April 13, 201510 yr I've noticed that RTA has been operating 1 car trains during rush hour again. At first I thought it might have been an isolated issue, but after riding a single car train 3 times during morning rush the past week, it seems to be a more common occurrence. Does RTA not have enough operable cars to operate every ride as a 2 car train anymore? The 1 car trains just can't handle rush hour volume, people are practically spilling out the door as if it were Saint Patrick's Day. I'm hoping this is just a temporary issue while more cars are refurbished?
April 13, 201510 yr Sorry if I couldn't find any other better discussion portal, but is there any update on GCRTA Smart Card / Smart Fare? cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/05/cleveland_rta_wants_smart_card.html The last few RTA trips I've made involved four of us taking the rapid downtown for Cavs games. The clumsy part of the trip was the fare machines. Four people, each needing a one-way ticket, involved dozens of button presses on the box, then insert credit card. Repeat this whole process 4 times, as I ended up having to buy a single ticket four times, thus four credit card swipes. Then the return trip, was the same ordeal, but had to change machines since the first and seconds machines I tried didn't work. We even missed the first train we could have caught, because buying fares took so long. I bought the tickets for the others in my group, since I figured I was an efficient button clicker. So, enter the smart card. I'm thinking WMATA DC Metro here. It has oodles of zones, it _could_ be complicated to figure out how much you are going to have to pay. But, you buy a plastic SmarTrip card that has a sensor / beacon / radio chip on it, you keep it in your wallet, you take a gate, it opens to allow just you to enter and quickly closes. When you get to your destination, you tap the exit gate with your wallet, and voila, the whole system is go-go-go. No fussing with passes, you just set up auto-refill with your bank, and you can always use the metro for all of your trips without having to have issues. So, less waste, and greater user happiness. Cash, and exact fare is such a pain. (For me at least). I linked to the above Cleveland news article saying this Smart Card is in the works. So, anyone with a scoop on when, and how this is expected to work? If you've got integration issues, why not have a week of free-RTA rides, while every single station and vehicle gets overhauled over the week, to be equipped with a modern standard system that tosses out the legacy baggage, and puts more Smart in Cleveland? Couldn't you even drum up support under the guise of one-week-in-2016, and mail each convention visitor a smart card? BTW, here's what RTA's website currently says: "Smartcards in your future RTA plans to phase in a “Smartcard” system that will allow passengers to simply wave their farecard in front of the “Smartcard” reader on the farebox, and the fare will be deducted from the card. No time frame has been set." ...Love it, would love to be able to cala brese through the station.
April 13, 201510 yr Author Oh. My. God. Cala-breeze through the station. You didn't. LOL!! Sadly, smart cards have been in RTA's future for a long time. Like Brazil has been the country of the future for the past 50 years! On another note, ODOT strikes again.... Sat 4/18-Sun 4/19 all EAST SIDE rail replaced w/ shuttles due to @ODOT_Innerbelt construction over the tracks. What if GCRTA just told them "f--- off. Pay 50% of the cost of replacing our rail car fleet and then we'll give you your highway back." :evil: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 13, 201510 yr ^^I wish we knew when smartcards were coming, but in the meantime, I'd recommend getting some 5-trip cards from a retailer if you expect to be taking some more family outings. Much faster than buying new fares for each ride; free transfers; and without the financial penalty of the day passes for simple round trips.
April 13, 201510 yr ^^I wish we knew when smartcards were coming, but in the meantime, I'd recommend getting some 5-trip cards from a retailer if you expect to be taking some more family outings. Much faster than buying new fares for each ride; free transfers; and without the financial penalty of the day passes for simple round trips. I always thought it would be great if RTA passes were available for purchase at surrounding businesses. If my guy at the beer store can operate the lottery thingy, he should be able to get me an RTA pass.
April 13, 201510 yr ^Many businesses do sell passes and farecards: http://www.riderta.com/vendorlocations
April 13, 201510 yr ^^I wish we knew when smartcards were coming, but in the meantime, I'd recommend getting some 5-trip cards from a retailer if you expect to be taking some more family outings. Much faster than buying new fares for each ride; free transfers; and without the financial penalty of the day passes for simple round trips. I always thought it would be great if RTA passes were available for purchase at surrounding businesses. If my guy at the beer store can operate the lottery thingy, he should be able to get me an RTA pass. They are: http://www.riderta.com/vendorlocations. It'd be nice to be able to get them at all drug stores like CVS, Walgreens, etc as well as gas stations. Edit: StrapHanger[/member] beat me to it.
April 13, 201510 yr ^Many businesses do sell passes and farecards: http://www.riderta.com/vendorlocations Well I'll be darned! A reason to go to Convenient Food Mart Store #048.
April 13, 201510 yr Author Rexall Discount Drug 9807 Lorain Avenue A Rexall? Really?? I used to buy Wacky Packs at Rexall at Mayfield and Richmond in the early 1970s! ;) "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 13, 201510 yr Rexall Discount Drug 9807 Lorain Avenue A Rexall? Really?? I used to buy Wacky Packs at Rexall at Mayfield and Richmond in the early 1970s! ;) Dollar store sells Rexall medications, significantly cheaper than even Walmart.
April 13, 201510 yr Sorry if I couldn't find any other better discussion portal, but is there any update on GCRTA Smart Card / Smart Fare? cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/05/cleveland_rta_wants_smart_card.html The last few RTA trips I've made involved four of us taking the rapid downtown for Cavs games. The clumsy part of the trip was the fare machines. Four people, each needing a one-way ticket, involved dozens of button presses on the box, then insert credit card. Repeat this whole process 4 times, as I ended up having to buy a single ticket four times, thus four credit card swipes. Then the return trip, was the same ordeal, but had to change machines since the first and seconds machines I tried didn't work. We even missed the first train we could have caught, because buying fares took so long. I bought the tickets for the others in my group, since I figured I was an efficient button clicker. So, enter the smart card. I'm thinking WMATA DC Metro here. It has oodles of zones, it _could_ be complicated to figure out how much you are going to have to pay. But, you buy a plastic SmarTrip card that has a sensor / beacon / radio chip on it, you keep it in your wallet, you take a gate, it opens to allow just you to enter and quickly closes. When you get to your destination, you tap the exit gate with your wallet, and voila, the whole system is go-go-go. No fussing with passes, you just set up auto-refill with your bank, and you can always use the metro for all of your trips without having to have issues. So, less waste, and greater user happiness. Cash, and exact fare is such a pain. (For me at least). I linked to the above Cleveland news article saying this Smart Card is in the works. So, anyone with a scoop on when, and how this is expected to work? If you've got integration issues, why not have a week of free-RTA rides, while every single station and vehicle gets overhauled over the week, to be equipped with a modern standard system that tosses out the legacy baggage, and puts more Smart in Cleveland? Couldn't you even drum up support under the guise of one-week-in-2016, and mail each convention visitor a smart card? BTW, here's what RTA's website currently says: "Smartcards in your future RTA plans to phase in a “Smartcard” system that will allow passengers to simply wave their farecard in front of the “Smartcard” reader on the farebox, and the fare will be deducted from the card. No time frame has been set." ...Love it, would love to be able to cala brese through the station. I bailed on a train trip home the other night after the Cavs game because of these very problems--I didn't buy an all day pass, and a return ticket is only good for 2 hours so had to shop from the machines. The lines were 20 deep at each machine with fans trying to figure out the RTA mystery machines. I sometimes wish on gamedays they just charged 2 bucks and had a human collecting singles at the turnstiles. I ended up heading back up to the street and taking an Uber home, which took less time than it would have waiting in those lines (and only $12 more).
April 13, 201510 yr I sometimes wish on gamedays they just charged 2 bucks and had a human collecting singles at the turnstiles. I ended up heading back up to the street and taking an Uber home, which took less time than it would have waiting in those lines (and only $12 more). They've done that at Browns games I've been to. They sell $5 roundtrips once you get off the train at W. 3rd in the morning. But really they need to just get a metrocard system.
April 16, 201510 yr Author @fox8news: @GCRTA buses replacing trains on the Blue Line between Van Aken and Shaker Square this morning due to faulty equipment near substation "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 16, 201510 yr Don't know if anyone else has noticed... but the trolley drivers have been dressing up like rock stars this week. On the E-Line, on Monday the driver was dressed like Alice Cooper... face paint and all (loved it)- today the driver for the route was dressed like Tina Turner (loved that too)!
April 16, 201510 yr ^ I know the media noticed. All four TV stations, plus the PD, used stories and photos. Later this week, look for a piece on Reuters as well.
April 16, 201510 yr Buses replace trains for all rail service east of Tower City this weekend. ODOT will work on two parts of the Inner Belt bridge, as well as improvements near the Buckeye-Woodhill Rapid Station. Contractors working for RTA will focus on stations at Lee-Van Aken and Little Italy-University Circle, track work at Shaker Square, and installing new high mast lights in the rail yard. Rail crews will work on track upgrades at several locations.
April 16, 201510 yr Don't know if anyone else has noticed... but the trolley drivers have been dressing up like rock stars this week. On the E-Line, on Monday the driver was dressed like Alice Cooper... face paint and all (loved it)- today the driver for the route was dressed like Tina Turner (loved that too)! Another was Ray Charles, I'm not sure that was the best idea ever...Funny as hell, but the humor impaired might object.
April 16, 201510 yr Author Another was Ray Charles, I'm not sure that was the best idea ever...Funny as hell, but the humor impaired might object. Lionel Richie was featured on a tweet this week. Why? Cuz we're Stuck On You.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 16, 201510 yr Another was Ray Charles, I'm not sure that was the best idea ever...Funny as hell, but the humor impaired might object. Lionel Richie was featured on a tweet this week. Why? Cuz we're Stuck On You.... Looks more like Ron Jeremy with a tan.
April 18, 201510 yr Author REMINDER: ODOT is doing Inner Belt highway work this weekend and is halting all east-side rail service Saturday and Sunday. GCRTA also has cut Waterfront Line rail service to 30 minutes because they didn't place enough LRTs west of the Inner Belt before ODOT began its work to run 15-minute service. Yep, this is the weekend of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies -- which Cleveland officials fought so hard to have here in our city. ODOT's timing is pretty bad. But it was made worse by GCRTA not having enough LRTs available to run a normal WFL schedule. I hear Rail Division Manager Dennis Rehfuss is being moved over to paratransit. After the winter GCRTA just had and some expensive foul-ups at Central Rail, this move couldn't have come soon enough. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 18, 201510 yr ODOT's timing is pretty bad. But it was made worse by GCRTA not having enough LRTs available to run a normal WFL schedule. I hear Rail Division Manager Dennis Rehfuss is being moved over to paratransit. After the winter GCRTA just had and some expensive foul-ups at Central Rail, this move couldn't have come soon enough. How many LRTs would be "enough" to run a decent schedule? The route isn't that long....I wonder how many are currently on the "right side" of the bridge?
April 18, 201510 yr Author It takes two trains. The route is 10 minutes long. I'm told only one is operating. I will go and verify for myself this afternoon. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 18, 201510 yr It takes two trains. The route is 10 minutes long. I'm told only one is operating. I will go and verify for myself this afternoon. Yeah I was going to say i couldn't be that many.... Good luck on your adventure. Give us a headcount of riders!
April 19, 201510 yr It's absurd that RTA couldn't coordinate better with ODOT to not have (once again) a whole East Side shutdown on the night of the RRHOF induction ceremonies that only come to Cleveland every 3rd year. One of the few nights the Waterfront Line could have been made extremely useful to Public Hall (esp given the Public Square mess), we have this. Another Joseph Calabrese "I love rail" production. And please, I don't want to hear that RTA was helpless and that their hands were tied... If they were assertive enough, they could have coordinated better with ODOT. After all, although ODOT has it's job to complete, it is affecting (and wreaking havoc upon) RTA's service. I still believe middle of the night work could have been done to prevent these shutdowns of which there are far too many.
April 19, 201510 yr I understand having the routes closed in general, but exactly WTF are they doing that would cause absolutely zero traffic even just to get an extra train to the right side of town?
April 20, 201510 yr Does anyone know why some of the weekday evening eastbound green/blue line trains stop at 79th and don't continue on to TC?
April 20, 201510 yr ^There are typically some westbound trains that go from SH to the central yards when they leave service after rushhour, so they serve stations en route. I'm guessing that's what you mean.
April 20, 201510 yr Does anyone know why some of the weekday evening eastbound green/blue line trains stop at 79th and don't continue on to TC? As stated, westbound trains pulling off from active service will make E 79 as their last serviced stop, and then proceed to the E 55 yard. Similarly, eastbound pulloff trains will end service at E 34 (though most will discharge all passengers at Tower City). Reverse this somewhat for early-morning pull-on -- westbound trains leaving from the yard will make E 34 their first stop, while eastbound trains will initiate service at E 79.
April 20, 201510 yr As stated, westbound trains pulling off from active service will make E 79 as their last serviced stop, and then proceed to the E 55 yard. Similarly, eastbound pulloff trains will end service at E 34 (though most will discharge all passengers at Tower City). Reverse this somewhat for early-morning pull-on -- westbound trains leaving from the yard will make E 34 their first stop, while eastbound trains will initiate service at E 79. If the train is picking up passengers from basically the entirety of line except for 34th (and the majority of those passengers are headed downtown), why not just have TC be the last stop, and go out of service at that point and head back to the yard? Would it tick off too many people waiting for trains at TC, or is the perception of a train speeding by 34th and 79th without stopping on the way back the reasoning for this procedure?
April 20, 201510 yr I'd bet it has to do with the labor costs associated with the added time it would take to send the empty LRV out onto the CUT viaduct to reverse direction, then travel (empty) all the way back to 55th.
April 24, 201510 yr Author All Aboard Ohio @AllAboardOhio · Apr 21 Thank you @GCRTA for replacing broken window 24 hrs after report, #ClevelandStateLine shelter at Clifton & W.117th! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 24, 201510 yr Author Although not stated, I suspect this is due to the East 93rd/Woodhill bridge project since the Red Line isn't affected..... Greater Cleve RTA @GCRTA 26m26 minutes ago Sat & Sun Blue & Green Line trains replaced w/ 67R buses due to ODOT construction over the tracks. Waterfront Line to run every 30 mins. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 24, 201510 yr ^^ Those shelters are really nice looking... I can only wish that we had shelters of such quality on the Blue and Green lines along Van Aken And Shaker Blvds. Those circa-1980s cheap aluminum & Plexiglas bus stop shelters have GOT TO GO.
April 24, 201510 yr All Aboard Ohio @AllAboardOhio · Apr 21 Thank you @GCRTA for replacing broken window 24 hrs after report, #ClevelandStateLine shelter at Clifton & W.117th! Impressive. Probably helps that they already have crews working on them to install the upgraded signage.
April 25, 201510 yr ^^ Those shelters are really nice looking... I can only wish that we had shelters of such quality on the Blue and Green lines along Van Aken And Shaker Blvds. Those circa-1980s cheap aluminum & Plexiglas bus stop shelters have GOT TO GO. Don't get me started on those as the current structures were not planned. For almost two years after the rebuilding, there were only slabs of concrete and not shelters at stations. We were promise train announcements and "shelters" with heat and electronic announcements and we received modified bus stops. Hell the old wood huts were better!
April 26, 201510 yr Author An example that other systems do take entire rail lines out of service for major repairs.... Official TTC Tweets @TTCnotices 5m5 minutes ago Reminder: No service on Line 3 due to track upgrades. Replacement buses operating between Kennedy and McCowan Stn. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 26, 201510 yr Author Following on the prior post.... "@GCRTA: Mon 4/27-Sun 5/3 BLUE LINE replaced w/ 67R buses btwn Shaker Sq & Van Aken-Warr due to work on Lee-Van Aken station. http://t.co/vpC6lbR90j" "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 29, 201510 yr Author Great pic, castingseth! And welcome! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 3, 201510 yr Author @GCRTA Mon 4/27-Sun 5/3, Blue Line trains replaced w/ 67R buses btwn Shaker Sq & Van Aken-Warrensville due to Lee-Van Aken construction. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 5, 201510 yr Author #22, #26, #35, #45, #79, #81 rerouted due to Detroit/Superior Bridge closure until further notice. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 10, 201510 yr Author GCRTA is reducing rush hour Red Line rail service on the west side from every 7-8 minutes to every 10 minutes effective May 24, but increasing it on the east side from every 15 minutes during rush hours to 10 minutes: http://www.riderta.com/routes/redline This means no west-side trains reversing direction on the center track at Tower City station back to the West Side. All Red Line trains will run through Tower City. This is due to the major track work about to begin through Tower City. GCRTA reported this past winter the Red Line's 550,000 riders in January was the highest total for that month since January 1988, and the third straight year of 500,000+ rides in January. Total Rapid ridership increased 4.6 percent, or 33,000 rides. http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,4504.msg745089.html#msg745089 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 11, 201510 yr I wish RTA could keep the 10-min rush hour intervals for the East Side Red Line because of the new UC-Little Italy station which should draw a lot more passengers, especially after Intesa is built.
May 14, 201510 yr I get Freshwater Cleveland emails at work every now and then. I caught one that talked about growing ridership, improvements to existing stations and how this is spurring growth in Uptown, as well as projects like Intesa. http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/RTA051315.aspx
May 18, 201510 yr Riding the Rapid downtown to work today I noticed it was much less crowded then it normally is and wondered if people were hesitant taking the Rapid with all this news about potential violent protests in response to the Brelo verdict *maybe* this week. Curious if anyone knows what RTA would do if things do get out of hand and they have to close down Tower City for safety/security reasons - do you think there will be a plan to get commuters home - or is it best to just plan alternate transportation and hope for the best vs. finding yourself stuck? I'm sure RTA has discussed this but is one of the few organizations that haven't put out some sort of public announcement - even our building mgt put out a letter indicating what their plans are "in case".
May 18, 201510 yr Riding the Rapid downtown to work today I noticed it was much less crowded then it normally is and wondered if people were hesitant taking the Rapid with all this news about potential violent protests in response to the Brelo verdict *maybe* this week. Curious if anyone knows what RTA would do if things do get out of hand and they have to close down Tower City for safety/security reasons - do you think there will be a plan to get commuters home - or is it best to just plan alternate transportation and hope for the best vs. finding yourself stuck? I'm sure RTA has discussed this but is one of the few organizations that haven't put out some sort of public announcement - even our building mgt put out a letter indicating what their plans are "in case". There has already been a thread on "potential" issues, which was locked down. I'm sure RTA has a contingency plan in place, but I don't think this is the right time to put out anything. It just adds to the "hype" and "hysteria" for no reason. Once something happens, then hopefully we will hear from one regional voice.
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