This is what my bus looks like every morning:

In response to criticism for turning these buses into feeder routes, RTA Director Joe Calabrese had this to say:

Calabrese said RTA data shows people should continue to use the line despite the change.

“Feeder routes have worked on other lines and also have begun working in this area,” he said. “These type of routes do work in getting people to their destination.”

He said actual ridership was also a consideration.

“If the buses were full all the time, we certainly would have considered that,” he said. – RTA Route Changes Criticized

Do you think Joe Calabrese has ever ridden one of his own buses?

Tags: RTA

Back in August, RTA held five public hearings to discuss route reductions and price increases.  These meetings were so well attended that they were forced to hold additional meetings to accommodate the number of people showing up to protest what they considered unfair and unjustified reductions to their public transportation.

It should be noted that while public opinion was almost unanimously negative, almost no one complained about possible price increases.  The vast majority were concerned about the changes RTA was planning to reduce or discontinue existing routes.

When RTA’s PowerPoint presentation listed all the affected routes, the audience at the public library let out a horrified gasp of choral intensity. – Angry Riders pack RTA hearing on Proposed cuts

After the local media picked up the story and started reporting the almost universal criticism of what RTA was planning, a light appeared at the end on the tunnel.  Magically, the Best Public Transit System in North America found funding that might delay or cancel the planned reductions.

Wow, it’s magic, RTA finds some money. Didn’t the Best Transit System in North America’s leaders know about this CMAQ program before they headed to the poorhouse? – Comment on cleveland.com

Unfortunately, that light at the end of the tunnel must have been one of RTA’s own rail trains, because in late September they quietly released their final edict on the changes.

On Tuesday, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority board moved on its plans to make limited service cuts. It agreed to discontinue four routes and reduce service on 18 others, with the changes taking effect Nov. 2. – cleveland.com

A brilliant move, in my opinion, because every bus I could possibly take to work now dead-ends at a rapid train station.  A transfer to a rail train and a final destination of Tower City is the best I can hope for from a service that used to pick me up in front of my home and drop me off in front of work.  And luckily for me, all these proposed changes will happen right before Cleveland winter sets in.  Nothing like freezing my balls off at a train station or on the walk to and from the bowels of Tower City for the next six months.  Oh, and for this privilege, I’ll get my fare increased.  More money for less service… what a load of shit.

While it may seem like I’m just bitching, the changes and the timing are being criticized elsewhere:

75x Route Changes Criticized

Change may violate voting rights act

While I don’t know how this will finally play out, I do know that if these (poorly) planned changes take effect in the City of Cleveland, 2008 will be remembered as the year RTA fumbled the ball.

Tags: RTA

Cleveland RTA has proposed changes to their service starting in October. Because of rising gas prices and lack of state funding, they claim that they need to slash their service to riders.

Starting in October, the bus that has taken me from the bus stop in front of my house to the sidewalk outside of work for will modify it's route. Instead of dropping me off (literally) in front of work it will drop me off at the West Park Rapid Station where I'll wait (outside) for a train to take me to Tower City. From Tower City, I'll walk to work through Public Square (which is especially nice in the winter).

Coming home, I'll reverse the process and wait in the stinky bowels of Tower City for a certainly over-crowded train that will take me back to the rapid station where there may or may not be a bus to take me home.

Needless to say, the fun of negotiating a bus to train transfer, waiting outdoors and an extra walk twice a day has me ecstatic.

And if all of this isn't enough to make me rethink my transportation choice, if I insist on remaining with RTA past October 1, I'll also pay an extra $22 a month for the privilege.

god, this sucks.

Tags: RTA