Posted August 11, 200519 yr This was being followed in the thread about the unruly crowds and such at the downtown bus stops, but since it's kind of evolved into something else, I thought I'd spin this off into a new thread if that's all right. Call it speciation. :-) RTA plan may end hub woes New system could be in place in downtown Dayton in January, transit officials say By Joanne Huist Smith Dayton Daily News DAYTON | The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority could launch a new downtown bus routing system that significantly reduces transfers at Third and Main streets as early as January 2006. On Tuesday, the RTA board voted 6-3 to authorize its staff to work out the details of adopting a recommendation from Louisville-based consultant, the Corradino Group Inc.
September 11, 200519 yr From the 9/8/05 Dayton Daily News: Consultant ranks RTA poorly, urges changes By Lynn Hulsey Dayton Daily News DAYTON | Greater Dayton RTA operations are not cost-effective and the transit system compares poorly with similar bus systems on several key measures, according to a consultant hired by RTA. The Regional Transit Authority serving Montgomery County has seen ridership decline nearly 14 percent since 2000 but is paying a higher than average labor rate, too much overtime and significant overhead costs, said First Transit, a transportation consulting company from Cincinnati. "In our peer analysis, RTA compares poorly to other transit systems in the key performance indicators of cost per mile, per hour and per passenger," the consultant said. Contact Lynn Hulsey at 225-7455. http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/content/business/daily/0909rta.html
October 5, 200519 yr From the 10/3/05 Dayton Daily News: RTA to quiz riders on where to send buses By Lynn Hulsey Dayton Daily News DAYTON | Over the next month RTA bus riders will be asked where they're coming from, where they're going and why. No, it is not Philosophy 101. Riders will be surveyed en route as Greater Dayton RTA officials attempt to determine how best to route buses as part of an overall reform of the transit system's operations. Contact Lynn Hulsey at 225-7455. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1003rtastudy.html
October 20, 200519 yr From the 10/19/05 Dayton Daily News: RTA told to plan for recovery Interim chief says spending controls needed By Lynn Hulsey Dayton Daily News DAYTON | Mike Kelly minced few words Tuesday during a budget retreat with the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority board of trustees. His message: RTA needs a "plan for recovery" now. Kelly, RTA interim executive director, said RTA faces an operating deficit of $2.6 million next year. Kelly told the trustees —five of the nine are new to the board that RTA cannot continue spending more than it takes in and drawing down reserves to make up the difference. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1019rta.html
November 16, 200519 yr RTA puts brakes on spending Service still needs to cut $15.3 million in expenses through 2010 By Lynn Hulsey Dayton Daily News DAYTON | Greater Dayton RTA is on track to use fewer budget reserves than expected this year, but still needs to cut $15.3 million in expenses through 2010 to stop the drain on reserves, according to Mary Stanforth, chief financial officer. Stanforth outlined 2006 budget projections Tuesday during a finance/personnel committee meeting of RTA trustees. She said projections show RTA's net operating loss of about $1.1 million this year — which will be covered by reserve funds — will be nearly $677,000 less than expected. Contact Lynn Hulsey at 225-7455. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1116rta.html
December 11, 200519 yr From the 12/7/05 Dayton Daily News: Consultant picked to lead RTA Ex-bus driver gets 3-year contract; lays out plan to improve transit agency By Lynn Hulsey Dayton Daily News DAYTON | The new executive director of Greater Dayton RTA is Mark F. Donaghy, the consultant who this year oversaw a critical review of the transit system's performance and laid out a plan for improvement that the board of trustees has set in motion. Donaghy, 49, who started his career in 1976 as a bus driver and still maintains his chauffeur's license, was selected Tuesday by the board of trustees. He'll earn $157,000 annually under a three-year contract. Contact Lynn Hulsey at 225-7455. http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/content/business/daily/1207rtaside.html
December 11, 200519 yr How about that? A transit director who actually worked as a bus driver. Maybe Mr. Donaghy may turn out to be Dayton's version of David Gunn at Amtrak. One can only hope.
December 20, 200519 yr I would be VERY cautious of any recommendations from Corradino Group. This is the same consultant that recommended Michigan should widen I-75 through the Detroit suburbs by one lane each direction, at a cost of over $1.1 billion. This option was selected by Corradino over implementing commuter rail on a parallel line for less than 10% the cost, and no disruption to existing roadways. In other words, these guys are very pro-automobile. The 32-hub system makes no sense whatsoever. A common transfer point makes the system easier to use. I think they're intentionally trying to confuse the hell out of bus riders, perhaps in the hopes they'll give up and start driving. Oh yeah--density is a good thing along transit corridors. By spreading the ridership thinner, the cost-effectiveness of the buses is sure to decrease.
January 6, 200619 yr Downtown heart of it all for RTA Study says moving central hub closer to Sinclair is logical alternative By Lynn Hulsey Dayton Daily News DAYTON - Shifting bus routes away from a downtown hub is difficult to justify, but moving RTA's central hub closer to another downtown location, such as Sinclair Community College, may be a logical alternative to Third and Main streets, according to a consultant who surveyed bus riders in October. The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority's Board of Trustees is looking at all alternatives and will make no immediate decision about the downtown hub or bus routing, said Bryan Bucklew, board president. Contact Lynn Hulsey at 225-7455. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0106rta.html
January 7, 200619 yr This article mentions that part that the long-vacant Admiral Benbow might play in RTA's plans for their system: Woolpert charting Benbow future Master plan includes empty Benbow hotel John Wilfong DBJ Staff Reporter The fate of the former Admiral Benbow Hotel may be sealed as the wrecking ball looms, but what will come in its place is still up in the air. Earlier this month Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority officials hired engineering and design firm Woolpert Inc. for nearly $100,000 to piece together what will become the master plan for the nearly half block area around the Benbow in the heart of downtown Dayton. David Rickard, manager of planning and design for Woolpert, said the study and recommendations should be ready by March. © 2006 American City Business Journals Inc.[/i] http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/01/02/story4.html
March 24, 200619 yr From the 3/22/06 Dayton Daily News: RTA to seek grant for bus pavilion Site of Benbow Hotel would take Third-Main stops By Joanne Huist Smith Dayton Daily News DAYTON | Imagine pulling up in front of a business on Main Street in downtown Dayton and parking your car at the curb. That can't happen today — unless you want your car towed — because of the "no parking" signs near bus stops that line Main Street. That could change if the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority goes forward with a proposal to demolish an old hotel and move bus stops off Main and Third streets. Passengers would catch the bus on an isolated pavilion on Market Street. The bus stop would be secure, have a cover and it would be heated. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0322benbow.html
April 6, 200619 yr From the 4/5/06 Dayton Business Journal: RTA proceeds toward Benbow demolition Dayton Business Journal - 10:13 AM EDT Wednesday by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority voted Tuesday to apply for a grant to fund the demolition of the Admiral Benbow Hotel building on the southwest corner of Market and Jefferson streets in downtown Dayton. The destruction of the 13-story unused building is part of the Market Street Plaza project, a reconstruction of the block between Main and Jefferson streets and Third and Fourth streets to better accommodate transit patrons and solve other problems at the Third and Main street intersection. http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/04/03/daily15.html?from_rss=1
July 7, 200618 yr From the 7/7/06 Dayton Business Journal: RTA to continue department cuts Dayton Business Journal - 10:28 AM EDT Friday by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees voted Thursday to formally accept a plan to reorganize management. An unofficial plan had been implemented in the last 12 months, and the consolidation of departments has resulted in the elimination of 25 positions and an annual savings of $1.3 million, said Mark Donaghy, executive director of the RTA. More department consolidations are expected to come in the next several months, with savings to follow, he said. Also at the monthly meeting yesterday, the board was given an update on employee benefits costs. The human resources department said it will work over the next three and a half years to set the stage for health savings and health reimbursement accounts. Health care costs to the RTA are about $7.4 million over a three-year period. "It's one of the major issues in the country," said William Kramer, vice president of the board. "We just wanted everyone to know we're working on it." E-mail [email protected] Call 222-6900, ext. 127. http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/07/03/daily18.html?from_rss=1
August 19, 200618 yr From the 8/15/06 Dayton Business Journal: RTA proceeds on downtown hotel demolition Dayton Business Journal - 11:34 AM EDT Tuesday by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority will put out a request for proposal Friday for the demolition of the Admiral Benbow Hotel building on the southwest corner of Market and Jefferson streets in downtown Dayton. The pending demolition is part of the Market Street Plaza project, a reconstruction of the block between Main and Jefferson streets and Third and Fourth streets to better accommodate transit patrons and solve other problems at the Third and Main street intersection. Also at its finance meeting Tuesday morning, the RTA discussed this year's financials and its budget for 2007. Through July 2006, the RTA experienced a deficit of $45,000, compared with a $293,000 deficit for the same period last year. The RTA's operating expenses for 2006 are $59.7 million, and its goal is to eliminate its $3 million deficit for its fiscal 2007 budget. E-mail [email protected] Call 222-6900, ext. 127. http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/08/14/daily14.html?surround=lfn
August 28, 200618 yr From the 8/25/06 Dayton Business Journal: RTA to hold public meetings on new routing system Dayton Business Journal - 2:05 PM EDT Friday by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority is a step closer to implementing changes to its bus routing system. At the RTA's planning board meeting Friday morning, committee members reviewed proposed route changes that came from the Comprehensive Operational Analysis, a report that came out in draft form in mid-July. The committee authorized the staff to hold public hearings and community meetings to obtain public input into the suggested changes to the route structure. Following the hearings, to be conducted in September, the RTA will look to implement changes starting in January. The changes are designed to better serve customers and help reduce the RTA's $3 million deficit. Jim Foster, director of planning for the RTA, said proposals for changes include: * More transfer opportunities outside of downtown Dayton; * Reducing the number of transfers in downtown Dayton; * More straight-shot rides to popular destinations such as the Meijer store in Englewood, The Greene and some Kroger stores; and * Better service to area hospitals. E-mail [email protected] Call 222-6900, ext. 127. http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/08/21/daily25.html?from_rss=1
September 9, 200618 yr From the 9/9/06 DDN: RTA would add routes in service overhaul By Joanne Huist Smith Staff Writer Saturday, September 09, 2006 DAYTON — The Greater Dayton RTA has proposed a service overhaul that adds bus service to shopping centers, medical facilities and business districts while cutting service on routes with few riders. "I don't think there is any question that the changes will generate new customers," said Executive Director Mark Donaghy. The plan would enable more riders to go from home to destination without having to transfer downtown. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/08/ddn090906rta.html
September 20, 200618 yr From the 9/18/06 DDN. These routes may mean something to you if you live there. RTA details route changes; seeks input at series of public meetings Dayton Daily News Monday, September 18, 2006 The Greater Dayton RTA is continuing to hold public meetings and solicit comment on a proposed overhaul of its bus routes. The plan offers new routes to amenities and employment centers such as shopping malls, medical facilities and business districts. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/18/ddn091806rta.html
October 1, 200618 yr From the 9/29/06 DDN: Businesses pleased with RTA hub plan Eliminating Third and Main site downtown reduces congestion of buses and people there, RTA director says. By Sean Strader Staff Writer Friday, September 29, 2006 DAYTON — A plan to eliminate the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority hub at Third and Main streets downtown and replace it with a nearby transfer center was welcomed by downtown businesspeople at a public forum Thursday afternoon. The proposed change would move the RTA stop off the street and onto an enclosed pull-off stop on private property. "This will reduce traffic congestion of buses and it will reduce congestion of people," said Mark Donaghy, RTA executive director. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/29/ddn092906station.html
October 8, 200618 yr From the 10/3/06 Dayton Business Journal: RTA to pay $2.2M for downtown building demolition Dayton Business Journal - 5:07 PM EDT Tuesday by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees voted late Tuesday to award a $2.2 million contract to demolish the Admiral Benbow hotel building. E-mail [email protected]. Call 222-6900, ext. 127. http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/10/02/daily11.html?from_rss=1
October 28, 200618 yr From the 10/19/06 DDN: Bus routes concern Trotwood The City Council doesn't want RTA's changes to create congestion like Dayton's Third and Main. By Ryan Justin Fox Staff Writer TROTWOOD — As the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority re-configures its bus routes, officials in Trotwood want to make sure the changes are compatible the city's long-term goals. Last month, council members debated the potential effect of increased service along Shiloh Springs and the lack of input into RTA's plans. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2263 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/community/content/localnews/neighbors/northwest/2006/10/19/ddn101906northwesthub.html
November 3, 200618 yr Editorial Dayton Daily News Our View: RTA rounding corner, gaining speed Agency finally getting back to the basics Friday, November 03, 2006 The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority's board of trustees will hold a public meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday at downtown's Wright Stop Plaza at Third and Main streets. Trustees will discuss, and vote on, proposed changes to fixed-route bus service, a package so extensive it's being called a "system redesign." The trustees' action follows more than a year of study and a series of public hearings. (Read the details online at www.greaterdaytonrta.org/ln.asp). Find this article at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/oh/story/opinions/editorial/2006/11/02/ddn110306rta.html
November 16, 200618 yr Does anyone have any information about the RTA possibly eliminating/significantly reducing the use the trolley busses??? I thought that consultants have continually told the RTA it is best to keep the system and it would be stupid for any city that has the infrastructure already in place to eliminate it. So needless to say I was surprised when the city commission briefly mentioned sponsoring a resolution saying that the city opposes any elimination of trolley busses by the RTA. I haven't heard anything about this, but I have been busy lately and haven't been following the news too closely. The city commission was unanimous in their opposition and mentioned various reasons such as the $6 million dollars received annually from the government for the operation of the trolleys, them being a relatively unique thing to Dayton, and being more efficient. Like I said, I haven't heard anything about this and I hope that I'm not mischaracterizing what was said at the commission meeting. So if anyone as heard anything, I would love to hear it.
November 17, 200618 yr RTA to study how to replace trolleys By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Tuesday, November 14, 2006 DAYTON — The continued use of electric trolleys will be reviewed by the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority over the next two years to determine if and how the trolleys should be replaced as they wear out, Mark Donaghy, RTA executive director, said. Speaking during a joint meeting of the RTA board of trustees and Montgomery County commissioners, Donaghy said a cost-benefit analysis is needed because the trolleys are very expensive — twice the cost of diesel buses — and less reliable. On the other hand, the 57-bus trolley fleet brings in $6 million in targeted federal funding and, in a time of high fuel costs, the trolleys are cheaper to operate than diesel buses. Donaghy said the increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles also will be a factor in deciding the fate of the trolley buses. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7455 or [email protected].
November 17, 200618 yr RTA ponders dropping trolleys from fleet Executive director says they are costly, less reliable, but adds they bring in $6 million annually in federal funding. By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Wednesday, November 15, 2006 DAYTON — The continued use of electric trolleys will be reviewed by the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority over the next two years to determine if the trolleys should be replaced as they wear out, said Mark Donaghy, RTA executive director. Speaking Tuesday at a joint meeting of RTA trustees and Montgomery County commissioners, Donaghy said a cost-benefit analysis is needed because trolleys cost twice as much as diesel buses and are less reliable. On the other hand, the 57-bus trolley fleet brings in $6 million a year in federal funding earmarked for the trolley system, and, in a time of high fuel costs, they're cheaper to operate than diesel buses. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7455 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/11/15/ddn111506cocom.html
December 13, 200618 yr From Grassroots Greater Dayton.... A Brief History of Dayton's Electric Trolley Buses PROVIDED BY A FRIEND OF GRASSROOTS GREATER DAYTON: Electric Trolley Busses (ETB’s) have been running continuously in Dayton Ohio, since April 23, 1933, some 73 years ago. At one period, there were five separate transit companies operating ETB’s; by 1956 all were merged into the privately owned City Transit Company (CTCo.). After several years of declining rider ship, and concomitant loss of revenue, City Transit sold, in 1972, their bus fleet and infrastructure to the newly formed Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority (now Greater Dayton Regional or quot;GDRTA"), a public agency which took over CTCo.’s transit operations in Dayton, oakwood, and Kettering. The CTCo. routes were primarily ETB-operated, with smaller motor busses used mostly as feeders to the trolleys; a few lightly used city routes were also diesel. In 1980 Montgomery County voters approved a County-Wide GDRTA, which was funded largely by sales taxes collected in Montgomery County, and thus did not extend operations beyond the Montgomery County boundary. The new county-wide system had little effect upon the ETB physical infrastructure, but several of the new diesel suburban routes did duplicate service performed by the ETB’s, as the diesels had to run on many of the same streets as the ETB’s to get out of the central city on their way to the county routes. This had significant effect upon ETB rider ship, as the diesel busses competed for passengers along the inner-city portions of their routes. Eventually the total number of ETB’s required declined due to the diesel duplication. This phenomenon continues to this day, as there is no practical way for a county bus to get to or from the Dayton Central Business District (CBD) without using most of the same streets as do the trolleys. The original GDRTA plan was to eliminate the then aging ETB system, and replace it with a fleet of new diesel busses. In opposition to this, a group of private citizens formed the Save Our Trolleys Coalition (SOTC). With much support from other citizens, the ETB system was saved, and a new fleet of Flyer ETB’s were purchased and delivered in 1977. Some of the Flyer trolleys remained in service until the summer of 1999, when they were replaced by a new fleet of ETI/SKODA trolley busses. In the late 1980’s, with the Flyer ETB fleet barely 10 years old, the issue as to whether to continue the use of ETB’s in Dayton came forth once again. The SOTC gathered together its forces, and once more fought to save the trolley system. The GDRTA management had allowed the fleet to seriously deteriorate, and had begun to tear down some of the overhead. Several ETB routes were converted to diesel or reduced to peak-hour service only. After a change in management in late 1992, a new trustee board directed that a new fleet of ETB’s be ordered to replace the by-then badly deteriorated Flyers. In December 1994 a contract was awarded, to Electric Transit Incorporated (ETI) for 63 new trolley busses. ETI was a Dayton corporation owned jointly by AAI in Baltimore, MD. and SKODA, in the Czech Republic CZ). The busses were to be a close derivative of the SKODA 14TR, a trolleybus widely used in Eastern Europe. One year later, in December of 1995,the first of 3 14TR prototypes arrived at GDRTA for testing and acceptance. These 3 prototypes, numbered 9601, 9602, & 9603, were completely assembled at the SKODA Works in Ostrav, CZ before shipping to the USA. The three 9600’s had their wheel-chair lift at the extreme rear end of the coach, which immediately found opposition with the Dayton handicapped community. A decision was made by a new GDRTA management to redesign the bus, placing the lift in the front door. This required the bus body to be widened an extra 6 inches as compared to the regular sKODA 14TR. The redesign was funded by reducing the number of production busses to 54, while the overall contract amount, roughly $34 million US, remained the same. The 54 production series were numbered 9801 through 9854, with the first completed bus arriving at MVRTA in the spring of 1998. Production of the 9800-series busses was quite different from the prototypes; the frame and propulsion system were built by SKODA in CZ, and then shipped to AAI in Baltimore, where the exterior skin and paint was applied. These shells were then trucked to Dayton, where final assembly was done in a local ETI facility. Prior to acceptance by GDRTA, each bus was given an extensive road-worthiness burn-in test, using RTA drivers. The final bus was accepted in September of 1999; the old Flyer fleet had been scrapped in August 1999. Meanwhile, the GDRTA constructed several miles of new ETB routes, installed new power substations, and replaced many miles of overhead trolley wire. Many support poles were also replaced. Much of the feeder cables, both overhead and underground, have been replaced also. The infrastructure is now capable of providing service for over fifty years, assuming service demands remain at current levels, and adequate maintenance is provided. Recently at GDRTA public meetings and via their publications, it is noted that the SKODA fleet is increasingly hard to maintain, resulting in higher removals from service of the trolleys. It is noted that non-availability of spares parts from SKODA CZ is one of the contributors to low reliability. The wheelchair lift is a continuing cause for road calls and/or removal of the bus from service. Assuming that the frames can be structurally repaired where needed, these busses should be able to reach their Federal Transit Administration (FTA) eighteen (18) year service life requirement. The oldest of the 9800-series SKODA fleet is now only seven and one-half years old, not even halfway through it’s expected life. As to the reliability aspect related to the electronic parts from SKODA, it is recommended that the propulsion controller system be replaced at mid-life by systems now widely used by other trolley buses, such as Kiepe, Alsthom, etc. These systems use modern solid-state devices that have wide usage other than just trolleybus applications, and thus have much great availability that devices from just one source, as is the case with SKODA. If one were to assume that the FTA would even allow the GDRTA to scrap the fairly new ETB system, after refunding a large prorated portion of the original FTA grants ($34 million for the busses, probably a like amount for infrastructure) the GDRTA would have to come up with huge matching funds for a new fleet of fossil-fueled vehicles. With appropriate maintenance of the existing fleet, ETB’s in Dayton can be retained for many years to come. There is no transit vehicle in sight today that will provide the quiet, emission-free, performance of the Electric Trolley Bus (ETB). With uncertainty of imported petroleum, the few cities that are fortunate to have ETB systems should certainly make every effort to retain them. To do other wise, surely history will adversely remember those that made such unwise decisions. http://grassrootsdayton.com/node/91
March 18, 200718 yr From the 1/26/07 DDN: RTA's major route redesign will go into effect Sunday Fewer buses will go through downtown; service changed to reflect riders' destinations. By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Friday, January 26, 2007 DAYTON — Not long ago the mantra at the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority was "be more than a bus company" and its former leadership refused to cut service even as deficits grew. On Sunday RTA begins operating buses on a vastly redesigned routing system that shows "we are not the answer for all people and we can't be," said RTA Executive Director Mark Donaghy said. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/25/ddn012607rtainside.html
March 18, 200718 yr From the 1/27/07 DDN: Downtown business owners see good, bad in RTA route overhaul Some employees wonder how they'll get to work, and one manager worries about decreased foot traffic. By Lisa Bernard Staff Writer Saturday, January 27, 2007 DAYTON — The planned overhaul of the countywide bus service has some downtown business owners and riders asking questions. The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority on Sunday will implement route changes that will cut daily bus trips downtown by 350. The move will result in 3,200 fewer riders using transfer buses at Third and Main streets — a 68 percent reduction, according to the RTA. Contact the reporter at (937) 225-2147 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/26/ddn012707thirdandmain.html
March 18, 200718 yr From the 1/30/07 DDN: Extra staff helps riders cope with RTA's route overhaul By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Tuesday, January 30, 2007 DAYTON — A massive reworking of Greater Dayton RTA routes brought a few surprises, lots of questions and some complaints from people no longer transferring buses at Wright Stop Plaza, Executive Director Mark Donaghy said Monday. The biggest problem was on Route 17, which was combined with the eliminated Route 22. Buses were overcrowded and RTA sent vans to transport people left at the stops. Donaghy said a new bus and additional stop times will be added to the route today. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/29/ddn013007rta.html
March 18, 200718 yr From the 2/5/07 DDN: Freezing riders bemoan timing of new RTA routes By Anthony Gottschlich Staff Writer Monday, February 05, 2007 DAYTON — The teeth-chattering 10-degree air was bad enough for Nozipo Glenn and her two grandchildren, ages 6 and 8, as they waited Sunday evening for the No. 2 RTA bus at Third and Main streets. But what also frosted Glenn, who was returning from a trip to buy hats, gloves and scarves for the children, was the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority's new routing system. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7408 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/04/ddn020507rta.html
March 18, 200718 yr From the 2/7/07 DDN: RTA addressing problems with new routing system Dayton Daily News Wednesday, February 07, 2007 DAYTON — Part way through the second week of a massive route redesign, Greater Dayton RTA officials are still tweaking routes in response to complaints, Executive Director Mark Donaghy said Tuesday. Donaghy, speaking to the RTA board of trustees, said the decision to maintain county-wide geographic coverage at the expense of frequency of stops was bound to cause complaints. Those have been aggravated by excessively cold weather that makes a bus stop wait more uncomfortable, he said. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/06/ddn020707rta.html
March 18, 200718 yr I kind of buried it, so make sure you check out dfly's recent photos of the demolition: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=4686.msg170485#msg170485 From the 2/28/07 DDN: Benbow demolition halfway done Project, which is ahead of schedule, will make room for transit pavilion. CareSource site preparation to begin soon. By Dave Larsen Staff Writer Wednesday, February 28, 2007 DAYTON — The Admiral Benbow Hotel's sixth-floor wall facing Jefferson Street is pulled down by a pair of small tractors with a palpable thud that vibrates the thick concrete floor and kicks up a large cloud of dust. Two additional tractors outfitted with claw- and hammer-like implements crush and pound the interior walls to rubble. "They're taking one floor down at a time," said Binh Dinh, director of maintenance and facilities for the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority. "Piece by piece and wall by wall." Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/28/ddn022807benbow.html
February 8, 200817 yr Market Street Plaza The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is working on plans to design a new, state-of-the-art transit center on Market Street (between Main and Jefferson). RTA sees great opportunity to improve pedestrian flow at Third and Main Streets while enhancing amenities for RTA customers whose origin or destination is downtown. Market Street Plaza will also bring new retail opportunities to Wright Stop Plaza tenants. Goals include: Improve the visual appeal of Wright Stop Plaza Make the area more pedestrian friendly Improve transit service quality for downtown Eliminate extensive bus queuing along Main Street Relocate RTA customers to a safe environment, protected from inclement weather Support Convention Center events and activities Separate transit services from adjacent retail uses Increase the level of security and safety in the area The new transit center calls for conversion of Jefferson Street to two-way traffic between Third and Fourth Streets to facilitate bus routing within the central business district. RTA will then be able to remove bus stops within approximately a two-block radius of Third and Main Streets, thereby relieving congestion on the roadways. The RTA Board has approved the final design contract and development of construction plans. RTA continues to seek support and input from key stakeholders and is committed to seeing this project through. Source: RTA http://www.downtowndayton.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118
February 23, 200817 yr Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Admiral Benbow demolished in order to be utilized as part of the RTA Transit Center? I do not see anything in the plans above utilizing the former hotel's space.
June 24, 200816 yr Here are some renderings of the Wright Stop Plaza Transit Center / Market Street Plaza: The project will remove all RTA loading and unloading from the corner of Third and Main. Sen. Voinovich, Rep. Turner and others were on hand. http://www.downtowndayton.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118 Here is a link to story about the groundbreaking: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/23/ddn062408rta.html Ground broken for RTA transit center Project will remove bus loading and unloading from Third and Main streets. Tuesday, June 24, 2008 DAYTON — Officials broke ground on Monday, June 23 on the new $9.6 million Wright Stop Plaza Transit Center, which will remove all Greater Dayton RTA bus loading and unloading from Third and Main streets. The transit center is located beside Wright Stop Plaza at that intersection. The former Admiral Benbow Hotel was demolished to make way for the project.
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