Highlights from today's Board meeting:

 

* George Dixon was re-elected Board President.

* Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough was re-elected Board VP

 

* The Board awarded a $798,000 contract to design upgrades to the platform and track at the Tower City Station. Construction work will start in 2016.

 

* The Board awarded a contract to improve the South Park grade crossing on the Green Line on April 17-20. Next summer, RTA will improve grade crossings on the Waterfront Line at St. Clair Ave and Robert Lockwood Dr.

 

* The Board awarded an $11.38 million contract to build a new Brookpark Station. Groundbreaking is set for 11:30 a.m. on April 9, 2015. For more information and a rendering, go to www.rideRTA.com/majorprojects/brookpark.

 

The website says Brookpark is the highest ridership rail station -- more than Tower City Center??

The printed version was distributed at the annual meeting today (it always is). It will be added to the Web site this week.

2014 RTA Annual Report:

 

http://data.axmag.com/data/201503/20150320/U133364_F329916/FLASH/index.html

 

Who's that handsome guy on the back of the bus on pages 8-9??

2014 RTA Annual Report:

 

http://data.axmag.com/data/201503/20150320/U133364_F329916/FLASH/index.html

 

Who's that handsome guy on the back of the bus on pages 8-9??

 

Is that you? Were you asleep??  :sleep:

^ Posing looking at my phone actually, as instructed haha.

The printed version was distributed at the annual meeting today (it always is). It will be added to the Web site this week.

 

For those who don't want to look at the Flash version (or even those who do, since it's linked on the first tab), the most current Annual Report, updated to include 2014 as of this morning, can always be found at http://www.riderta.com/annual.

^I surprisingly, and happily, saw RTA workers doing some cleanup in the open cut along the Blue/Green Line open cut in the middle of Shaker Blvd.  Question: have they, or are they, the extreme dump of mattresses, tires, wood and other assorted junk in that cut just to the east of the MLK bridge?  It's been horrible for years and now would be an opportune time to clean it out.

 

Jerry?  Jetdog?

 

 

All Aboard Ohio ‏@AllAboardOhio  1m1 minute ago

Coming to #Cleveland for #NCAATournament? Tips for using @GCRTA trains, BRTs, trolleys, buses to get around town: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/rta_says_take_trains_healthlin.html

RTA adds extra service for March Madness

 

Posted: Mar 24, 2015 4:30 PM PDT

Updated: Mar 24, 2015 4:30 PM PDT

 

The Red Line will run every 15 minutes on those dates.

 

RTA will also operate rail service for 90 minutes after the last game ends both Thursday and Saturday.

To get to the Q, park for free at any Rapid Station, buy an All-Day Pass and ride the Red, Blue or Green line Rapid train to the Tower City Station. From there, you can stroll down the Walkway, right into your seat. The Walkway remains open 90 minutes before and after the game.

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/28605844/rta-adds-extra-service-for-march-madness

RTA bus in early morning fire

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cleveland/2015/03/26/rta-bus-in-early-morning-fire/70475964/

 

 

This same thing just happened a few weeks back to the same kind of bus on Public Square. What's going on here?

^I surprisingly, and happily, saw RTA workers doing some cleanup in the open cut along the Blue/Green Line open cut in the middle of Shaker Blvd.  Question: have they, or are they, the extreme dump of mattresses, tires, wood and other assorted junk in that cut just to the east of the MLK bridge?  It's been horrible for years and now would be an opportune time to clean it out.

 

Jerry?  Jetdog?

 

 

No Response?  ...  I guess that is my answer.

They must have forgotten that answering every urbanohio.com question IMMEDIATELY is their top priority

They must have forgotten that answering every urbanohio.com question IMMEDIATELY is their top priority

 

If you'd have paid attention, I've asked this question repeatedly over time and have never received an answer.  That trash dump at the location has been there for years.

A minor complaint: Rode two Red Line trains today and on both trains, more than one rider per train was playing music on their phones without earpieces. It wouldn't have bothered me had I remembered to bring my own headphones. But an occasional announcements and some occasional police patrols would help.

Since the Cleveland crime thread appears to be locked, going to drop this here since RTA supplied the video:

 

EXCLUSIVE | Melee on Public Square caught on tape

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A roving mob -- or possibly mobs -- were caught on RTA cameras committing random acts of violence on St. Patrick's Day.

 

Channel 3 News Investigator Tom Meyer obtained the video the day after the brawl took place and a week before Cleveland police obtained it.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cleveland/2015/03/26/melee-public-square-violence-mob-assault-cleveland-police/70497344/

A minor complaint: Rode two Red Line trains today and on both trains, more than one rider per train was playing music on their phones without earpieces. It wouldn't have bothered me had I remembered to bring my own headphones. But an occasional announcements and some occasional police patrols would help.

 

That happened to me when I was visiting home a few months ago, on the Red Line heading downtown all the way from Brookpark station. That would not go over well in NY or Chicago, people don't know their transit etiquette here I guess.

^Really, because every single time I've gone to Chicago and NYC there are plenty of people doing exactly that and it's equally frustrating, probably more so due to the crowded nature of the trains there. Not to even mention the beggers who "perform" routinely during rush hour and other peak times trying to get people to pay them for whatever noise they're making.

 

It's terrible etiquette but it happens everywhere.

This is an amazing phenomenon to me.  I don't understand how someone can possible think it's acceptable.  I just can't make sense of it.  I see it very often.

I'll never get it. Even the act of accidentally turning up the volume on my phone resulting in an audible notification of a text or call makes me feel bad for disturbing others around me. Not only that, but the atrocious sound quality on even the best phones would deter me from listening to music out loud Add to that the sound of a train and it's basically a huge jumbled mess that annoys everyone around you.

^Really, because every single time I've gone to Chicago and NYC there are plenty of people doing exactly that and it's equally frustrating, probably more so due to the crowded nature of the trains there. Not to even mention the beggers who "perform" routinely during rush hour and other peak times trying to get people to pay them for whatever noise they're making.

 

It's terrible etiquette but it happens everywhere.

 

I agree. It happened all the time in DC and I read an article about how London has been having a problem with this.

 

My problem with RTA is that it is always very apparent to the driver. A few weeks ago I was on the Red Line and the operators switched out at E 55th and there was a guy BLARING music on the train. Both the operators even looked in the direction of the guy, so there was no way they didn't know it was happening. But they said nothing. I've only ever once heard a bus driver tell someone to turn off the music.

 

It seems like a minor problem, but it's so annoying, and I encounter it at least 60% of the time that I ride RTA (which I do 2-3 times per day).

 

RTA really could be doing more to help curb this behavior.

They need to hire some of Boston's conductors. I was on the green line this summer and a guy was standing in the door holding it for a friend they failed to wait for as he bought a ticket. After two times of the "stand out of the door" message the conductor got up, walked back, got in the kid's face and yelled, "Either you follow the f@%ing rules or get the f*$k off my train!." The kid promptly waved at his friend and got into the train.

 

Similar situation in NYC. Old lady standing in the way of the door. After about five times of the door dinging and people literally yelling at her (I'm assuming she was either deaf or didn't speak English since she showed no signs of understanding she was the problem) the conductor came over the speakers and just yelled, "Get the f*&K out the door!" She then realized it was her and shamefully stepped further into the train.

^ It'd be great if RTA's operators could combine the no BS attitude of the MBTA and MTA conductors with the friendlies of the Twin Cities' Metro Transit drivers. Unfortunately, the majority of RTA's staff seem to lack both characteristics (a generalization, yes. There are some fantastic RTA operators out there, but they seem to be in the minority).

I agree. It happened all the time in DC and I read an article about how London has been having a problem with this.

 

My problem with RTA is that it is always very apparent to the driver. A few weeks ago I was on the Red Line and the operators switched out at E 55th and there was a guy BLARING music on the train. Both the operators even looked in the direction of the guy, so there was no way they didn't know it was happening. But they said nothing. I've only ever once heard a bus driver tell someone to turn off the music.

 

It seems like a minor problem, but it's so annoying, and I encounter it at least 60% of the time that I ride RTA (which I do 2-3 times per day).

 

RTA really could be doing more to help curb this behavior.

 

What was most ironic is that, on my eastbound Red Line train that was scheduled to depart West 117th yesterday at 2:10 p.m., I sat next to several off-duty RTA employees (based on the RTA logos on their dark-blue jackets). Across the aisle was a woman listening to music on her cell phone, with the music including F-bombs and N-words. The RTA employees said nothing to her the entire ride from West 117th to Tower City. I got off; I don't know if the employees or Nicky Minaj got off the train.

I always figured someone willing to blast Chief Keef out of a cell phone at full volume on a packed train is almost always deranged enough to escalate a confrontation when asked to turn it down.  I don't feel like duking it out with some nut on the train.  Extremely annoying nonetheless.

I always figured someone willing to blast Chief Keef out of a cell phone at full volume on a packed train is almost always deranged enough to escalate a confrontation when asked to turn it down.  I don't feel like duking it out with some nut on the train.  Extremely annoying nonetheless.

 

Are you saying you "Don't Like" Chief?  :)

I always figured someone willing to blast Chief Keef out of a cell phone at full volume on a packed train is almost always deranged enough to escalate a confrontation when asked to turn it down.  I don't feel like duking it out with some nut on the train.  Extremely annoying nonetheless.

 

That's my only concern of why I didn't confront the offender. But if I was with friends, I would have said something.

From the NCAA basketball thread in the sports section....

 

I befriended a family member of a U of Kentucky vice president riding the rapid to the games last night. He made some comments about trash dumped along the Red Line route before the W65th street station. I tried to explain how the rapid isn't the most scenic route bc it was built along an existing railroad. But with visitors, perception is everything.

 

If this was a warm-up for the RNC, I would say it received an F minus.  THe weather doesn't help at all, but agree with Flee...the rapid tracks need TLC, the red carpet needs rolled out better.  You only have so many opportunities to impress.  I feel like theDCA and Destination Cleveland got the event here but did not work hard enough to prepare for it. THe Q has done a very nice job

Wow. From a friend's Facebook post:

 

So I got arrested tonight.

 

I went to the CIFF closing party at around 9pm, had a complimentary glass of champagne and a brownie as I listened to the closing night speeches and award announcements, and then joined some old friends at the staff party, where I enjoyed a few light snacks and some conversation before leaving at 11pm, looking forward to curling up with my dogs and a good book. I had taken the RTA to avoid the hassle of parking downtown, and, having purchased an all-day pass with my credit card at the station at 117th and Madison when I started off for the 11 o'clock round that morning, I went to the basement of Tower City to catch the rapid back to that same station. I had a 23 minute wait, and whiled away the time looking at my Facebook feed and playing the Foundbite geography quiz game on my phone. My battery started dying while I waited so I plugged it into my backup charger, which I carried with me. Finally got on the train and enjoyed a pretty uneventful trip back to 117th and Madison.

 

I was still looking at my phone and carrying the plugged in backup charger as I left the station, and I got off the platform, in the door, down the stairs, through the lobby, and was pushing my way through the outer vestibule door to the crisp air of the parking lot when a transit cop who was standing in the vestibule arguing with a female passenger stopped hassling her for a moment and asked to see my bus pass. I smiled in kind of a cocky manner and said, "Bus? I just got off the train!" as I reached for the pass which was in my pocket. He said, "Ma'am, I said show me your bus pass." I had already pulled the pass out of my pocket and said, "here you go" and showed him my pass as I walked past.

 

He said, "Ma'am, you have to show me your pass. I asked to see your pass." I had already walked past him at this point and was outside in the parking lot, and I turned around, pass in hand, showing it to him, and said, "here's my pass." At this point he ran in front of me, blocked my path and closed in on me and said, "I told you you have to stop. You have to do what I say." At this point I literally had the RTA pass two inches away from his face, and I was saying, "It's right here! I've showed it to you! Here is my pass, it's valid, it's an all day pass, I bought it here this morning." He was very much closed in on me, throwing his chest into my face and telling me that I had to do whatever he said, to which I replied that he was exceeding his authority and that he needed to let me go, that I'd already showed him my pass and at this point he was violating my rights by detaining me. I tried to walk past him towards my car. He started ordering me to turn around and telling me that he was going to taze me, and that I should turn around and give him my hands. I looked to the phone in my hand, meaning to turn on the video app to record this instance of me very much being assaulted by this police officer, and he knocked it onto the ground. It was still connected to the charger in my other hand, and as I started to pull it up by the cord, he knocked me to the ground, shoved my face in the dirt, and told me that he was going to pepper spray me.

 

At this point his voice was very high-pitched, and he called for backup as he continued to push my face into the dirt from on top of me. He struggled to pull my arms behind my back as I struggled to gather and hold onto my possessions, some of which had scattered - my phone, charger, purse, and RTA pass. His knee was on top of my back as he cuffed one of my wrists, and then he cut my purse's handle in order to remove it from my grasp. Several other officers arrived and I told them that my rights were being violated. I told them that the officer was making a mistake and that he was being an idiot (I was definitely using profanity at some point, but I was otherwise remaining calm and not resisting). They asked me if I'd even graduated high school. I informed them that I'd earned a master's degree, and they asked me if it was in criminal justice, as I seemed to know so much about rights. At this point I thought I could feel the presence of more than one officer on top of me as they were securing handcuffs behind my back.

 

Somehow I started to feel the cool crisp Lakewood air on my bare bottom, as they had somehow pulled my pants and underwear down exposing my bare naked butt to the wide open night. This had me completely terrified and I kicked back and up with my legs to get them off of me. I hit one of them in the shins, and then heard one of them say, "NOW you're guilty of assault!" As I mentioned, my face was being forced into the dirt at this time, I was handcuffed, my pants down, and I couldn't see what was happening behind / on top of me. They were asking me questions which were not official questions ("you know so much about rights, are you a lawyer?") and I just kept repeating that I wanted to be booked and taken to the police station and I wanted to speak with a lawyer. Finally one of them saw fit to remove the officers who were on top of me, pull my pants up, turn me over and take me off of the ground and put me in the back of the police cruiser. From here things started to cool down a little as the three officers who'd arrived on the scene asked their fellow officer for the story. As he told them his version very animatedly, I kept shouting from the back of the cruiser that this was insane, that they've f***ed up, that their friend had violated my rights.

 

One of the officers opened the back seat on the opposite side of the car and asked me my name, and I told him that I was absolutely terrified, that I had just been innocently walking out of the train station with my valid pass which I'd showed the officer at least four times when I'd suddenly been assaulted by this officer, my face shoved in the dirt and my pants pulled down, and I just wanted to be taken to the police station and put in contact with a lawyer. I was very much crying at this point. The other three officers slowly started to realize that maybe I had a point. One of them even started to apologize. But they still had to book me, and explained that they hadn't seen what had happened but that the arresting officer was charging me with resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, and disorderly conduct. They explained that I could fight it in court and that everything had been captured on video. They took the time to complete the paperwork which included asking me where I lived, what was my occupation, my name, phone number, address, social security number, and if I was affiliated with any gang (I could see that this was one of the official questions on their booking form). One of them looked around the area for my RTA pass, and picked one up off of the ground and asked if it was mine. I asked him what the time stamp said, because I knew I'd purchased mine with my credit card at just before 11am that day, on my way to see the Jury Shorts Awards Program at 11:25. We both realized that the pass he'd picked up wasn't mine, that mine had been lost in the tussle. The other officer loosened my handcuffs at my request, and asked if I'd had anything to drink, and I mentioned the glass or two of champagne that I'd had around 9pm, at the closing night ceremony. (By then it was 12:30pm and they acknowledged that I didn't appear to be intoxicated.) They filled out the paperwork, and I rode with two of the other officers to the RTA police headquarters, where they explained that I would likely have to be processed and that it would be a couple of hours before I would be able to leave. I noted that I'd left a party early, looking forward to letting my dogs out and curling up with a book, and that I'd probably have been better off if I'd stayed out all night.

 

I asked if I'd be able to find a safe way to transport myself from wherever it was they were taking me back to my car at 3am, and the officer said they'd probably keep me until start of business. I informed them that my son would be getting dropped off before school at around 7am, and would I be home to meet him? Would I have the opportunity to make any phone calls? He just apologized and they kept driving on in silence. I again noted that I was just going home in a peaceful and unobtrusive manner and that what had happened to me was insane, that I wouldn't have been in the back of their car if I hadn't been a single woman walking out to her car on her own, that their fellow officer had appeared to be waiting outside the RTA station solely for the purpose of harassing single female passengers when it was in fact his job to protect those very passengers.

 

They turned off onto some alley off of the expressway, and for a moment I was very frightened and asked where they were taking me. They said that they were going to take me to see their sergeant before taking me to the justice department for booking. We pulled up to the transit authority police headquarters, and they rolled down my back seat window and I told two officers, including a second officer who was obviously older and of a higher rank, the story of what happened. They closed the window and discussed the situation - the arresting officer was not present at this time - and the older higher-ranking officer opened my door and explained that they were going to drop the resisting arrest and obstruction charges, but that they would have to keep the disorderly conduct charge, which I could fight in court.

 

He also explained that instead of booking me and keeping me overnight they would cite and release me, and that the officers would drive me home. He clarified that my car was parked at Madison & 117th, and as I had had a couple of glasses of champagne earlier in the evening the officers would drive me to my house instead of my car. They FINALLY removed the handcuffs that were pinning my arms uncomfortably behind me. The two substantially cooler-headed officers drove me home, asked if I'd suffered any injuries from being shoved to the ground (I told him that my arms and back and pride and dignity were hurt but otherwise no head injuries or anything), gave me my belongings, asked me to sign the citation for disorderly conduct, clarified my court date and reminded me to do what I felt was right as far as opposing it, and apologized for what I had been through. I thanked them for the ride home and for being cool-headed, and told them to watch out that their fellow officer didn't get them in trouble.

 

So now my back and shoulders are killing me and I'm covered with dirt. No word yet on how I'll feel about riding the rapid by myself from here on out. It's insane that it no longer feels safe to me, and it's 100% because of the transit cops.

 

Wow.  That's crazy.  There's probably video of that somewhere, as the RTA stations are pretty well covered.  Might take an attorney to get your hands on that, but could be worth it.

Um.  Get her an attorney.  Now.  If there is any truth to this, that's absurd.

Rule #1 about dealing with cops: Do what they say.

 

Flashing your RTA pass as you walk by without being excused is almost certainly going to escalate a situation, regardless whether or not you did anything wrong.

Wow, good example of how things can escalate out of control very quickly.

Rule #1 about dealing with cops: Do what they say.

 

Flashing your RTA pass as you walk by without being excused is almost certainly going to escalate a situation, regardless whether or not you feel you have done nothing wrong.

 

Rule number 1.5:  Be extra cautious with transit cops as they desperately want to be "real cops," out saving the world instead of checking bus passes of women at 11 pm.  (Rule #1.5 also applies to college officers). 

RTA cops are "real" cops.  They are a fully functioning police force.

do what the most likely uneducated transit cop says 4 different times and still get roughed up.

Um.  Get her an attorney.  Now.  If there is any truth to this, that's absurd.

 

Yeah, fight the case.  Don't just take it to court.  The cop won't show up and they will simply drop it.  Maybe contact channel 19, they eat this kind of stuff up.

 

This is one more example of why the pass system sucks as the only method for fare enforcement.  It's simultaneously inconsistent and confrontational.  She was leaving....

I very much respect police officers especially with all the crap that people are putting them through theses days...However, that said, from years of experience, I can agree that the transit police are the most useless of all the police agencies. Too busy checking fares instead of actually dealing with the people who try their hardest to make every transit ride as unpleasant as possible.

Regarding the incident at the West 117th Street Station last weekend:

 

RTA is conducting a thorough investigation, and we will take appropriate action.

Yesterday, we became aware of an incident at the West 117th St. Station, and immediately launched a thorough investigation.

 

Today, we received a formal complaint from Ms. Jessica Ferrato, and we will be interviewing her as part of the process.

 

From what we know now, it appears this incident could have been handled far more appropriately. We apologize for the way this incident transpired.

 

This is clearly an unfortunate situation.  Importantly, we will be taking the appropriate action internally.

 

Once the investigation is complete, we will be able to provide further details.

 

If the investigation and accompanying video validate her story, this is obscene and the first police officer should be fired. Not put on paid leave, not asked to resign. He should be fired. This would (hopefully) ensure he is not passed along to another police department as is so often the case. It will be a bummer for him and his family but you can't have people like this on the police force.

 

I feel sorry for her.

RTA: Arrest of woman at Rapid station 'could have been handled far more appropriately'

 

Nikki Ferrell

2:42 PM, Mar 31, 2015

46 mins ago

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Greater Cleveland RTA has apologized for an arrest made of a woman at a Rapid station Sunday evening.

 

Jessica Ferrato's Facebook post describing the arrest went viral locally Monday, with more than 800 shares.

 

Scroll down to see the full post.

 

She said she was getting off the train at W. 117th Street and was asked by a Transit Police officer to see her pass. She showed it to him, she said, but he demanded that she stop walking. That's when, she wrote, she told him that he did not have reason to detain her.

 

MORE:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/rta-arrest-of-woman-at-rapid-station-could-have-been-handled-far-more-appropriately

Ya. Well.  as us who suspected this was the case with our reactions yesterday. this is not appropriate at all.  And to those who continuously defend cops through thick and then...let me just assure you...having a badge doesn't give you license to do whatever you want.  Having a badge means you protect the city and the people with honor.  That's why this city is having such a hard time right now.  We lack human beings in these police positions who understand that.  I respect the position of the policeman, but that doesn't mean you have to respect the human being in the position, because in many cases they are hot headed, uneducated, underqualifed, jerks.  And im not a cop hater, ive never been in trouble with the law so I have no axe to grind and cops have helped me in my life.  Doesn't mean they are all qualified or appropriate to carry that type of responsibility. 

Rule #2 when dealing with cops (especially the extra hard @sses): Film them!

Rule #2 when dealing with cops (especially the extra hard @sses): Film them!

 

The victim was told by the apologetic police officers that the incident was likely caught on video. There are security cameras all over that and other station grounds.

 

Why did the officers tell her that? My suspicion from having worked around many terrific police officers for many years in journalism, they will never publicly undermine another officer they have concerns about. It doesn't mean they won't help others do so.

RTA issues apology after Lakewood woman says she was roughed up by officer, wrongfully arrested

 

By  Brandon Blackwell, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on March 31, 2015 at 3:36 PM, updated March 31, 2015 at 5:19 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority on Tuesday issued an apology to a Lakewood woman who said that she was roughed up by an RTA officer without cause.

 

The incident happened late Sunday at the RTA station on West 117th Street and Madison Avenue.

 

Jessica Ferrato, 39, said that she was making her way home from the Cleveland International Film Festival in downtown when an RTA officer standing just outside the station doors demanded to see her bus pass. Ferrato showed the officer her pass and continued walking toward her car parked in the lot, but the officer wasn't satisfied, she said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/rta_issues_apology_to_lakewood.html

http://www.riderta.com/w117-statement

 

RTA releases statement, video and police report on March 29 incident at W. 117 Street station

 

Apr 2, 2015

 

CLEVELAND -- Today, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) released video footage, a police report, and a statement regarding a March 29 incident at the West 117th Street Rapid Station.

 

RTA’s investigation and review of this incident is on-going. While there are some discrepancies as to what actually occurred, it is apparent that this matter could have been handled more appropriately. The Transit Police Officer was justified in asking the customer for proof of payment as part of his fare enforcement duties. However, our review of this incident shows that certain departmental policies and procedures were not followed. The officer involved is currently suspended pending further administrative action.  RTA will continue its review of this matter and take required action. Our goal is to ensure that all of our customers are treated appropriately and respectfully.

 

###

If you haven't seen video, it is posted here. Unfortunately, you cannot see her physically being arrested.

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/video-rta-officer-suspended-after-arrest-investigation

 

It appears as if she didn't let the officer look at the pass long enough to read it and see if it was current. If the officer didn't have enough time to read it, I hope he said so.

 

As most of you know, valid RTA day passes are printed with a time-date stamp and are considered "in effect" until 3 a.m. the next day. If you buy a 1-day or 5-ride pass from a fare machine at a rail or HealthLine station, it isn't valid unless you select the validation option, or validate the pass in a small validation machine next to the fare machines, or you insert it into the turnstiles at Tower City Center. Some people buy extra passes and don't use them right away, so that's why they aren't automatically stamped with the time/date at purchase (unless you buy one as you're boarding a regular bus).

 

There are ways to abuse the pass system with unvalidated passes, so RTA police consider riding a bus or train with an unvalidated pass as fare evasion, which carries hefty fines and possible arrest.

^ I'm not claiming that Ms. Ferrato lied or that the RTA police officer was warranted in what he did, but some of her Facebook posts have been very critical of police (posts before the RTA incident happened). I wouldn't be surprised if she was quite inebriated and thus was acting quite combative to the police officer, especially considering her evident feelings towards law enforcement. Perhaps she even instigated this to happen.

 

Again, I'm not necessarily saying that's what I think happened, but it's important to note that there are two sides to every story, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to jump to that conclusion.

 

Edit: Actually, after watching the video, I'm very much prepared to claim that she lied, at least about the beginning part of the incident.

If you haven't seen video, it is posted here. Unfortunately, you cannot see her physically being arrested.

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/video-rta-officer-suspended-after-arrest-investigation

 

It appears as if she didn't let the officer look at the pass long enough to read it and see if it was current. If the officer didn't have enough time to read it, I hope he said so.

 

As most of you know, valid RTA day passes are printed with a time-date stamp and are considered "in effect" until 3 a.m. the next day. If you buy a 1-day or 5-ride pass from a fare machine at a rail or HealthLine station, it isn't valid unless you select the validation option, or validate the pass in a small validation machine next to the fare machines, or you insert it into the turnstiles at Tower City Center. Some people buy extra passes and don't use them right away, so that's why they aren't automatically stamped with the time/date at purchase (unless you buy one as you're boarding a regular bus).

 

There are ways to abuse the pass system with unvalidated passes, so RTA police consider riding a bus or train with an unvalidated pass as fare evasion, which carries hefty fines and possible arrest.

 

If they are going to use this sort of system, maybe find some way to make the validation print larger and/or more distinctive. 

 

But what does it say that they are checking people who are departing?  They are trying to bust people rather than verify proper payment is what it seems to me.  Before boarding, an honest mistake can be corrected. Afterwards, it's a violation.

^ Isn't trying to bust people the whole point of proof-of-payment? The method tries to get people to buy a pass because they could be checked and cited at anytime.