And now for something completely different:

 

http://www.theonion.com/articles/charlize-theron-hired-to-ride-struggling-cleveland,27382/

 

Charlize Theron Hired To Ride Struggling Cleveland Light Rail System Monday Through Friday

 

CLEVELAND—As part of an ongoing effort to rejuvenate its public transportation system, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority announced Wednesday that it had signed a three-year, $32 million deal hiring Academy Award–winning actress Charlize Theron to ride the city's light-rail lines eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. "Each work week, Ms. Theron will bring the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood movie premiere right to Cleveland's own RTA Rapid Transit trains," spokesperson Ted Reardon said of the agreement, which will also require the 36-year-old Hancock star to use Cleveland's public buses for 14 consecutive hours on the third Saturday of every month. "Who knows? You might just see Charlize on the Red Line, the Blue Line, or sleeping on a wooden bench in the Tower City station!"

 

**********

 

For those who didn't already know or pick up on it within nanoseconds, yes, it's satire.

 

maybe they could get Molly Shannon. Isn't she from Shaker Hts?

OMG, somebody from RTA please PM me as to when Charlize is riding the Rapid!  Just don't tell my S.O.

I can just imagine Ms Theron waiting for the bus at public square with the locals.  I could see a funny, albeit mean-spirited tv show there.

Well as much fun as we are having with the Onion article, I would like to discuss my recent experience taking RTA to the airport.

 

And I want to preface this by telling you that this is not a rant, I am just sharing my experience and I take the rapid and the Healthline often, so I am very familiar with RTA...

 

Taking the red-line from Tower-City to the airport went as well as can be expected. Train arrived on time and dropped me off right at the airport.

 

Returning home from the airport was a little different story. First, all of the signage (as far as I can tell) in the concourse(s) refers only to where passengers can find 'Ground Transportation' (even has an image of an automobile). Signage for the rapid doesn't appear until you are down in baggage claim. I would not be surprised if many passengers come and go without knowing the rapid option exists.

 

Second, the user-interface on the RTA ticket machines are awful. I know this issue isn't specific to the Hopkins station, but for the first time since moving to the city, the ticket machine managed to stump me. I navigated through the prompts for a single-ride ticket and chose to pay with a debit card. After swiping my card, the screen instructed me to enter my pin, followed by the '#' sign. I, for the life of me, could not find the '#' sign anywhere on the keypad. I am fully ready to admit that this was probably operator error (I was tired and jet lagged), but either way, I did have to start the entire process over. If I wasn't well versed in the user-interface of RTA's ticketing machines, having to start over would have been very frustrating...

 

BTW, I have ridden on rapid transit systems in Chicago, Charlotte and London... I wouldn't say that any of the aforementioned systems have intuitive user-interfaces on their ticketing machines, but I will say that Cleveland's is the worst.

 

Third and final, It appeared as though the interior waiting room was in the process of being refurbished and I am excited to see the end result. I hope they are going to do the same to the outside waiting room as the oil stained rocks littered with cigarette butts and the dingy walls with broken modeled airplanes probably do not give off the kind of vibe that we want visitors to our great city to have.

 

 

Thanks for listening and take everything I said here with a grain of salt, everyone's experiences are different!

 

 

Anyone know why RTA removed the change machine from the Brookpark Rapid station without warning or explanation?  I used it on 2/9, but on 2/17 it was gone.  Seems to me that, regardless of the reason it was pulled, it's basic customer service to post a sign explaining why and if it was any other reason than the machine suddenly breaking, post a sign ahead of time informing people that the machine will be removed by {insert date}. 

What was the ridership numbers for rail in 2011?

Thanks for listening and take everything I said here with a grain of salt, everyone experiences are different!

 

Although I think everyones experiences with the ticket machines have pretty much been, universally awful.

What was the ridership numbers for rail in 2011?

 

I'm pretty sure Jerry posted them. They can't be too far back in this thread.

Anyone know why RTA removed the change machine from the Brookpark Rapid station without warning or explanation?  I used it on 2/9, but on 2/17 it was gone.  Seems to me that, regardless of the reason it was pulled, it's basic customer service to post a sign explaining why and if it was any other reason than the machine suddenly breaking, post a sign ahead of time informing people that the machine will be removed by {insert date}. 

 

From our Director of Revenue:

 

"We were going to replace the machine with a new one and saw that the flooring was being replaced last week.  As soon as the floor is installed we will replace the machine."

 

Our apologies for not posting an advisory to this effect; I think the hope was that the replacement would be done quickly enough to avoid any inconvenience.

Anyone know why RTA removed the change machine from the Brookpark Rapid station without warning or explanation?  I used it on 2/9, but on 2/17 it was gone.  Seems to me that, regardless of the reason it was pulled, it's basic customer service to post a sign explaining why and if it was any other reason than the machine suddenly breaking, post a sign ahead of time informing people that the machine will be removed by {insert date}. 

 

From our Director of Revenue:

 

"We were going to replace the machine with a new one and saw that the flooring was being replaced last week.  As soon as the floor is installed we will replace the machine."

 

Our apologies for not posting an advisory to this effect; I think the hope was that the replacement would be done quickly enough to avoid any inconvenience.

 

thanks JD.

 

this is the kind of situation I spoke about in the past. RTA does a poor job of having individual station postings.  At each station and major transfer points (throughout the system) there should be a centralized location where people can physically read station information.

By the way, congrats to RTA for having one of its park-n-ride buses at the auto show! Maybe that will get some of the folks from Generation Y to actually attend an auto show?!?!?!

 

HealthLine vehicle was at Auto Show in 2008-9-10. MCI bus was there last year.

Jerry, the Euclid Park-n-Ride has had a slight smell of gas for several days and it seems to be getting worse. I (and several other riders) have reported this to different drivers and been told that it's been reported to maintenance. Is there any way that whoever has checked this out can post a sign somewhere that either parts are on order, or it's not really a gas leak, or everyone should wait outside if they don't want to die a fiery death, or something? At the moment the lack of communication makes it look like RTA can't be bothered to go check out a potentially dangerous situation which probably isn't the image RTA wants to project.

^ Let me understand you...the Park-N-Ride is a lot. Are you referring to the transit center building?

^I assume you mean the Transit Center building, and I reported to our Facilities Maintenance staff, and to our Safety Director. I asked for a call back after it is investigated. Thanks.

The March Rider's Digest has been posted to the RTA Web site, with information on March 18 service changes, the new #54 route on Brookpark Road, an update on federal funding issues, and taking RTA to the many events in March -- St. Patrick's Day, MAC basketball, the Film Festival, and much more.

 

http://www.riderta.com/webadmin/tables/ridersdigest/RidersdigestFileName/Mar-12-RD_1.pdf

 

RTA tapping business community for expanded trolley lines in downtown Cleveland

Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 4:30 PM    Updated: Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 11:40 PM

  By Tom Breckenridge, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA wants businesses to help pay for free bus service, so an expected influx of visitors can move more easily among downtown's new and old destinations.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is working with downtown businesses to raise $720,000, for routes serving the soon-to-open Cleveland Horseshoe Casino and the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

 

The money is needed to match the $2.88 million in federal cash that RTA has secured to operate the trolley-like buses on nights and weekends the next three years.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/post_563.html

RTA staff and Dominion East Ohio Gas spent several hours this morning at the Transit Center. East Ohio's sensors said it was not gas. The smell appeared to be fumes coming from outside the building. RTA staff adjusted some ventilation equipment, and the problem seems to have been resolved. Thanks for reporting it. Other customers already had, and when I called, crews were already enroute to the site.

^^Thanks for the Rider's Digest, Jerry... Once again, for St. Patrick's Day, I would suggest that RTA operate the Waterfront Line so as to relieve the insane crush focused at Tower City as the lone downtown station.  It was so ridiculous last year, RTA/CPD had to ban people from Tower City for a time just so they could exit manageble groups to trains leaving TC.  Many people could opt for the East 9th (North Coast) or W. 3rd stations, instead.

RTA staff and Dominion East Ohio Gas spent several hours this morning at the Transit Center. East Ohio's sensors said it was not gas. The smell appeared to be fumes coming from outside the building. RTA staff adjusted some ventilation equipment, and the problem seems to have been resolved. Thanks for reporting it. Other customers already had, and when I called, crews were already enroute to the site.

Thanks!

^^For St. Patrick's Day, I suggest that RTA operate the Waterfront Line so as to relieve the insane crush focused at Tower City as the lone downtown station.  Many people could opt for the East 9th (North Coast) or W. 3rd stations, instead.

 

St. Patrick's Day is on a Saturday this year. RTA will operate regular Saturday service, so there will be trips to the Waterfront Line. It will be interesting to see what effect that has on ridership and crowd control.

 

 

Does that mean GCRTA will not operate rush-hour train schedules and three-car Red Line trains?

Does that mean GCRTA will not operate rush-hour train schedules and three-car Red Line trains?

 

Although it is a Saturday, RTA will add as much rail service as possible to meet the increased demand for the downtown parade. Extra staff will also be on hand to direct patrons and help with crowd control.

 

LIGHT RAIL: All trains will have 3 cars. Same frequency, more capacity. Plus, the Waterfront Line stations will be served.

 

HEAVY RAIL: On the East Side, frequency on the Red Line will be the same as the regular Saturday schedule, with 2-car trains. The 3-car trains will be added to the regular Saturday service on the West Side, so the busier West Side stations will actually have service about every 10 minutes. The damage from the July 22 lightning strike means they can't all be three-car trains.

 

BUS SERVICE: Articulated buses will be used on the #22 and #26 -- both heavily-traveled routes. Pocket coaches will be on standby at various sites around the city, ready to be placed in action as needed.

Thanks.

^^For St. Patrick's Day, I suggest that RTA operate the Waterfront Line so as to relieve the insane crush focused at Tower City as the lone downtown station.  Many people could opt for the East 9th (North Coast) or W. 3rd stations, instead.

 

St. Patrick's Day is on a Saturday this year. RTA will operate regular Saturday service, so there will be trips to the Waterfront Line. It will be interesting to see what effect that has on ridership and crowd control.

 

 

 

Very good... RTA may want to consider extending the Waterfront Service into the evening as, you can bet, people will linger b/c there'll be no work the next day for most... But I'm glad RTA will monitor the situation and will be flexible with service as much as possible... Thanks Jerry.

Any thoughts of running the B and E line trolley's on St. Patrick's day?

Well the B is out because of the parade route, but it would be awesome to use all the trolly buses and run the Eline at faster intervals.

Any thoughts of running the B and E line trolley's on St. Patrick's Day?

 

It has not been mentioned in conversations to date, and we have operated them since 2006.

On March 18, RTA launches a new bus route, #54 Brookpark, that will help veterans reach a new VA outpatient clinic in Parma.

 

http://www.riderta.com/newsroom/releases/?listingid=1704

Through Sunday, March 4, RTA has a display at the Cleveland Auto Show at the IX Center. The display includes an MCI bus and information on our Park-N-Ride service. Staff is on hand to answer questions. I will be there for a few hours on Thursday night. Stop by and say hello.

Improved service to Steelyard Commons and Cleveland Clinic starts March 18.

 

http://www.riderta.com/newsroom/releases/?listingid=1706

 

^Thanks, Jerry.

 

It always amazes me how infrequent the bus service is on Cedar.  With all the employment at UC, seems like it should be a well traveled commuting route.

^Don't most people that are able just walk up to Euclid and take the Healthline?

^Sorry, I mean Cedar Road in CH and eastern burbs.

Oh, sorry. Misunderstood.

I'm surprised, too... at one time, the #32s were frequent up/down Cedar.  Now daytime service is 1/2 to an hour, which is surprising givnen the density of this corridor (density that probably could support rapid transit).  Just goes to show how badly RTA has had to cut service to the barebones with the subsidy reduction.

I'm surprised, too... at one time, the #32s were frequent up/down Cedar.  Now daytime service is 1/2 to an hour, which is surprising givnen the density of this corridor (density that probably could support rapid transit).  Just goes to show how badly RTA has had to cut service to the barebones with the subsidy reduction.

 

Yeah...there were 4 "32" routes IIRC.  the 32, 32C, 32s & 32F.  However, the Fairmount line was the weakest link.

Through Sunday, March 4, RTA has a display at the Cleveland Auto Show at the IX Center. The display includes an MCI bus and information on our Park-N-Ride service. Staff is on hand to answer questions. I will be there for a few hours on Thursday night. Stop by and say hello.

 

Just curious.  I've never been to the IX center, but am considering attending the last days (today or tomorrow) of the Auto Show...  I could be wrong but it doesn't appear that RTA serves the IX center... Why?  It's next door the the airport and therefore, obviously, is close to the Red Line.  Couldn't/shouldn't RTA either run shuttles from the airport Red Line terminal or divert some (or all) Berea Rd buses (#86?) from the nearby airport station? -- from my understanding Berea Rd goes past/in front of the IX, but i's a pretty strong hump from the street to the Center IIRC? -- if I'm wrong, correct me.  It would be preferrable for buses to take riders to the door .... or does Hopkins run free shuttles (which would make this discussion moot)?... If there's no such service, there should be; it would serve many people downtown, near West Side or even U.Circle and the East Side, who would rather not drive... I can't imagine why not.

 

No doubt, if we go to the Auto Show, we would be driving -- it's just a 25-30 min jaunt on I-480 from the East Side... Still, I think RTA should serve the I-X Center ... if it already doesn't.

The only "service" to the IX Center is on the #86 route to Berea. It has a stop on SR237 at Eastland Road. Crossing SR237 on foot is quite scary, but I've seen people do it. Most of the people I've seen boarding there were coming from some of the air cargo companies on the north side of 237 and the industries on the south side of 237 (which involves crossing a very busy railroad line). I used to ride the 86 when I lived in Berea. The 86 runs seven days a week, and the schedule will change March 18:

 

Current: http://www.riderta.com/pdf/86.pdf

After 3/18: http://www.riderta.com/pdf/20120318/86.pdf

The IX Center makes a killing off charging for parking, wouldn't be surprisedbif there was some clause preventing bus service/access

The IX Center makes a killing off charging for parking, wouldn't be surprisedbif there was some clause preventing bus service/access

 

Since the IX Center is private property (or at least I think it is), they can prevent RTA buses from operating to its front doors. But that does not prevent RTA from operating via IX Center Drive which is a public street. Instead, I suspect RTA does not think it can generate sufficient ridership by detouring RTA's #86 route via IX Center Drive. There are also issues relating to RTA having to coordinate a regular RTA route with an irregular schedule of IX Center events. As for a special shuttle bus from the Red Line station, I'm not sure RTA is allowed to do that as it may constitute a charter bus service. I believe itt's the same reason transit authorities cannot operate special bus services to sporting events.

The IX Center makes a killing off charging for parking, wouldn't be surprisedbif there was some clause preventing bus service/access

 

Since the IX Center is private property (or at least I think it is), they can prevent RTA buses from operating to its front doors. But that does not prevent RTA from operating via IX Center Drive which is a public street. Instead, I suspect RTA does not think it can generate sufficient ridership by detouring RTA's #86 route via IX Center Drive. There are also issues relating to RTA having to coordinate a regular RTA route with an irregular schedule of IX Center events. As for a special shuttle bus from the Red Line station, I'm not sure RTA is allowed to do that as it may constitute a charter bus service. I believe itt's the same reason transit authorities cannot operate special bus services to sporting events.

 

RTA used to operate shuttle services to Jacob's field when the Indians were hot.

 

while I was in Chicago CTA was running shuttle buses from the loop to the auto show at McCormick center.

 

I think the issue is the parking revenue that the IX center would not have, because of bus service, similar to why you don;t have a public transit option for Cedar point, they want to maintain that revenue.  much like the Eaton corp campus the parking lot for the IX center is so large that it discourages people from walking to the IX center from the street.

 

well at least we know the MedMart would have these issues.

 

I was on the Red Line to the airport today.  3 car train that was labeled "Mentor." 

 

Is this wishful thinking for a Red Line extension east?  ;)

OK, thanks for the insight re the I-X Center... Too bad, for whatever reason, b/c whether private property or not, the I-X Center hosts a number of conventions that have very wide public interest, not the least of which is the now concluded Auto Show.  However it happened, it seems rather inexcusable and bush league that there can't be some connection between our main heavy rail rapid transit and this convention center, which sits a mere 1/2 mile (if that much) from the Red Line terminus at Hopkins....

 

Yeah, I've seen some bizarre Red Line transit destinations before.  I think one said Coventry or Mentor or Westlake... one of those hopeful extensions that never materialized...

 

OK, thanks for the insight re the I-X Center... Too bad, for whatever reason, b/c whether private property or not, the I-X Center hosts a number of conventions that have very wide public interest, not the least of which is the now concluded Auto Show.  However it happened, it seems rather inexcusable and bush league that there can't be some connection between our main heavy rail rapid transit and this convention center, which sits a mere 1/2 mile (if that much) from the Red Line terminus at Hopkins....

 

In response to your query, I did some checking...

 

Many years ago, when it still legal, RTA operated a shuttle service to the IX Center for special events, and the poor response did not justify the expense.

 

In recent years, federal regulations prohibit RTA from running what amounts to a charter service. That's why RTA has stopped running special buses for Browns' games and Indians games. If the operator of the IX Center -- with its acres of parking -- also wants to pay for a private vendor to bring people in by bus, then I am sure there are vendors who are willing to do that.

RTA used to operate shuttle services to Jacob's field when the Indians were hot.

 

 

And shortly thereafter the charter bus operators got the state legislature to pass a law prohibiting transit agencies from operating such services.

 

And are the charter bus operators providing such services today? If they were, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Jerry, thanks for responding... Q: I appreciate the ban on shuttle service.  But would routing the regular #86 bus through the I-X lot during daytime hours be considered a shuttle?  That bus connects with the Brookpark Rapid station.  Seems like forcing convention goers to cross busy Berea freeway would be untenable under transit regs as well; but that's only pure speculation on my part.

Jerry, thanks for responding... Q: I appreciate the ban on shuttle service.  But would routing the regular #86 bus through the I-X lot during daytime hours be considered a shuttle?  That bus connects with the Brookpark Rapid station.  Seems like forcing convention goers to cross busy Berea freeway would be untenable under transit regs as well; but that's only pure speculation on my part.

 

I'm glad you are always thinking. Thanks. Our service planners have looked at that, and decided it would not work.

 

1. A deviation to the IX Center would have to be part of the announced public schedule, so all #86 buses would have to serve the IX Center, even on days when there was no activity. Imagine how the other passengers on the bus would feel, watching the bus take them on a meaningless 10-minute detour every day.

 

2. Despite construction detours, downpours and the devil, RTA tries to maintain the integrity of each timetable. We could not just serve the IX Center off-route on certain days.

 

Again, thanks for asking.

 

^... and thanks, again, for responding.  Much appreciated.

RTA used to operate shuttle services to Jacob's field when the Indians were hot.

 

 

And shortly thereafter the charter bus operators got the state legislature to pass a law prohibiting transit agencies from operating such services.

 

And are the charter bus operators providing such services today? If they were, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

really?  OMG i need to move out of this state.

No worry--the casino should attract plenty of private shuttle/coach operators.  You can easily find one to hop at your local Bingo spot and ride down to the Welcome Center.  From there it's a short walk to Progressive Field.    :laugh: