and infrastructure, and a lack of attention to detail in response to bad weather.

 

Winter will also indiscriminately claim the overseers of transportation systems as victims, too. Just ask Chicago Mayor Michael Anthony Bilandic whose poor response to the Blizzard of January 1979 caused him to lose the primary election three months later. Or more recently, Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority General Manager Beverly Scott resigned Feb. 10, 2015 after a record-setting snowstorm crippled that city’s transit system.

 

Neither of those departures fixed, or will fix those cities’ transportation problems. Nor might the departure of top brass at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) after multiple missteps this winter. But even though winter happens every year, it seems that the people who run our transportation systems seem to get caught unprepared by its snow and cold. Yes, we understand that infrastructure is underfunded. Yes, we understand rail cars are old and need to be replaced. And we also understand that quick fixes aren’t going to happen immediately.

 

But too many mistakes are being repeated for All Aboard Ohio to remain silent and enable an otherwise beloved transit system.

 

MORE:

http://allaboardohio.org/2015/03/02/frozen-cleveland-rail-system-melts-down/

 

We've talked about how it seems that people with options tend to strongly prefer rail over buses.  In addition, logic suggests that it's days when there are expected to be road problems that people would be more willing to "try" transit.  if it works smoothly, then you've gone a long way towards winning a potential convert.  If not, you're creating a much worse experience for this potential customer than their extended road commute would have been.

When a frozen Cleveland transit system melts down

kjprendergast on March 2, 2015

 

Bad winter weather causes pain from exposure. It exposes poor planning, insufficiently-maintained equipment and infrastructure, and a lack of attention to detail in response to bad weather.

 

Winter will also indiscriminately claim the overseers of transportation systems as victims, too. Just ask Chicago Mayor Michael Anthony Bilandic whose poor response to the Blizzard of January 1979 caused him to lose the primary election three months later. Or more recently, Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority General Manager Beverly Scott resigned Feb. 10, 2015 after a record-setting snowstorm crippled that city’s transit system.

 

Neither of those departures fixed, or will fix those cities’ transportation problems. Nor might the departure of top brass at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) after multiple missteps this winter. But even though winter happens every year, it seems that the people who run our transportation systems seem to get caught unprepared by its snow and cold. Yes, we understand that infrastructure is underfunded. Yes, we understand rail cars are old and need to be replaced. And we also understand that quick fixes aren’t going to happen immediately.

 

But too many mistakes are being repeated for All Aboard Ohio to remain silent and enable an otherwise beloved transit system.

 

MORE:

http://allaboardohio.org/2015/03/02/frozen-cleveland-rail-system-melts-down/

 

It's bad enough masses are being inconvenienced by this poor, non-responsive/proactive maintenance, but there's a terrible accident ahead if this crap isn't nipped in the bud.  Thank God people are ONLY being inconvenienced (and getting somewhat chilled) by these RTA follies, because serious injury ... or worse, is in the offing if these issues are not addressed.

Another adventure this morning....

 

@jackietraffic

RTA Green Line- Buses replaced with trains From Shaker Square to Green Rd. Service every 30 Mins

 

@gcrta

Beginning at 6:00 am, Green Line service will operate at a frequency of every 30 mins.

 

Green line btwn Shaker Sq & Green Rd has been restored.

 

Beginning at 7:35am, green line will run a 15 min frequency.

 

Unknown why Green Line were unavailable early on and were of limited availability in the first part of rush hour. Blue and Red lines reportedly on schedule.

 

BTW, a few people tweeted that they drove today. Ironically, traffic was heavier than normal on the West Shoreway causing minor delays to the ClevelandStateLine BRT.

 

^ Here we go again. It's obviously frustrating for the Green Line riders, but it's a whole lot more frustrating when RTA doesn't relay the reason behind your inconvenience (and in this case, your ~seventh day in a row of being inconvenienced).

 

Edit: 500th post! Woohoo

Small comfort, I know, in light of the service disruptions, but I'm happy to see RTA tweets are announcing service frequency instead of the ambiguous "delay" messages. Should at least make the message clearer.

^It caused me wonder when RTA last summer created and posted those 66-R, 67-R, 67A-R, "replacement" bus stop signs near Rapid stations -- no doubt, at considerable expense... Now we see why.  RTA telegraphed their intentions literally planning for these (and others) train and track equipment failures and service interruptions rather than proactively working to prevent them... This is totally unacceptable and, hopefully, once the City gets through this bad weather season, there will be (a) hearing(s) and/or some accountability demanded from RTA brass.

 

... and as an unfortunate veteran of Green Line replacement buses several years ago, I know how poorly trained and poorly coordinated these buses are... and this was in warm weather... I can only imagine what passengers are dealing with in the snow and cold...

 

... again the word is: unacceptable.

It occurs to me that the anti-rail sentiment at RTA could be self-defeating. 

 

Most of my white, middle-class suburbanite friends and colleagues never use public transit except when they ride the rapid downtown to an event.  And the never, ever, ever, EVER, board a bus.  Even in other cities with highly effective bus service.  Even on a brand-new BRT system with shiny new buses.    Trains are viewed as safe, clean, civilized and acceptable to them.  I can't imagine a train load of Browns fans being stuck on the tracks, pushed into the station and having to climb the platform.  Or being put on a shuttle buses with a disorientated and under-trained driver to continue the journey downtown.

 

So if RTA lets our rail die, they may lose a valuable ally in the suburban middle class voter who does use the trains to get downtown on occasion to avoid parking, etc.    These folks would never support a bus-only system.  Their tax dollars should not go to buses.   

 

The powers that be at RTA should take heed and get their bifocal prescription updated.  Their nearsighted neglect now may be their undoing in the future.