But if you're boarding at a WFL station going 'eastbound', you don't get a fare card if you're only taking one trip. You have to pay exact change cash and it wouldn't make sense to have to pay for another fare card at TC.

 

 

In that direction, it's no different than boarding a bus. You paid a one-way cash fare of $2.25. You don't need a farecard anymore than you do in riding a bus one way and paying a cash fare of $2.25. You got on, you paid and you're don't need to think about it anymore. Just like a bus.

 

Yes, I get that. My question is if you get off at TC coming from the WFL on an east bound train and you paid a cash fair on the train already, how do you exit the station at Tower City without being forced to go through the fare gates (since you never got a fare card when paying on the train)?

Yes, I get that. My question is if you get off at TC coming from the WFL on an east bound train and you paid a cash fair on the train already, how do you exit the station at Tower City without being forced to go through the fare gates (since you never got a fare card when paying on the train)?

 

Ah, now I see. Good question. I seem to remember that you have to tell GCRTA staff/police that you arrived from the Waterfront Line, and they wave you through the gate, around the turnstiles. I think....

Yes, I get that. My question is if you get off at TC coming from the WFL on an east bound train and you paid a cash fair on the train already, how do you exit the station at Tower City without being forced to go through the fare gates (since you never got a fare card when paying on the train)?

 

Ah, now I see. Good question. I seem to remember that you have to tell GCRTA staff/police that you arrived from the Waterfront Line, and they wave you through the gate, around the turnstiles. I think....

 

Ok, that's what I assumed. That's so confusing, even for those very familiar with the Rapid, let alone a person visiting the city.

I'd be surprised if it's just a matter of telling people at the gates to wave you through.  Can you really not get a fare card when you pay in cash on a Blue/Green line vehicle?  Either way, it's definitely confusing.  We have three different payment routines in our medium sized system, which is nuts.

I'd be surprised if it's just a matter of telling people at the gates to wave you through.  Can you really not get a fare card when you pay in cash on a Blue/Green line vehicle?  Either way, it's definitely confusing.  We have three different payment routines in our medium sized system, which is nuts.

 

I'm pretty sure you can get a fare card. I just doubt many people know to ask for one when they pay their fare on the Waterfront Line eastbound.

A few pages back I commented on my experience with fare paying from E 9th WFL to TC to Red Line to go to the WSM. The driver acted as if I should know what to do and got really irked when I started asking questions while feeding $5 for 2 people into the fare box for the short trip to TC. I asked what I needed to do to get out of the TC station and onto the Red. He barked there were no transfers, then reluctantly gave me 2 "passes" he said would work. Well the passes were only for getting out of the WFL station...duh, shouldn't I have gotten those anyway??? It's a mess, and the drivers I had were no help. You end up feeling ripped off. The drivers should be sensitive to the fact that the fare paying system is weird and try to explain. We were the only 2 people on the train btw, it's not like he was overwhelmed. They seem unusually bitter. And relying on workers at TC to just "wave you through"...um ok sure!

 

The guy on the WFL on the way back, was just as bad...I accidentally pulled the stop for Browns Stadium, then stood up and told him I was sorry, I wanted E 9th. He was pissed and yelled at me to sit back down. Again, the only 2 people on the train.

 

All said and done, we paid $5 on the WFL and $10 more for 2 all day passes at TC. From the Doubletree Lakeside to WSM and back, I felt like I would have been better off taking a cab both ways and probably wouldn't have spent much more money and had way less hassle...it was raining and cold.

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems. 

A few pages back I commented on my experience with fare paying from E 9th WFL to TC to Red Line to go to the WSM. The driver acted as if I should know what to do and got really irked when I started asking questions while feeding $5 for 2 people into the fare box for the short trip to TC. I asked what I needed to do to get out of the TC station and onto the Red. He barked there were no transfers, then reluctantly gave me 2 "passes" he said would work. Well the passes were only for getting out of the WFL station...duh, shouldn't I have gotten those anyway??? It's a mess, and the drivers I had were no help. You end up feeling ripped off. The drivers should be sensitive to the fact that the fare paying system is weird and try to explain. We were the only 2 people on the train btw, it's not like he was overwhelmed. They seem unusually bitter. And relying on workers at TC to just "wave you through"...um ok sure!

 

The guy on the WFL on the way back, was just as bad...I accidentally pulled the stop for Browns Stadium, then stood up and told him I was sorry, I wanted E 9th. He was pissed and yelled at me to sit back down. Again, the only 2 people on the train.

 

I suggest forwarding your complaints to RTA management.  Not sure if anything ever gets done about them, but perhaps if there is enough about a particular driver they will be reassigned to a route where there are more regular customers and won't cause public relations problems.

 

I had a similar incident on the Red Line a couple years back at the airport.  There was a sign on the fare machines at the entrance saying to please pay on the train.  When I boarded the train the operator SCREAMED at me saying I was supposed to pay at the entrance.  I offered her to call RTA police and we could both walk back there and see the posted sign saying to pay on the train, because I wasn't leaving the train.  She finally relented.  I think she was the cousin of the lady at Tower City who shook me down another time over the actual age of my 9 year old daughter and whether or not she should have a children's all day pass!  WTF?????

A few pages back I commented on my experience with fare paying from E 9th WFL to TC to Red Line to go to the WSM. The driver acted as if I should know what to do and got really irked when I started asking questions while feeding $5 for 2 people into the fare box for the short trip to TC. I asked what I needed to do to get out of the TC station and onto the Red. He barked there were no transfers, then reluctantly gave me 2 "passes" he said would work. Well the passes were only for getting out of the WFL station...duh, shouldn't I have gotten those anyway??? It's a mess, and the drivers I had were no help. You end up feeling ripped off. The drivers should be sensitive to the fact that the fare paying system is weird and try to explain. We were the only 2 people on the train btw, it's not like he was overwhelmed. They seem unusually bitter. And relying on workers at TC to just "wave you through"...um ok sure!

 

The guy on the WFL on the way back, was just as bad...I accidentally pulled the stop for Browns Stadium, then stood up and told him I was sorry, I wanted E 9th. He was pissed and yelled at me to sit back down. Again, the only 2 people on the train.

 

I suggest forwarding your complaints to RTA management.  Not sure if anything ever gets done about them, but perhaps if there is enough about a particular driver they will be reassigned to a route where there are more regular customers and won't cause public relations problems.

 

I had a similar incident on the Red Line a couple years back at the airport.  There was a sign on the fare machines at the entrance saying to please pay on the train.  When I boarded the train the operator SCREAMED at me saying I was supposed to pay at the entrance.  I offered her to call RTA police and we could both walk back there and see the posted sign saying to pay on the train, because I wasn't leaving the train.  She finally relented.  I think she was the cousin of the lady at Tower City who shook me down another time over the actual age of my 9 year old daughter and whether or not she should have a children's all day pass!  WTF?????

 

P. J. O'Rourke once observed that one of the things that holds fascist governments together is giving innumerable little "pee-ants" little hills to pee off of.

 

Monopoly-bureaucracies work the same way.

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems. 

 

Thank you.

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems. 

 

Thank you.

 

Most likely bureaucratic inertia.  Much like Division of Water and NEORSD wanting separate checks and envelopes for so long.

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems. 

 

Thank you.

 

Most likely bureaucratic inertia.  Much like Division of Water and NEORSD wanting separate checks and envelopes for so long.

 

The rationale has been that it would cost too much in terms of electrical power to provide ticket vending machines at the many Blue/Green stops (which contain the most rail stops in RTA's rail network).  However, I think that's a weak excuse.  Not only does the current system make the Blue and Green lines unnecessarily slow and confusing (to new/casual WFL and Red Line transfer users), it's a capital cost that could (I'm sure) be 50% funded by FTA... an application that would likely be approved noting the above as well as the potential to attract more riders to the system.

mrclifton88, your post was moved here:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2267.msg695568.html#msg695568

A photo spread of "My Snowy Cleveland Commute" is at:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,29038.0.html

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems. 

 

Thank you.

 

 

Most likely bureaucratic inertia.  Much like Division of Water and NEORSD wanting separate checks and envelopes for so long.

 

The rationale has been that it would cost too much in terms of electrical power to provide ticket vending machines at the many Blue/Green stops (which contain the most rail stops in RTA's rail network).  However, I think that's a weak excuse.  Not only does the current system make the Blue and Green lines unnecessarily slow and confusing (to new/casual WFL and Red Line transfer users), it's a capital cost that could (I'm sure) be 50% funded by FTA... an application that would likely be approved noting the above as well as the potential to attract more riders to the system.

 

the solution is to put the fare machines on the Train, and move to a smart card payment system.

 

Each train would have a fare machine. and validation machines would be placed at each door, so you could tap and go as you enter the train.

 

All we need now are Cleveland's version of the Oyster card! Maybe the Kielbasa Kard??

^ That is absolutely absurd. There is no excuse for not having a proof of payment system on the Green/Blue lines. Cleveland has the only light rail system that I know of that uses such an antiquated system. And Cleveland has a higher level of integration of its light and heavy rail system than any other city in the country, so it is even more ridiculous that they have different payment systems. 

 

Thank you.

 

 

Most likely bureaucratic inertia.  Much like Division of Water and NEORSD wanting separate checks and envelopes for so long.

 

The rationale has been that it would cost too much in terms of electrical power to provide ticket vending machines at the many Blue/Green stops (which contain the most rail stops in RTA's rail network).  However, I think that's a weak excuse.  Not only does the current system make the Blue and Green lines unnecessarily slow and confusing (to new/casual WFL and Red Line transfer users), it's a capital cost that could (I'm sure) be 50% funded by FTA... an application that would likely be approved noting the above as well as the potential to attract more riders to the system.

 

the solution is to put the fare machines on the Train, and move to a smart card payment system.

 

Each train would have a fare machine. and validation machines would be placed at each door, so you could tap and go as you enter the train.

 

 

That would be great for reducing damage caused by weather and vandalism.

"Due to an emergency, Blue & Green Line rail service is replaced with shuttle buses between Tower City & Van Aken & Grren Rd until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience at this time."

Guess it wasn't that big of an emergency:

 

"Shuttle buses have been canceled and Blue & Green Line trains are back up and running, but with delays of 20-30 mins at this time. Thanks for your patience."

This is kind of random, but I've never understood what it means for there to be "delays of 20-30 mins" for a transit line with regular/frequent service.  Does that mean there may be no service for 20-30 mins?  That specified runs may be 20-30 minutes behind schedule?  That a single run will take 20-30 minutes longer to complete its route due to slow operating speeds?  As a rider, I never know what to do with this kind of message (which is not unique to RTA).

^Agreed. If a train is delayed by 20 minutes but another was supposed to be there 20 minutes later anyway, is it really a delay? Sounds like you just missed one run of the train.

^It matters if you wanted to see your favorite operator!

It took over 40 minutes to get from green rd to tower city this morning.  so, It affected ride time too.

I really hope that the HealthLine buses get some TLC soon. I got on a westbound bus in University Circle Saturday night that broke down two stops later. I also observed that the bus was missing a headlight and a few seat cushions. We all had to cram onto the next bus which didn't seem to be in much better condition. Does anyone know if there are plans to replace the fleet anytime soon?

I really hope that the HealthLine buses get some TLC soon. I got on a westbound bus in University Circle Saturday night that broke down two stops later. I also observed that the bus was missing a headlight and a few seat cushions. We all had to cram onto the next bus which didn't seem to be in much better condition. Does anyone know if there are plans to replace the fleet anytime soon?

 

Nope. Any capital purchase paid for with federal funds must be used for a minimum period of time. For fixed facilities and rail cars, it is 20 years. I don't know what it is for bus fleets (the HealthLine buses were paid for with federal funds), but I'd be surprised if it was as much as 20 years. Probably more like 10-15 years.

I think the minimum service time for full size and articulated transit buses is 12 years, so we're only about half way there.  Of course, RTA should be maintaining the buses so they provide decent service...missing seat cushions and headlights don't really mean it's time for a whole new vehicle.

I think the minimum service time for full size and articulated transit buses is 12 years, so we're only about half way there.  Of course, RTA should be maintaining the buses so they provide decent service...missing seat cushions and headlights don't really mean it's time for a whole new vehicle.

 

I think you're right about the 12 years. There are some physical problems with the buses, beyond seat cushions and headlights.

 

I think the minimum service time for full size and articulated transit buses is 12 years, so we're only about half way there.  Of course, RTA should be maintaining the buses so they provide decent service...missing seat cushions and headlights don't really mean it's time for a whole new vehicle.

 

I think you're right about the 12 years. There are some physical problems with the buses, beyond seat cushions and headlights.

 

I mean, I'm not surprised due to how much use they get. With the ridership they've been having they're going to take a beating. I just hope that RTA can maintain them well enough to last that long.

^^Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to downplay the issues HL buses may be suffering. Certainly part replacement and engine maintenance is expected as part of the 12 year life, but if the HL vehicles seem to be suffering more than other RTA buses at their lifespan midpoint, it's not clear from the outside whether it's an RTA maintenance issue or an underlying vehicle quality issue. Maybe RTA is planning a more comprehensive midlife overhaul at some point?

^Just to jump in here, but isn't this what the sponsorship money should be used for? The Clinic and University hospitals provide 6mil over I think 20 years, Huntington chips in 30k/yr. There are other sponsors such as MedMutual and CSU that also contribute. Shouldn't this be enough money to keep the fleet clean and to repair small cosmetic wear and tear. Or does RTA, not surprisingly use this money for other things.

They have a couple other issues as well.

 

Broken ramps

 

Inoperable bus horns

 

Bus hand rail disconnected from floor. (Atleast on one bus)

The ramps don't work on a lot of the vehicles and I know the horns don't work on all either.

Can you revise this?  I don't think this is what you meant to say.

Any artists on UO?

 

RTA seeking artists for gateway, light pole designs on Clifton Boulevard

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Transit planners upgrading the roadway and bus shelters along Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood and Cleveland are looking for artists to bring a finishing touch to the work.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has put out a call for proposals for two creative elements – sign poles and two gateways that will be portals to the 4.1-mile corridor. See application form here (pdf).

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/02/rta_seeking_artists_for_gatewa.html#incart_river_default

Any artists on UO?

 

RTA seeking artists for gateway, light pole designs on Clifton Boulevard

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Transit planners upgrading the roadway and bus shelters along Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood and Cleveland are looking for artists to bring a finishing touch to the work.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has put out a call for proposals for two creative elements – sign poles and two gateways that will be portals to the 4.1-mile corridor. See application form here (pdf).

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/02/rta_seeking_artists_for_gatewa.html#incart_river_default

 

The guy with the graffiti related comment unfortunately hit the nail on the head.  How many professional artists are going to want to put their work where it will be defaced?

The guy with the graffiti related comment unfortunately hit the nail on the head.  How many professional artists are going to want to put their work where it will be defaced?

 

Wow. Are you aware that every new station since 1990 on the Red Line has public art? Or that every station on the HealthLine has public art? Do you actually believe that the Edgewater neighborhood is more of a graffiti risk that some of the areas that the Red Line and HealthLine go through???

 

Why do you constantly feel the need to hang around here and offer baseless opinions and suburbanist innuendo about a city (or all cities) that you dislike, given up on, and mock? To continue to comment here and sometimes harass forumers who like and know about cities borders on anti-social behavior.

The guy with the graffiti related comment unfortunately hit the nail on the head.  How many professional artists are going to want to put their work where it will be defaced?

 

Wow. Are you aware that every new station since 1990 on the Red Line has public art? Or that every station on the HealthLine has public art? Do you actually believe that the Edgewater neighborhood is more of a graffiti risk that some of the areas that the Red Line and HealthLine go through???

 

Why do you constantly feel the need to hang around here and offer baseless opinions and suburbanist innuendo about a city (or all cities) that you dislike, given up on, and mock? To continue to comment here and sometimes harass forumers who like and know about cities borders on anti-social behavior.

 

Stations are one thing, especially on the Red Line where access is more tightly controlled.  Light poles another.  At the very least, find volunteers.

 

I didn't know contrarianism constituted harassment.  I often prefer to post places where I'm in the philosophical minority, but the arguments are fact or idea based.  It keeps me on my toes, and quite frankly I learn a lot more.  Plus, as you know, it's not a topic I disdain, by any stretch...

Stations are one thing, especially on the Red Line where access is more tightly controlled.  Light poles another.  At the very least, find volunteers.

 

I didn't know contrarianism constituted harassment.  I often prefer to post places where I'm in the philosophical minority, but the arguments are fact or idea based.  It keeps me on my toes, and quite frankly I learn a lot more.  Plus, as you know, it's not a topic I disdain, by any stretch...

 

OK, so light poles are good targets for graffiti? I can see it in an East Coast or European ghetto where EVERYTHING gets tagged. But not in Edgewater.

 

Harassment is never determined by the instigator. And I absolutely hate arguing. Heard it way too much when I was a kid, thankyouverymuch.

Press Play.....

 

baurjoe

37 minutes ago

For next time somebody says, "Nobody rides the train in #Cleveland!"

 

Made a quick Red Line hop over the river to Ohio City yesterday on one of the rehabbed interior cars.  It looked nice and clean (with clear, non-foggy windows!), though a tad on the sterile side -- to the naked eye, it’s hard to distinguish between these and the Blue/Green Line interiors…

 

Interestingly, while driving by and checking out the progress of the new University Circle station, I noticed that support columns and platforms are sporting a pleasing soft orange color.  Then, I realized, that this earth-tone orange is exactly the same color that RTA is removing from Red Line car interiors, in favor of the (again) more sterile gray tones… I guess this is something of a national trend.  Philadelphia’s SEPTA made a similar color change when it upgraded its 70s era Silverliner IV car interiors a decade or so ago… Blues and grays are hot.  Earth tones and faux wood paneling are soooo yesterday… at least that’s what we’re being led to believe.   

 

From Model D: "BRT in Cleveland: No mistake by the lake"

 

http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/brtincleveland3414.aspx

 

The article is about a group from Detroit traveling to Cleveland to check out the Healthline. The conclusion of the piece is that Detroit should be looking to Cleveland as a model for how to grow public transit. Always good to read complementary pieces about Cleveland, but I think the article gave us too much credit. Some lines I found a bit humorous: 

 

"A word that accurately describes Cleveland's transit network, of which the HealthLine is only a small piece, is "robust." "

 

"Four commuter rail lines that link suburbs with the central city..."

 

"Yet Cleveland (as a region, not just a central city) chose a different fate than Detroit--one in which the region embraced and invested in public transit.

 

"What Cleveland is doing is more innovative than anywhere in the U.S."

 

 

I think Cleveland does a number of things well with transit, but these accolades only make sense when taken in the context that they are coming from someone from Detroit. Otherwise, they seem a bit silly.

 

 

 

It's a bit over the top, but like you say, consider their perspective. Consider that Greater Cleveland created a regional, county-wide transit agency nearly 40 years ago (and with a permanent 1-cent sales tax) -- something that Detroit hasn't been able to do yet despite many tries. If you think Greater Cleveland is balkanized, see Detroit.

 

BTW, I put my comment here because it deals more with GCRTA overall than with just the HealthLine.

"Yet Cleveland (as a region, not just a central city) chose a different fate than Detroit--one in which the region embraced and invested in public transit.

 

It's a bit over the top, but like you say, consider their perspective. Consider that Greater Cleveland created a regional, county-wide transit agency nearly 40 years ago (and with a permanent 1-cent sales tax) -- something that Detroit hasn't been able to do yet despite many tries. If you think Greater Cleveland is balkanized, see Detroit.

 

BTW, I put my comment here because it deals more with GCRTA overall than with just the HealthLine.

 

The two sentences in the article that follow the third quote offer a lot more context, and perspective: "When looking to cities with great transit like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, it's easy to say, 'Why can’t we have what they have?' But as a post-industrial city, Cleveland is Detroit's blood brother and much worthier of comparison.". Also, having lived in Buffalo for 18 years before moving to Cleveland, I think "robust" is a very fair assessment of our system.

Also I forgot to add... We've discussed it before but The payment process is mind-blowingly inconvenient.  Let's say in the future we have say 20-30 ppl waiting at FEB to get on. If every person has to get on one at a time and swipe their payment it will take forever. Something needs to change.

 

Re-posted from the Flats East Bank thread, regarding the Waterfront Line.

Okay so someone may have already complained about a similar experience upthread, but I'd just like to vent to fellow UO-ers:

 

I live in Ohio City, and the other day, a friend and I decided we were going to get dinner on Larchmere via the rapid to Shaker Square.  We bought single-ride passes at the West 25th Street Red Line station and planned on transferring at Tower City to the Green Line.  Turns out that you can't transfer at Tower City without exiting the platform, BUYING ANOTHER SINGLE RIDE PASS, then re-entering the platform.  It's just completely ridiculous.  I called the RTA complaint line and the General Manager told me that "your trip to Larchmere was two trips."  Uhh, it's not my fault that I have to transfer to get from Ohio City to Shaker.  Also, it's not really clear when you're supposed to pay when you board the Green Line westbound for the return trip.

 

This experience led me to several conclusions about things that RTA needs to do to improve its rider experience:

 

1) provide one free transfer with each ticket purchase, and free transfers WITHIN THE SAME STATION

2) install turnstiles at every station, at least on the red line

3) institute a declining balance payment system, so riders don't need a new pass every time they ride the rapid

 

With all the visitors due to visit Cleveland this year (ie Gay Games), it would behoove RTA to take some steps toward simplifying its ridership policies. 

Okay so someone may have already complained about a similar experience upthread, but I'd just like to vent to fellow UO-ers:

 

I live in Ohio City, and the other day, a friend and I decided we were going to get dinner on Larchmere via the rapid to Shaker Square.  We bought single-ride passes at the West 25th Street Red Line station and planned on transferring at Tower City to the Green Line.  Turns out that you can't transfer at Tower City without exiting the platform, BUYING ANOTHER SINGLE RIDE PASS, then re-entering the platform.  It's just completely ridiculous.  I called the RTA complaint line and the General Manager told me that "your trip to Larchmere was two trips."  Uhh, it's not my fault that I have to transfer to get from Ohio City to Shaker.  Also, it's not really clear when you're supposed to pay when you board the Green Line westbound for the return trip.

 

This experience led me to several conclusions about things that RTA needs to do to improve its rider experience:

 

1) provide one free transfer with each ticket purchase, and free transfers WITHIN THE SAME STATION

2) install turnstiles at every station, at least on the red line

3) institute a declining balance payment system, so I riders don't need a new pass every time they ride the rapid

 

With all the visitors due to visit Cleveland this year (ie Gay Games), it would behoove RTA to take some steps toward simplifying its ridership policies.

 

1) Such a weird system. I guess you could get away with the transfer by transferring at East 55th.

 

2) Im with you 100%, but RTA just removed all of the turnstiles so they are going the opposite direction.

Okay so someone may have already complained about a similar experience upthread, but I'd just like to vent to fellow UO-ers:

 

I live in Ohio City, and the other day, a friend and I decided we were going to get dinner on Larchmere via the rapid to Shaker Square.  We bought single-ride passes at the West 25th Street Red Line station and planned on transferring at Tower City to the Green Line.  Turns out that you can't transfer at Tower City without exiting the platform, BUYING ANOTHER SINGLE RIDE PASS, then re-entering the platform.  It's just completely ridiculous.  I called the RTA complaint line and the General Manager told me that "your trip to Larchmere was two trips."  Uhh, it's not my fault that I have to transfer to get from Ohio City to Shaker.  Also, it's not really clear when you're supposed to pay when you board the Green Line westbound for the return trip.

 

This experience led me to several conclusions about things that RTA needs to do to improve its rider experience:

 

1) provide one free transfer with each ticket purchase, and free transfers WITHIN THE SAME STATION

2) install turnstiles at every station, at least on the red line

3) institute a declining balance payment system, so riders don't need a new pass every time they ride the rapid

 

With all the visitors due to visit Cleveland this year (ie Gay Games), it would behoove RTA to take some steps toward simplifying its ridership policies. 

The problem is that what you bought was a single "ride" ticket. What RTA should have sold you was a single "trip" ticket. For some reason though such a thing doesn't seem to exist to RTA.

 

As transfers are an essential part of modern public transportation, when anyone pays fare, it should be assumed that they'll make transfers and the fare ought to cover the cost of riding for an hour or so. 

 

Turnstiles aren't coming back, POP is here to stay and ought to be implemented on the other rapids too. The half-ass situation of different ways to pay is beyond rediculous.

 

As far as declining value cards or smart cards, you're preaching to the choir. We've been talking about the need for them on here for about 8 years. RTA doesn't seem to care that they're a decade behind.

Okay so someone may have already complained about a similar experience upthread, but I'd just like to vent to fellow UO-ers:

 

I live in Ohio City, and the other day, a friend and I decided we were going to get dinner on Larchmere via the rapid to Shaker Square.  We bought single-ride passes at the West 25th Street Red Line station and planned on transferring at Tower City to the Green Line.  Turns out that you can't transfer at Tower City without exiting the platform, BUYING ANOTHER SINGLE RIDE PASS, then re-entering the platform.  It's just completely ridiculous.  I called the RTA complaint line and the General Manager told me that "your trip to Larchmere was two trips."  Uhh, it's not my fault that I have to transfer to get from Ohio City to Shaker.  Also, it's not really clear when you're supposed to pay when you board the Green Line westbound for the return trip.

 

This experience led me to several conclusions about things that RTA needs to do to improve its rider experience:

 

1) provide one free transfer with each ticket purchase, and free transfers WITHIN THE SAME STATION

2) install turnstiles at every station, at least on the red line

3) institute a declining balance payment system, so riders don't need a new pass every time they ride the rapid

 

With all the visitors due to visit Cleveland this year (ie Gay Games), it would behoove RTA to take some steps toward simplifying its ridership policies. 

 

Agree x1000. I get so frustrated by this. I could understand them saying that it is "two trips" if the Red and Green/Blue lines were completely separate systems. However, RTA markets its rail transit as three (or four, or even five if you count the Waterfront Line as separate) lines within one Rapid system. They also share tracks and share three stations. I've ridden on every rail transit system on the East Coast, and Cleveland's by far is the most confusing, even to locals, not just tourists. I have no clue why there is not PoP system wide, nor why there is not a smart card yet.

I think we've pretty much gone over this same scenario a hundred times. There's a lot of things RTA could do but really to me number one is just to put the whole system under the SAME PAYMENT METHOD. the confusion going between red and blue/green lines is absolutely ridiculous, paying when you are going one direction and not the other... It's too reliant on people just going from the end of line to Tower City. Not everyone does this! People want to ride from any stop and all places in between including transfers!  Does anyone have any insight as to whether RTA is even considering this????

Also- at Tower City, keep the turnstiles to get into/out of the two platforms but are they really blocked from each other once you're on the platform? The two passages between the two need to be kept open with clear directions and signage at all times. If they really want to market the whole rail system as one, then it should be just that!!!

Also- at Tower City, keep the turnstiles to get into/out of the two platforms but are they really blocked from each other once you're on the platform? The two passages between the two need to be kept open with clear directions and signage at all times. If they really want to market the whole rail system as one, then it should be just that!!!

 

Yes. There is a gate blocking the walkway I believe. I think they only open it for events, like Browns games.

Also- at Tower City, keep the turnstiles to get into/out of the two platforms but are they really blocked from each other once you're on the platform? The two passages between the two need to be kept open with clear directions and signage at all times. If they really want to market the whole rail system as one, then it should be just that!!!

Well they kindof have to keep them blocked since they don't allow transfers or POP on the Blue/Green lines. There's no good way logistically to allow you to cross between them without changing the payment method somehow.