HELLO!?!?!  :wink:

Does anyone know who owns the right of way along the red line tracks between the brookpark and west 150th stations? 

 

i'm particulary interested in the area between I-71 and red line tracks, and i assume it is ODOT up to a point (the fence?) and then RTA?  right now it is basically just overgrown weeds and a few deformed trees.

 

i'm curious as to why this highly visible stretch of land can't be better landscaped to provide an inviting appearance along this section of highway as well as one of the first passages riders on the redline see.  also, i'm curious why they can't use some form of advertising along this stretch (perhaps to pay for improvements).

Don't know. Probably ODOT.

the annoying thing is that RTA didn't have an announcement on their website and there was no email or text alert that certain trains weren't running. 

 

it is 2007, hmmmm, seems like someone might be able to make this happen for about $2.  if the system wants more "choice" ridership, they need to start thinking about incorporating these relatively easy information delivery devices.

 

I agree that it's inexcusable for there to have been no notification of any kind on RTA's web site, or on the Answerline. However, I am curious to know more about your "about $2" solution. Got any particular choices in mind?

 

Keep in mind that we're talking web site, e-mail, text message, maybe even text-to-speech for those who don't have text message capable cell phones (yes, there's plenty of those folks, especially among RTA's transit-dependent ridership), along with all the concomitant record keeping that would accompany such a solution, and the variables of who gets notified when (if, for example, I'm a West side bus rider who only works third shift, what do I care if the Blue & Green Lines are down during rush hour?).

 

I'm not downplaying your suggestion, but I'd like you to put some meat on the bones rather than focusing on a cheap sound bite...

the annoying thing is that RTA didn't have an announcement on their website and there was no email or text alert that certain trains weren't running. 

 

it is 2007, hmmmm, seems like someone might be able to make this happen for about $2.  if the system wants more "choice" ridership, they need to start thinking about incorporating these relatively easy information delivery devices.

 

I agree that it's inexcusable for there to have been no notification of any kind on RTA's web site, or on the Answerline. However, I am curious to know more about your "about $2" solution. Got any particular choices in mind?

 

Keep in mind that we're talking web site, e-mail, text message, maybe even text-to-speech for those who don't have text message capable cell phones (yes, there's plenty of those folks, especially among RTA's transit-dependent ridership), along with all the concomitant record keeping that would accompany such a solution, and the variables of who gets notified when (if, for example, I'm a West side bus rider who only works third shift, what do I care if the Blue & Green Lines are down during rush hour?).

 

I'm not downplaying your suggestion, but I'd like you to put some meat on the bones rather than focusing on a cheap sound bite...

 

the "$2 solution" comment is in response to my understanding that RTA has installed new software that powers the paratransit scheduling, tracks buses real time, etc.  my understanding was that this software has functionality that can be used for email alerts, based on real time information.  now, if the system doesn't work as is, obviously it won't be of much help to provide real time information to ridership via email.  but, it seems that this project is at least 2 years old, and although the total project cost is much more than $2, this incremental functionality should, imo, be online by now.

 

Another very simple and "$2 solution" : i'd also be happy if RTA just used their existing email list for major announcements about service disruptions.  RTA is still collecting email addresses at this page: http://www.riderta.com/maps-schedules.asp  but, i don't think there has been any kind of mass email in a long time, and i used to receive them more regularly.

 

as far as other solutions go, i can only comment as a rider as for what i'd like to see in cleveland, some of this from similar systems i've seen when riding and using other transit systems.  email and text alert systems exist, so i'd expect someone at RTA to be on top of them and have a plan for implementation ("These are the top 3 systems, i've been demoing them, these are the costs, and this is when it is going to work in cleveland").  i don't have access to the many transit publications, nor do i attend any conferences or socialize with employees from other transit agencies around the world, so i don't hold myself out as an expert, except that it is being done in other transit agencies now.

 

now, a quick google search of "automatic email transit alerts" brought back these few results:

http://www.dart.org/govdelivery/emailupdates.asp  (so RTA can talk with Dallas and see what they are using)

 

http://www.soundtransit.org/x1776.xml (allows for signup as well for alerts)

 

http://www.govdelivery.com/info/RTC.pdf

this product basically just reads a website and then emails the new content.  so by segregating the RTA news section into critical news, regular news, rail news, bus news or whatever, all that would have to be done is to post the news in the right section, have riders sign up for what they are interested in, and the info is emailed.  i don't know how much it costs.

I'm also frustrated with the Trip Planner function on the RTA website. When I was in Cleveland, (Brook Park, actually) I tried catching a bus to head downtown, but the information I was given through that function was incorrect/outdated/something. I've tried sending an e-mail to the webmaster, but no response.

the annoying thing is that RTA didn't have an announcement on their website and there was no email or text alert that certain trains weren't running. 

 

it is 2007, hmmmm, seems like someone might be able to make this happen for about $2.  if the system wants more "choice" ridership, they need to start thinking about incorporating these relatively easy information delivery devices.

 

I agree that it's inexcusable for there to have been no notification of any kind on RTA's web site, or on the Answerline. However, I am curious to know more about your "about $2" solution. Got any particular choices in mind?

 

Keep in mind that we're talking web site, e-mail, text message, maybe even text-to-speech for those who don't have text message capable cell phones (yes, there's plenty of those folks, especially among RTA's transit-dependent ridership), along with all the concomitant record keeping that would accompany such a solution, and the variables of who gets notified when (if, for example, I'm a West side bus rider who only works third shift, what do I care if the Blue & Green Lines are down during rush hour?).

 

I'm not downplaying your suggestion, but I'd like you to put some meat on the bones rather than focusing on a cheap sound bite...

 

the "$2 solution" comment is in response to my understanding that RTA has installed new software that powers the paratransit scheduling, tracks buses real time, etc.  my understanding was that this software has functionality that can be used for email alerts, based on real time information.  now, if the system doesn't work as is, obviously it won't be of much help to provide real time information to ridership via email.  but, it seems that this project is at least 2 years old, and although the total project cost is much more than $2, this incremental functionality should, imo, be online by now.

 

Another very simple and "$2 solution" : i'd also be happy if RTA just used their existing email list for major announcements about service disruptions.  RTA is still collecting email addresses at this page: http://www.riderta.com/maps-schedules.asp  but, i don't think there has been any kind of mass email in a long time, and i used to receive them more regularly.

 

as far as other solutions go, i can only comment as a rider as for what i'd like to see in cleveland, some of this from similar systems i've seen when riding and using other transit systems.  email and text alert systems exist, so i'd expect someone at RTA to be on top of them and have a plan for implementation ("These are the top 3 systems, i've been demoing them, these are the costs, and this is when it is going to work in cleveland").  i don't have access to the many transit publications, nor do i attend any conferences or socialize with employees from other transit agencies around the world, so i don't hold myself out as an expert, except that it is being done in other transit agencies now.

 

now, a quick google search of "automatic email transit alerts" brought back these few results:

http://www.dart.org/govdelivery/emailupdates.asp  (so RTA can talk with Dallas and see what they are using)

 

http://www.soundtransit.org/x1776.xml (allows for signup as well for alerts)

 

http://www.govdelivery.com/info/RTC.pdf

this product basically just reads a website and then emails the new content.  so by segregating the RTA news section into critical news, regular news, rail news, bus news or whatever, all that would have to be done is to post the news in the right section, have riders sign up for what they are interested in, and the info is emailed.  i don't know how much it costs.

 

And you, of course, have sent this information to someone at RTA, rather than just posting it here?

 

I know that RTA uses their e-mail list for sending of their regular semi-monthly newsletter, and they have also used it on certain occasions as a broadcast system. I believe it takes about 4 hours to distribute to the entire list ( > 6000 recipients), so obviously there is the balance that needs to be struck between using it to communicate a system problem while making sure the information is still timely by the time it reaches everyone.

And you, of course, have sent this information to someone at RTA, rather than just posting it here?

 

yes.  and as i posted in another thread, i only air complaints on UO when i feel the regular channels aren't working.  so, when i don't get emails back from the various contacts listed on the website, from the web form, from bringing the issue to the attention of the citizens advisory board, etc. 

 

it seems to me that RTA is doing a good job on running the agency - balancing the budget, hedging fuel, buying new buses, etc.  that's huge, and i give them credit for doing this in a tough economic environment in cuyahoga county (sales tax) and the state as a whole (very little transit funding).

 

what is missing, imo, is either an overall attitude, or at least the attitude of a few key people, who are focused on the future of transit and ways that RTA can lead (or adopt leading practices that others have led with).  i view transit information as one of these key areas - whether it is updated maps at the transit stations, updated information on the website, email alerts, better signage around the euclid project, etc.

 

it seems to me that there is too much focus on "how things have always been done" and "we don't have a lot of money or people to do everything" as excuses for figuring out innovative ways to drive riderships and allow RTA to have a significant impact on the community. 

 

one of the reasons i posted in response to your original message was that i thought you worked for RTA.  my channels of communication have been ineffective in getting replys, let alone action on key issues.  again, i don't expect RTA to listen to random riders on all requests, but an acknowledgement is a start.  "Thanks for riding and thanks for the suggestions.  I've forwarded them to X and Y, and they will follow up with you in a week."  that's why i am curious as to what the culture really is.  if i didn't reply to emails, i'd have to answer to someone. 

another $2 solution

 

http://blog.case.edu/bmb12/2007/04/quicker_cleveland_rta_schedule_with_django

I'm also frustrated with the Trip Planner function on the RTA website.

 

Agreed. Here is the itinerary I received (criteria - from airport to rock hall):

 

Your trip has 1 transfer and will take 44 minutes. Depart 1:58p from stop AIRPORT RAPID on line 66 Airport-Windermere-Red East. Arrive 2:24p at stop TOWER CITY RAIL. Transfer 2:35p at stop SUPERIOR AV W & W 3RD ST to line 62 B-Line Counterclo. Arrive 2:42p at final destination stop LAKESIDE AV & E 9TH ST.

 

^ It tells me to get on the trolley and exit at Lakeside & E 9th and walk from there.

 

Your trip has 1 transfer and will take 57 minutes. Depart 1:58p from stop AIRPORT RAPID on line 66 Airport-Windermere-Red East. Arrive 2:24p at stop TOWER CITY RAIL. Transfer 2:50p at stop 102 PROSPECT AV W to line 77 Brecksville North. Arrive 2:55p at final destination stop LAKESIDE AV E & E 9TH ST.

 

^ ??

 

Am I missing something? Wouldn't be easier to transfer to the waterfront line and exit at North Coast Harbor?

It sounds like it. I really wanna shoot another e-mail off to them, but I'm not sure what good that would do ...

I wouldn't be surprised if RTA uses "next bus" or "next train" connections in its trip planner. Since the Waterfront Line runs only every 24-30 minutes, the trip planner defaulted to a nearer-term bus departure. But it would be interesting to see what would happen if someone used the trip planner to determine travel from, say Van Aken/Warrensville, to the Rock Hall. Blue Line trains don't go TO the Waterfront Line but Green Line trains do (in the opposite direction, Blue Line trains come FROM the Waterfront Line but Green Line trains don't). So if you were traveling westbound from Van Aken/Warrensville to the Rock Hall, what would the trip planner suggest??

 

I checked -- none of the eight options given include using the Waterfront Line. Here were the top three....

 

1 67x, 39x 11:23a 11:56a 33 1 0.25 miles

2 67x, 14 11:23a 12:00p 37 1 0.35 miles

3 67x, 62 11:23a 12:02p 39 1 0.27 miles

I was trying to get downtown from Brook Park last week. The Trip Planner gave me a stop location 2 blocks from my house. I went there to wait for a bus. It never came. I went to another stop further down the street and tried waiting there. A bus drove right past me. And it's not like I was hiding.

 

When I checked the actual schedule for the bus, it seems like there are only stops at Southland Shopping Center and at 150th and Brookpark Rd, but not at the stops noted on the Trip Planner. I'm not sure if this is because not all the stops along the way are listed on the schedule itself? Maybe the schedule only lists times for the main stops?

 

Either way, it was really frustrating. It ruined my whole afternoon. I tried calling RTA's helpline, and after being on hold for several minutes, I was hung up on.

I'm guessing they are using "next bus" connections as well. I selected "sort results by walking distance" and still no wfl options. I'm pretty sure that nc station is a shorter walk to the rock hall than Lakeside & E 9th.

i also get the feeling that the trip planner doesn't have the B and E lines incorporated.....

I was trying to get downtown from Brook Park last week. The Trip Planner gave me a stop location 2 blocks from my house. I went there to wait for a bus. It never came. I went to another stop further down the street and tried waiting there. A bus drove right past me. And it's not like I was hiding.

 

When I checked the actual schedule for the bus, it seems like there are only stops at Southland Shopping Center and at 150th and Brookpark Rd, but not at the stops noted on the Trip Planner. I'm not sure if this is because not all the stops along the way are listed on the schedule itself? Maybe the schedule only lists times for the main stops?

 

Either way, it was really frustrating. It ruined my whole afternoon. I tried calling RTA's helpline, and after being on hold for several minutes, I was hung up on.

 

jpop, any specifics on which bus you were waiting for, and where/when you were waiting?

 

A bus driving past you is NEVER acceptable, so long as you are at a valid stop. Stops noted on the HTML and PDF schedules are timepoints (or subsets of timepoints) only; it would be unreasonable to expect that EVERY stop be listed for every route, as that would likely result in some of these schedules  (#6, anyone?) needing to be printed in 2pt type to fit on anything smaller than a tabloid-size, double-sided sheet of paper.

 

ANY situation where a bus drives past a valid stop and doesn't pick up a passenger needs to be reported to RTA. The basic information that will help to resolve the situation is:

 

• date & approximate time
  
• coach (vehicle) number, which is painted on the vehicle itself, in multiple locations, and is normally 4 digits
  
• route number, which is displayed on the LED sign
  
• block number, which is in the lower left corner of the windshield as viewed from the outside of the vehicle, and is 3-4 digits, usually with a prepended X in the first field if < 4 digits
  

 

This allows RTA to narrow down the who, where, & when of the incident, and address it accordingly. Less information results in more legwork needed for the investigation, but doesn't make it impossible. Also, for incidents that happen on a vehicle, the operator's ID number (displayed on their name plate -- and if the name plate is not visible, that also needs to be mentioned) will immediately narrow down the "who" of the situation.

• date & approximate time
  
• coach (vehicle) number, which is painted on the vehicle itself, in multiple locations, and is normally 4 digits
  
• route number, which is displayed on the LED sign
  
• block number, which is in the lower left corner of the windshield as viewed from the outside of the vehicle, and is 3-4 digits, usually with a prepended X in the first field if < 4 digits
  

 

No offense, but I seriously doubt people are going to be looking at all of those things on the front of the bus that a waiting passenger is expecting will stop. Only at the last minute, when they realize the bus isn't stopping the waiting passenger might try to look for that information on the front of a bus. But I suspect a non-stopping bus would be going too fast for a good look at the coach and block numbers. A better option would be to have that information shown on the back of the bus in big enough lettering/numbering so that the bypassed passenger can still see it once the shock of what happened has worn off and the realization sets in that the driver needs to be reported.

Yeah, that is a lot of information, unfortunately. I can still try to call them and complain. As long as no one hangs up on me again .. lol.

 

EDIT: It was the 70 bus route, headed north between 12:30 and 1:30. The bus was scheduled to stop at Delores and Holland Rd at 12:28, I believe. It never showed. Then I went to the corner of Birchcroft Drive and Smith Rd. Another bus should've arrived there about an hour later, around 1:28 or so. The bus that drove past me drove past me at around 1:10, 1:15.

 

The date was Aug 8.

• date & approximate time
  
• coach (vehicle) number, which is painted on the vehicle itself, in multiple locations, and is normally 4 digits
  
• route number, which is displayed on the LED sign
  
• block number, which is in the lower left corner of the windshield as viewed from the outside of the vehicle, and is 3-4 digits, usually with a prepended X in the first field if < 4 digits
  

 

No offense, but I seriously doubt people are going to be looking at all of those things on the front of the bus that a waiting passenger is expecting will stop. Only at the last minute, when they realize the bus isn't stopping the waiting passenger might try to look for that information on the front of a bus. But I suspect a non-stopping bus would be going too fast for a good look at the coach and block numbers. A better option would be to have that information shown on the back of the bus in big enough lettering/numbering so that the bypassed passenger can still see it once the shock of what happened has worn off and the realization sets in that the driver needs to be reported.

 

None taken... what I was describing was a best-case scenario of the available information. Coach numbers are actually painted on the back of every vehicle (looking for them becomes second nature after you're seen a few), and some vehicles will display the route number on a rear-mounted LED sign (although some just display "RTA"). Block number is of tertiary importance, and helps most in cases of a bus running off-schedule so far that it's out of sequence -- date/time & coach number will usually garner results, since every district knows, or can find out, which driver is assigned to which coach.

 

I would hope a waiting passenger would note the route number on approach of a bus that passes them by, especially if the stop in question services multiple routes (there's only one occasion where I've gotten on a wrong bus at a stop because I was expecting one route and got another one, and the fault was entirely mine).

Yeah, that is a lot of information, unfortunately. I can still try to call them and complain. As long as no one hangs up on me again .. lol.

 

EDIT: It was the 70 bus route, headed north between 12:30 and 1:30. The bus was scheduled to stop at Delores and Holland Rd at 12:28, I believe. It never showed. Then I went to the corner of Birchcroft Drive and Smith Rd. Another bus should've arrived there about an hour later, around 1:28 or so. The bus that drove past me drove past me at around 1:10, 1:15.

 

The date was Aug 8.

 

not to make excuses, but this may serve to explain things a little bit as far as your particular situation: http://www.riderta.com/nu_ridersalerts_list.asp?listingid=880

One idea I think is brilliant is the MTA in NYC has a policy that you can flag a bus down anywhere along it's route between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, and the bus driver will stop as long as they deem it safe.  Now that is serving people and thinking outside the box.

Toronto Transit Commission will also do that.

One idea I think is brilliant is the MTA in NYC has a policy that you can flag a bus down anywhere along it's route between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, and the bus driver will stop as long as they deem it safe.  Now that is serving people and thinking outside the box.

I rarely take the bus in Cleveland but I thought RTA bus drivers could do the same. No?

 

sidebar:  thiese google tagged messages are starting to trip me out.  This is what is on my screen now - mss proposed ohio cleveland www rta line com

Not to belabor the point, but it says "regular route from Smith to Brookpark". That means that my stop should've been included in the regular route.

 

Again, I don't want to drag this out. Thanks again for the tips and info .. it'll help me next time.

One idea I think is brilliant is the MTA in NYC has a policy that you can flag a bus down anywhere along it's route between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, and the bus driver will stop as long as they deem it safe.  Now that is serving people and thinking outside the box.

I rarely take the bus in Cleveland but I thought RTA bus drivers could do the same. No?

 

sidebar:  thiese google tagged messages are starting to trip me out.  This is what is on my screen now - mss proposed ohio cleveland www rta line com

 

There are flag stop regions in the outlying areas (such as Chagrin east of Warrensville), but for the most part, operators are instructed to only stop at assigned stops. Considering some of the behavior I've seen people attempting in some of the Euclid Corridor construction areas, "deemed safe" could be open to a lot of opinion, and could have a huge potential liability (I'd love to see some knucklehead try to flag down a #39F on the highway!).

 

Not saying it can't be done, but trying to point out why it wouldn't/isn't. Expansion of this policy might be a reasonable suggestion to bring up to the CAB.

Not to belabor the point, but it says "regular route from Smith to Brookpark". That means that my stop should've been included in the regular route.

 

Again, I don't want to drag this out. Thanks again for the tips and info .. it'll help me next time.

 

this isn't belaboring the point, it's useful discussion :-)

 

This revised routing also resulted in a substantial change in the timing of the route. Based on the old schedule, if a bus leaving northbound at 12:20 should have been in your area at 12:28, then according to the new schedule, with departure times of 12:08 and 1:08, the bus would have been in that same area at 12:16 and 1:16 (T + 8 minutes). So, it's possible that the bus that you thought never showed was the 12:08 that you barely missed, and the 1:15 bus was the 1:08 more or less on time (since you had changed positions to closer to the start of the route, so it would be somewhat less than 8 minutes to your new location).

 

I'd still ask RTA to check it out if I were you, though.

Hmm. Okay.

 

Well, it still really stinks that the Trip Planner wasn't updated with this info, or that they didn't provide some kind of notice on the website or something, I guess. I'm a huge public transit advocate, so I was really disappointed in the RTA that day. Sheesh. I mean, I had to hop in my Mom's CAR later that day. :)

I've been meaning to mention this but I love the RTA advertisements on the trains saying, "Thank you for being 1 of 200,000 security personnel who take to the streets every day..." or something like that.  Granted 200,000 isn't much compared to other cities but it's more than 10% of cuyahoga county. 

The ridership is more than most American cities (I think maybe 15-20 cities top us), and is at least double any other city in Ohio.

Yeah .. I'm really thankful for the transit system we have in Cleveland. It's definitely pretty good for the population size of the city and everything, I think.

Yeah .. I'm really thankful for the transit system we have in Cleveland. It's definitely pretty good for the population size of the city and everything, I think.

 

Yep, one of those things we tend to take for granted.  I just wish we had the leadership to expand and maximize it.  Outside agitation for things like the West Shore Commuter Rail plan give me hope.

Yep, one of those things we tend to take for granted.  I just wish we had the leadership to expand and maximize it.  Outside agitation for things like the West Shore Commuter Rail plan give me hope.

 

Well, it sounds like there's a bit of community support for this, no? How likely is it that this will happen?

I know this topic bounces around btw the U.Circle thread and this one, but I'd like an update on the plan to relocate the Red Line's Euclid E. 120 station.  Is that plan in limbo now?  I think it is a very important factor in the rebirth of Univ Circle's Triangle area.  So where is the project, now?  What can be done to get it going?

I wouldn't be surprised if RTA uses "next bus" or "next train" connections in its trip planner. Since the Waterfront Line runs only every 24-30 minutes, the trip planner defaulted to a nearer-term bus departure. But it would be interesting to see what would happen if someone used the trip planner to determine travel from, say Van Aken/Warrensville, to the Rock Hall. Blue Line trains don't go TO the Waterfront Line but Green Line trains do (in the opposite direction, Blue Line trains come FROM the Waterfront Line but Green Line trains don't). So if you were traveling westbound from Van Aken/Warrensville to the Rock Hall, what would the trip planner suggest??

 

I checked -- none of the eight options given include using the Waterfront Line. Here were the top three....

 

1 67x, 39x 11:23a 11:56a 33 1 0.25 miles

2 67x, 14 11:23a 12:00p 37 1 0.35 miles

3 67x, 62 11:23a 12:02p 39 1 0.27 miles

 

I know a lot of people dislike the Waterfront Line, but how can it be successful when even RTA doesn't even encourage its usage to the Rock Hall when, in fact, it best serves the area (certainly better than the Line B trolley going only as far as E.9th & Lakeside)?  Isn't this dooming the WFL for failure?

Yep, one of those things we tend to take for granted.  I just wish we had the leadership to expand and maximize it.  Outside agitation for things like the West Shore Commuter Rail plan give me hope.

 

Well, it sounds like there's a bit of community support for this, no? How likely is it that this will happen?

 

Why do people always ask this question about various projects? Rarely can it be answered accurately.

 

Ask me again after the service is up and running, then I'll show you how clairvoyant I am.

Has anyone ever received any feedback from submitting a comment online?  I've submitted two this year and have received no reply.  My last one even cited that the first one was never responded to.

 

On another note, I had a pleasant phone call with the answer line the other day, although I really had to work an answer out of them.  I was inquiring about what hours I could take my bike on the train on a Tribe game night.  The woman was polite and helpful, but she really didn't get the question.  After about three tries, where she went to ask other people, I determined that I couldn't bring my bike on the Red Line from 4:30 - 5:30 (daily rush hour rules) and from 5:30 to 8:30 (1.5 hours before and after game time).  Unfortunately, the latter rule is not printed anywhere on the website or at stations, and unless you're carrying Tribe, Browns, Cavs and other schedules with you at all times, you're really just hoping there's no special event!

Well, it sounds like there's a bit of community support for this, no? How likely is it that this will happen?

 

Why do people always ask this question about various projects? Rarely can it be answered accurately.

 

Ask me again after the service is up and running, then I'll show you how clairvoyant I am.

 

Sheesh!

 

Anyone have a new head for me? Mine just got bitten off. :-D

HAHA

I know this topic bounces around btw the U.Circle thread and this one, but I'd like an update on the plan to relocate the Red Line's Euclid E. 120 station.  Is that plan in limbo now?  I think it is a very important factor in the rebirth of Univ Circle's Triangle area.  So where is the project, now?  What can be done to get it going?

 

I haven't heard much about it after the horrendous presentation given by the Public Land Institute (not sure if that was the organization, I left half way through), although I have been thinking about its location and I have this thought:

The Rapid Stop should be moved to Mayfield Road, not stay at E120th or even splitting the difference between the two.  Having a multi-modal transfer between Rapid and BRT would have advantages at another location, but here, at basically the end of both forms of transportation, the crossover is virtually useless. 

You would never get on the Rapid heading west at Windermere and then transfer to the BRT at E120th street (roughly 10 or 15 blocks).  And you would never take the BRT east and then transfer to the Rapid to get to Windermere.  They both begin and end at the same points; Public Square and Windermere.

And the TOD advantages seem greater latching onto the already successful and densly populated Little Italy.

I took the 55F this morning from Avon Lake to Lakewood for the first time this year, and ridership seemed to be a huge improvement from last year when I took the 55F regularly during the summer. Anyway, just an observation. I'd estimate that there were twice as many riders from Avon Lake and Bay Village from what I remembered there being last year.

Well, hopefully people are finally realizing the advantages to taking public transit every once in a while!

I haven't heard much about it after the horrendous presentation given by the Public Land Institute (not sure if that was the organization, I left half way through), although I have been thinking about its location and I have this thought:

The Rapid Stop should be moved to Mayfield Road, not stay at E120th or even splitting the difference between the two.  Having a multi-modal transfer between Rapid and BRT would have advantages at another location, but here, at basically the end of both forms of transportation, the crossover is virtually useless. 

You would never get on the Rapid heading west at Windermere and then transfer to the BRT at E120th street (roughly 10 or 15 blocks).  And you would never take the BRT east and then transfer to the Rapid to get to Windermere.  They both begin and end at the same points; Public Square and Windermere.

And the TOD advantages seem greater latching onto the already successful and densly populated Little Italy.

 

Project for Public Spaces?

 

You make a good point about the transfer connection between the ECTP and the Red Line.  I never considered that, although I've often thought about the redundancy of the eastern edge of the route.  My only concern would be that someone travelling on the Red Line eastbound, who wanted to transfer to the Silver Line westbound for destinations near the Clinic (for example) would have more difficulty making that connection.  Not that this warrants leaving the station at E. 120th/Euclid. 

 

All signs point to the station being rebuilt at Mayfield, though, with the main entrance on the L.I. side of the tracks and a connection bridge built over the tracks to the UARD/Triangle.

Ridership Update - July 2007 Numbers

 

          JUL 2007           JUL 2006        Chg          YTD 2007         YTD 2006   Chg

Bus   

RTA      3,615,300         3,334,200        +8.4%      25,971,000      26,739,210  -2.9%

Circ.        163,000           168,200        -3.1%        1,336,000        1,403,970  -4.9%

Tlt Bus  3,778,300          3,502,400       +7.9%      27,307,000       28,143,000 -3.0%

 

Rail     

Heavy    518,000             460,300      +12.5%         3,383,000        3,131,810  +8.0%

Light      284,300             254,500      +11.7%         1,732,000        1,602,990  +8.0%

Ttl Rail   802,300             714,800      +12.2%         5,114,000        4,735,000  +8.0%

 

Para        38,200               34,900       +9.4              271,000          263,630   +2.8%

 

TOTAL  4,624,700           4,258,100     +8.6%        32,735,000      33,183,810  -1.4%

 

July 2007 Trolley Rides: 52,000

July 2007 Bike Rides:      6,517 (all modes)

 

Downtown Trolley Ridership

 

            2006        2007                   

            TOTAL    TOTAL        % Chg

Jan        ----        60,533

Feb      ----          28,794

Mar      ----          71,151

April      20,588      76,141        269.8%

May      40,077      73,145        65.9%

June      45,400      67,632        49.0%

July      31,442      52,361        66.5%

Aug      41,230

Sep      44,078

Oct      53,469

Nov      54,258

Dec      46,496

-----------------------------

 

Comments:

- First month-to-month comparison with 2006 based on fare increase;

- RTA is introducing new fare machines starting this fall (ahead of schedule).  These should be card swipe machines (compared to existing "dip" machines), and should make boarding faster and require less maintenance.

 

All right! Look at those rail numbers bump up! Someone HAS TO DO SOME TOD NOW!

Someone at RTA also has to recognize that rail is pacing growth at the transit agency.

^ I know! Obviously it'll be difficult getting new routes, but we just got a story in the PD about one women who has the only house left in her neighborhood and the Rapid drives right by. We don't need to extend or change the routes. Just redevelop around the stations! Sorry, this is so obvious to everyone here. I need to write a letter to the PD.

No, that stop is the perfect spot for tree farm base TOD!

Someone at RTA also has to recognize that rail is pacing growth at the transit agency.

 

You know it won't be the chief.

Not that this is exactly RTA news, but it's been announced that Ron Tober will be leaving CATS at the end of this year. For anyone who thinks his tenure at CATS has been days of wine and roses, I refer you to these articles:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/08/13/daily22.html: "Tober's tenure has at times been rocky... cost overruns and construction delays... the 9.6-mile line, originally projected to cost $227 million, is expected to be completed for $462.7 million"

 

http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A148148: "signs that CATS is cutting corners and scaling back on trolley service... could reduce trolley ridership by more than 60 percent"

 

http://takebackcharlottemecklenburg.com/_wsn/page6.html: "Tober admitted to Charlotte City Council that he purposely omitted cost overruns from CATS budget of 2005"

 

Understand this -- I'm not posting this with the intention of crucifying Ron Tober - I never met the man. However, before the conversation heads back in the direction of "if Tober was still here, everything would have been perfect", I want some folks to realize that THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET, not for us, and apparently not for Charlotte, either. I will say that Ron Tober's history seems to be more involved with implementing rail plans rather than actually sustainably running them, and a "rip & run"  strategy like that I do have a real problem with. It's easy to spend a pile of (someone else, i.e., federal ) cash and put an infrastructure in place if you ignore operational costs, leaving that for "the next guy".

 

Yes, TOD around rail lines is a great idea, and should be a no-brainer, and RTA should do everything in its power to encourage such development, but RTA is a transit agency, not an urban development agency. They can be a catalyst for development, but not a prime mover. TOD pressure needs to be put on the city and county as much as anywhere else.

Personally, I like Ron Tober. He was always fair, open and friendly with me, but he also had an "empire building" MO of big capital projects when he was at RTA. He was probably the right guy for RTA at the time -- a Cleveland native who came home with a pretty solid transit resume and was a cheerleader for Cleveland and transit here. When he was hired in 1988, RTA was mired in some scandals that was distracting the agency from its core mission. Even Tober's "empire building" which were too expensive for RTA to afford from an operational cost perspective, helped spark a sense of pride and long-term thinking at RTA. But his desire for taking on too many big capital projects at one time (Euclid Corridor, Waterfront Line, Waterfront Line Extension/Loop, Blue Line Extension to the east/south, Red Line extension to Berea, and commuter rail routes), as well as his poor, if not verbally abusive treatment of staff caused a board revolt against him. The public reason for his departure from RTA was his wife's unidentified health problems required Tober to move to a warmer climate.