^Thanks for the response there Jerry.  I'm interested to see the interiors, or even a "floor plan" for one of these BRTs.  Bikes make transit so much more viable and as I said before, RTA has made great strides, but still has room for improvement.  Being able to take my bike on the bus/rapid cuts down my trip time by about 50%. 

 

well if you would have made it to ingenuity........

Do you find this information useful? Do you want me to post other such construction news? If there is no interest, I will not bother to post them.

 

East Boulevard Lane Narrowed/Detour

Please be advised that beginning September 26, East Boulevard will be narrowed to a single northbound lane between Euclid Avenue and Bellflower Road.  Traffic heading south on East Boulevard will follow the posted detour.

 

The southbound East Boulevard detour will direct traffic onto Bellflower Road;  Traffic will follow Bellflower Road to Ford Drive;  Traffic will turn Left onto Ford Drive which will bring traffic back to Euclid Avenue.

 

Patrons will have access to University Circle Parking Lot 29 and The Cleveland Orchestra.

 

Weather permitting, work is expected for up to four weeks.

And now we have a definitive answer to the trolley issue from Mike York, Deputy General Manager, Operations:

 

"RTA wanted the trolleys to be a distinct color, and that is green. If we had different colors for each route, we would need a larger fleet to cover spares for each color, and we simply cannot afford to that do."

 

On to the next issue...

 

I don't think the trolleys have to change colors to better communicate whether they are E or B.

 

Part of the other challenge is that the message displays do not continuously dispaly B or E, but often have other messages or the destinations displayed, and there is no digital route indicator on the back of the trolley as the rest of the buses have.

 

A couple of potential work arounds:

 

1) I'd like to see 2, 8 x 11 white placards printed on a heavy stock paper with "B" on one side and "E" on the other side.  This could be easily displayed in a clear pocket mounted near the door on the side window and in front of the driver in the front window.  If a trolley changed routes, the driver would simply flip the sign.  At 8x11, it would be big enough to see from some distance.

 

2) The other option would be to adopt the same signage that is used for the actual street stop signs.  Hang a green colored "E Line" sign in the same spots and have a red colored "B Line" sign that corresponds to the street signs (but could be printed on heavy paper and not metal).

 

This would continue a consistent brand message, while potentially allowing people to more easily discern which trolley was approaching from a distance in the overlap zone.

 

3) Perhaps the digital signs could be programmed to always display an E or B on the left hand side, regardless of what other messages are displayed.  Similar to the "P+R" logo that is displayed on some routes.  I'm not sure this would help from a distance, but it would solve the problem of identifying the trolley when there are multiple messages being displayed and the E or B line only comes on every 10 seconds, for instance.

I noticed some suggestions of coloring buses.

 

There is an inherent problem with coloring buses that ties into federal funding.  In general, federal funding, and this possibly is a general FTA requirement, requires that any individual bus must be used on as many routes as it can serve in any single year.  This means that coloring a bus one color is not feasible since a "blue" bus would have to be used on a "red" route eventually.  I know at COTA the buses switch routes all the time.  The government does this to make sure there is no favoritism in the type of bus that is being used in any individual area, i.e. promote equality.  Temporary coloring would be a pain (such as using magnets), but I suppose it could be built into some sort of display system.

Quote from today's APTA release:

The new congestion report, The 2007 Urban Mobility Report, released today by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), is clear –public transportation stands out as a proven strategy that helps alleviate traffic congestion and saves energy.  According to the report, in the 437 urban areas studied in 2005, public transportation saved 541 million hours in travel time and fuel usage would have been 340 million gallons greater. Without public transportation, congestion costs would have been $10.2 billion more in that year.(endquote)

 

For full APTA release, which links to the report:

http://www.apta.com/media/releases/070917_congestion_report.cfm

Jerry, I'd like to echo everyone else's welcome to the forum.

 

When you have a chance, could you post recent average weekday ridership numbers for each of the Red Line stops?  I think it could help us better understand how the line is currently functioning.

I reiterate my suggestion from the top of this page about having a colored, transparent plastic screen be slid in front of a trolley's destination sign.

 

I believe the color of the illuminated destination sign is yellow, correct? So if you're driving an E trolley, for instance, you leave the sign alone. But if you're driving a B trolley, slide a blue-colored transparent, or light-refracting panel in front of it to make the destination sign display green (get it? Green = money = business?). Keep the blue panel on board on all trolleys so if a trolley has to be redeployed for whatever to reason to the other trolley route, then the sign can be easily changed.

I reiterate my suggestion from the top of this page about having a colored, transparent plastic screen be slid in front of a trolley's destination sign.

 

I believe the color of the illuminated destination sign is yellow, correct? So if you're driving an E trolley, for instance, you leave the sign alone. But if you're driving a B trolley, slide a blue-colored transparent, or light-refracting panel in front of it to make the destination sign display green (get it? Green = money = business?). Keep the blue panel on board on all trolleys so if a trolley has to be redeployed for whatever to reason to the other trolley route, then the sign can be easily changed.

 

KJP, not to naysay your point, but as a student of medieval heraldry (on which much modern color theory is based), green on black or red on black (which is what appears to be suggested in these cases, although I'm uncertain what filtering combination, when applied to a yellow LED source, would result in red output) are relatively low-contrast color combinations, so I'm unconvinced that they would yield the desired result.

 

I do think the overall range of suggestions demonstrates that some further identifying differences might be able to be applied to the trolleys, and I applaud the fact that these are being thrown around and discussed. However, I will say that by achieving current ridership levels of around 3,000-4,000 passengers/day, the trolleys kick the butt of the former loop routes (which averaged around 700/day), even without line identification improvements.

OK, if this reluctance is a case of "don't mess with success" then this is unfortunate. Please consider the pitfalls of such a response.

 

BTW, blue over yellow creates green. And if the screen is a refracting plexiglass, it will intensify the outward visual appearance of the light source behind it.

Someone on You Tube has just posted a video of a 1227 Cleveland street car actually running. I have no other details.

 

From today's Columbus Dispatch:

 

Traffic study shows congestion is getting worse, with short note about Cleveland

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/19/commute.ART_ART_09-19-07_A1_DT7UO64.html?jrl=90656&sid=101&rfr=nwsl&clk=162406

 

and

 

People comment on their traffic and transit woes

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/19/hotissue_traffic.html?jrl=90656&sid=101&rfr=nwsl&clk=162407

OK, if this reluctance is a case of "don't mess with success" then this is unfortunate. Please consider the pitfalls of such a response.

 

BTW, blue over yellow creates green. And if the screen is a refracting plexiglass, it will intensify the outward visual appearance of the light source behind it.

 

reluctance was not my intention, I was just stating the circumstances as they exist... I agree, more is almost always better when it comes to ridership

 

also, I understand blue + yellow = green, my question was ?? + yellow = red; not being an optical scientist, I can't speak to the nature of refracting plexiglas, although my understanding of refraction is that it has little to do with brightness, but my statement was one of contrast

 

in any event, it might be worth a trial run, because nothing beats visual evidence when examining visual solutions

You may find this GAO report interesting.

 

Highlights of a Forum: Transforming Transportation Policy for the 21st Century. GAO-07-1210SP, September 19

 

http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-1210SP

Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d071210sphigh.pdf

KJP

 

This is a personal post.

 

My trolley remark about "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," was perhaps too simple. Every day, RTA officials sit down and decide what issues and challenges they are going to address that day, and to be sure, there are plenty of issues and challenges facing this agency. Time is an unforgiving resource. An hour spent on one issue means that is an hour you cannot spend on something else. Given all that, one has to wonder, where tinkering with trolley signage falls on a list of priorities.

 

As you know, there are only a few blocks (Warehouse District and Tower City) where both lines operate. On the most of the route, it is not an issue.

 

However, I promise to pass along your ideas. Your continuing interest in improving RTA is appreciated.

 

No need to get personal ;)

No need to get personal ;)

 

i want to see an ol' timey transit nerd fight.

No need to get personal ;)

 

i want to see an ol' timey transit nerd fight.

 

ahem... that's transit GEEK, not transit NERD, thank you very much  :-D

 

glad to see everyone's keeping good humor about this... (Good Humor... mmm, ice cream); when it comes right down to it, we're all on the same side

I'm on the west side.

 

i want to see an ol' timey transit nerd fight.

 

And I want to see your sister. Doesn't mean either of us will get what we want.

 

BTW, at least in the rail community, they're called GERFs = Glassy-Eyed Rail Fan.

I should have said I was stating personal opinion, not RTA fact. I am sorry for the confusion.

Some Euclid Corridor facts:

 

RTA plans to finish all Public Square work before Thanksgiving and the holiday lights begin.

 

Production of the Rapid Transit Vehicles (RTVs) begin this week. What you have seen to date has been the prototype.

I should have said I was stating personal opinion, not RTA fact. I am sorry for the confusion.

 

No confusion, Jerry. Do you have an RTA attorney hovering over you while you type? :)

"As you know, there are only a few blocks (Warehouse District and Tower City) where both lines operate. On the most of the route, it is not an issue."

 

As someone who rides the B Line once a week (at minimum), I don't really see a need for differentiating signage. I think the trolley signs are about the brightest and easiest to read on the entire RTA fleet. However, they should always display the "E" or "B" at all times.

 

Now if we could get some of the operators to stop blocking crosswalks...

I should have said I was stating personal opinion, not RTA fact. I am sorry for the confusion.

No confusion, Jerry. Do you have an RTA attorney hovering over you while you type? :)

Actually, no. Chad Self and I are given a lot of latitude here, which we need, because media often need answers immediately. There are attorneys in our building. We call them when we need them, which fortunately is not very often. They respond quickly to our questions. It is truly a pleasant place to work...there is no micro-managing, at least in this area.

This morning on WMJI, there was a lively -- but often inaccurate -- discussion on jaywalking enforcement on Euclid Avenue. I did not discover this until near the discussion was almost over. I called in briefly to note:

 

1. Transit Police have full police police powers, same as city police. (Many callers found this hard to believe).

 

2. Enforcement is a matter of safety, not revenue. We make no money. The fines are set by law...$100 max, plus $74 court costs.

 

3. Police are only ticketing those who ignore verbal warnings.

 

4. The crosswalks are new and different. Please read all the signs and follow them.

 

It will probably be discussed again on Monday. If you can't get reception in your office, log on to wmji.com, and listen live on-line.

This morning on WMJI, there was a lively -- but often inaccurate -- discussion on jaywalking enforcement ... log on to wmji.com, and listen live on-line.

Lanigan, the moron who advocated that motorists run cyclists off the road.  Several other Clear Channel stations were doing the same thing in that period of time.  Coincidence??? http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/transportation/bicycles/wmji.html Sorry to be a downer.

This morning on WMJI, there was a lively -- but often inaccurate -- discussion on jaywalking enforcement on Euclid Avenue. I did not discover this until near the discussion was almost over. I called in briefly to note:

 

1. Transit Police have full police police powers, same as city police. (Many callers found this hard to believe).

 

2. Enforcement is a matter of safety, not revenue. We make no money. The fines are set by law...$100 max, plus $74 court costs.

 

3. Police are only ticketing those who ignore verbal warnings.

 

4. The crosswalks are new and different. Please read all the signs and follow them.

 

It will probably be discussed again on Monday. If you can't get reception in your office, log on to wmji.com, and listen live on-line.

 

speaking of crosswalk and I know we are in a period of transition on euclid, but why are there crosswalk sign covered up? The one I always encounter is I think E12th and Euclid across from halle.

f$&kin stupid pass machine ate my money today

 

now i have to call them up and it looks like their customer service # is closed now and durin the weekend. they couldve just given me a pass like one RTA person did the last time this happened to me...im not tryin to scam you. get some better damn machines

 

its a wonder i got home since i had no money left for a fare and 1 ride on my old pass left. completely messed up my errands

 

arrrrrrrghhhhhh

Downtown Cleveland has a horrible jay-walking problem, and I'm not talking about places like the Warehouse District or near Jacob's Field. People run across E. 9th and all up and down Lakeside. Driving a car in those areas is maddening, not because of the traffic but because jackasses run across the street like squirrels. That's a big pet peeve I have. I'm all for pedestrian rights, but I think crosswalks are the safest way to get across the street, so they should be used!

 

:whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip:

^dear diary,

Interesting story in today's Columbus Dispatch.

 

People are driving less > they are buying less gas > revenue from the gas tax is down > ODOT cannot fund some projects

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/24/RoadBloc.ART_ART_09-24-07_A1_UP80BCP.html?sid=101

 

It's interesting that you hear one story saying that because people are buying more fuel efficient cars, gas tax collection is down, but then you hear another saying that people are choosing to live farther and farther from work, so they're driving more.  I don't know if we're evening out here or not, but I think the biggest factor in terms of the ODOT budget has got to be rising construction costs.  And with the amount of time it takes us to get projects moving, the initial project cost projections are usually way under what the actual price tag becomes.  The West Shoreway is an example.  Every month we delay, the price tag grows and we stand to lose either key elements of the plan or the entire project!  I shudder to think of which projects ODOT will drop.  Perhaps they should begin shifting their focus a bit more towards more sustainable transportation projects that wouldn't require them to expand and maintain new freeways every year!  (but that's another thread)

For your reading pleasure...

 

WASHINGTON, DC –The most powerful weapon you can use to combat global climate change may be a daily transit pass, according to a new study that was released today

 

http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1093

I wonder how much energy and pollution could be saved if people lived <5 miles from where they live instead of 30.

I wonder how much energy and pollution could be saved if people lived <5 miles from where they live instead of 30.

 

Do you mean work?

I'd like to see RTA adopt and post online, an "environmental scorecard" that actually quantifies how the RTA fleet, from electric rail, clean diesel, cng, etc. breaks down emissions wise.

 

For instance, in theory each of the 1993 and 1994 buses that are replaced by a 2007 model should be much cleaner, and maybe more efficient. 

 

how does bus emissions compare to the electric needed to run the trains?

 

what is RTA's individual footprint?  a station by station breakdown of energy use, or energy saved, etc.  I was kind of disappointed that the new station art at one of the station redesigns was emphasizing artwork that had something like 10, 150 watt lightbulbs each (as opposed to a fiber optic cable, or LEDs, or something similar).

A lot of the environmental performance factors for transit vehicles depends on how many riders they carry. There is a big difference between the performance of a bus that averages carrying five people per hour vs. one that averages 75. And with rail, RTA's trains don't rank very highly compared to other rail systems given RTA's lack of rail ridership and lack of transit-friendly land uses that surround their stations. But I suspect they do much better than cars, especially since the power plants which supply their electricity would still be cranking out the juice whether the RTA ran trains or not.

 

However, another factor that ought to be considered is something urbanlife touched on -- the energy use of RTA facilities, the energy used in building them and the rights of way, and materials used in building them and whether those get recycled when replaced.

For those of you who want to more fully understand the new traffic flow patterns on Euclid Avenue, and why ALL traffic laws must be obeyed, please click on this link. Thanks.

 

http://www.riderta.com/safety/ectp.asp

The left-turning pattern looks like it will be an adventure, at least in the beginning.  When's the over-under date on a Dick Feagler column whining about the newfangled traffic patterns on Euclid Ave?

The left-turning pattern looks like it will be an adventure, at least in the beginning.  When's the over-under date on a Dick Feagler column whining about the newfangled traffic patterns on Euclid Ave?

 

I hope feagler's feeble brain can still comprehend traffic signals. It looks like a more robust version of what's currently used at green line intersections where you only get a "no left turn" graphic when a train sets the system off.

Btw, heard Mark "Munch" Bishop advise Browns tailgaters, visiting WKNR's Browns remote from Muny lot to leave their cars on both sides of town, take the Rapid into TC then the Waterfront Line all the way to the end to "avoid the hassles."  Good for him!  It sure would be nice if RTA could work with media outlets, such as this, to encourage more people to take transit, other than the usual RTA psa's.  We need RTA to think outside the box more...

Does Dick even leave his house anymore? The guy is so out of touch, I have to wonder if he has someone bring his e-mail printouts to him and take his typewritten columns downtown.

I'm a little late to the party, but welcome.

I'm a little late to the party, but welcome.

 

Where have u been?

I'm a little late to the party, but welcome.

 

Where have u been?

 

Family Reunion that turned into a funeral, Caffeine detox and New York, London, Atlanta & LA  for work. 

 

I take it you kids missed me?!

 

We were ready to send out a search party.

My condolences regarding the funeral, MyTwoSense.  Of course you were missed.

We were ready to send out a search party.

 

awww, you kids just get me all vaklempted!  Make sure they searchers are OVER 30 and smooth!  :-D

My condolences regarding the funeral, MyTwoSense.  Of course you were missed.

Many thanks.  My great grandmother passed away in her sleep, on the last day of our family reunion in PR, she lived a loooong healthy life and died at just short of 102 birthday and was surrounded by all of her children, grand children, great grand children and great great grand children. 

Btw, heard Mark "Munch" Bishop advise Browns tailgaters, visiting WKNR's Browns remote from Muny lot to leave their cars on both sides of town, take the Rapid into TC then the Waterfront Line all the way to the end to "avoid the hassles." Good for him! It sure would be nice if RTA could work with media outlets, such as this, to encourage more people to take transit, other than the usual RTA psa's. We need RTA to think outside the box more...

 

If I may make an observation...Please consider this. For every story or mention of RTA that IS used in the media, there are plenty of "pitches" and story ideas that are tossed by the media. We work with every media outlet daily. In all fairness, how can you say, "think outside the box more"...when you do not know how many things have been tried...and didn't work?

 

We will continue to pitch. Every time we have a message, we use on-line capabilities, send faxes, call media, deliver items to stations, keep ourselves available 24/7 to respond to their needs, and post news for riders.

 

The media's definition of "news" is changing. For instance, when we approached several TV stations to do "educational" pieces on safety and the new Euclid Ave. traffic patterns, they took just the opposite approach. "How dare RTA write jaywalk tickets and enforce the law?" was pretty much the attitude. These days, it is sometimes seen as "better" when you interject opinions into news stories.

 

Another example: We have all seen reporters camped at Hopkins with breathless reports on holiday travel, etc. Annually, RTA carries five times more people than Hopkins does. We tell them that, but it would help if you did too.

 

If you want to see RTA get more attention in a given media...call them. We appreciate your support and efforts to make more people aware of the benefits of public transit. I recently heard a person call in to a radio station with thoughtful transit comments...it would not surprise me if he also posts here. If so, thanks, whoever you are.

 

These comments are based on 36 years in and around the media, and seven years as RTA's 24/7 spokesman. Thanks for listening. I'll try to stop back before 5 p.m.

I just read the print version of Metro Magazine, and found these stories that may interest the forum.

 

1. A list of the nation's top 100 bus fleets...RTA ranks 28th.

2. Ron Tober retires after 38 years in transit.

3. A feature on Seattle streetcars.

4. A column, "Why streetcar projects need to forget the feds for now"

 

www.metro-magazine.com