New Weekly
Shopper Service could help former
Community Circulator customers
One-year pilot project may start in January 2010
CLEVELAND – Officials of the Greater Cleveland
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today announced that they would like to
institute a new pilot project, Weekly Shopper Service, to help customers who
now ride Community Circulator routes. The one-year pilot project would begin in
January 2010, and be evaluated after several months.
This offer is in response to comments received
from customers of the Community Circulator service, which will be eliminated on
Sept. 20, as RTA works to eliminate a deficit in the 2009 operating budget. The
deficit is being caused by an $18 million shortfall in revenue from the countywide
sales tax.
“We think that this proposed jointly funded
proposal is innovative, will be very responsive to the needs of many, and much
appreciated by our community,” says Joe Calabrese, RTA CEO and General Manager.
“This service will be valuable to those with limited
options, while also limiting RTA’s financial exposure. It can be a great model
for jointly funding projects going forward”.
Details of the proposal:
RTA proposes to work with elected officials and Community
Development Corporations in the 12 communities where Circulator service now
exists, to determine interest in the weekly service, and to find joint
financial sponsors. The service is designed predominately, but not exclusively,
for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
This service will
operate one day per week, for about 6 hours daily, to shuttle customers
from major residential complexes and high-density areas to shopping and
medical facilities.
Specific pick-up
locations and stops will be developed through a public involvement
process, so that a regular schedule can be developed and distributed.
RTA will provide the
vehicles and 50 percent of the operating costs, if sponsors can be
identified to fund the balance. The estimated cost for each party is
$15,000 annually. Fares will be charged to help offset vehicle maintenance
and fuel costs. If all 12 Community Circulator communities participate in
this pilot, RTA's annual financial commitment will be approximately
$180,000.
Timeline:
If there is interest in such a service, planning and
budgeting can take place in October and November. The service can be
promoted in December and begin operation in January 2010.
Sept. 20 service changes finalized
In related news, RTA has finalized plans for service
changes that take effect Sept. 20. The changes will help RTA balance its 2009
budget and help resolve an $18 million shortfall in revenue from its share of
the countywide sales tax.
RTA is eliminating all 12 Community Circulator
routes. RTA recently held 12 informational meetings along these routes, to help
customers plan their trips after Sept. 20. More than 700 persons attended.
Community Circulators represent about 2.5 percent of RTA’s customers
As a result of these meetings, RTA is making
these changes to existing big-bus service, to help serve Community Circulator
customers.
#49 Center Ridge –
Extend route from St. John West Shore Hospital to Crocker Park, which is
currently served by the #808 and #822. End route
at Westgate
Transit Center, for connection with other services, instead of the Triskett Rapid
Transit Station. Maintain 7-day service, with unchanged hours of
operation.
#46 Rocky
River-Westlake – Discontinue evening and weekend service. Add
mid-day weekday service, replacing the #808 service on
Detroit Road, and continue rush-hour service. End route at Westgate
Transit Center, for connection with other services, instead of at the Triskett Rapid
Transit Station. Rename route Detroit-Wagar.
#43 Lake-Wolf–
Continue to operate 2 early morning and 2 early evening trips on Wolf
Road, which is currently served by the #808.
#28 Euclid –
Shift some weekday daytime trips to East 222nd Street,
replacing #806
service on that street.
#16 East 55– Shift some weekday
midday trips to serve Fleet Avenue and Broadway, replacing #805 service.
#81 Tremont-Storer– Change route so it always serves West 25th
Street between Lorain and Detroit avenues, where the #807 and other
routes currently operate. On weekdays only, during the hours that the #807 operates,
divert all trips to serve the stop at Lakeview Terrace.
Other service changes
The following big-bus
routes are being eliminated:
#70 Bunts-W. 150,
on weekends, only the part of the route between the Triskett and Puritas Red
Line stations will operate. The hours of operation will be 7:30 a.m.-6:30
p.m.
