Rider's Digest -- December 2014

 Rider's Digest -- December 2014

Dec. 31: Rail service operates all night

For the second year in a row, RTA will offer around-the-clock rail service overnight between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

This will make it more convenient for customers to attend New Year’s Eve events. The Cavaliers play at 7 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena. There is a public celebration on Mall B, 602 St. Clair Ave., NE, from 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Gates open at 8 p.m. Admission is $10.

Details of RTA service

Wednesday, Dec. 31, New Year's Eve

All RTA facilities will be open, including the Customer Service Center and the RTAnswerline, 216-621-9500. The Answerline is staffed from 7 a.m-6 p.m.

RTA will operate regular weekday service, with these exceptions:
• After 8 p.m., the Red Line will run every 15 minutes, instead of every 30 minutes.
Red, Blue and Green Line service will operate until the normal start of service on New Year's Day.

Thursday, Jan. 1, New Year's Day

All RTA facilities will be closed. RTA will operate Sunday/holiday service.

Other holiday service

RTA will operate a weekday schedule on Dec. 24, and a Sunday/holiday schedule on Dec. 25.

RTA facilities will be closed Dec. 24-25.

The RTAnswerline will be staffed from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. Many questions can be answered by checking rideRTA.com, or using the trip planner located on every page of the Web site.

Ride an RTA trolley to holiday fun downtown

Winterfest has transformed Euclid Avenue – and all of Downtown Cleveland – into a winter wonderland of holiday surprises for the whole family.

Many of these sites are on Euclid Avenue, from Public Square to PlayhouseSquare. The best way to see the sites? Ride RTA.

The HealthLine operates on Euclid Avenue 24/7, from Public Square through University Circle and into the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. With a $5 All-Day Pass, you can get on and off the HealthLine as many times as you wish. Passes are good until 3 a.m. the next day.

If you plan on staying downtown, the free trolleys are your best bet. The E-Line and C-Line operate weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The C-Line trolley runs on evenings and weekends. To see the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock & Hall of Fame, ride the Waterfront Line 7 days a week, or the free L-Line trolley on weekends.

Of course, as Dec. 25 nears, Santa may be riding on RTA buses, trolleys and trains. Watch for him.

Globetrotters and Trans-Siberian Orchestra come to Q

Two holiday favorites – the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the Harlem Globetrotters – return to Quicken Loans Arena this month.

The Orchestra performs at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26. The Globetrotters play at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27.

RTA is a great way to go to either event. Park for free, ride any rail line into the Tower City Station, and stroll down the Walkway, right into your Arena seat. You’ll never be out in the cold.

RTA and Transit Police agree on new contract

RTA and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) have signed an agreement for a new, three-year contract, effective March 1, 2014.
The agreement calls for wage adjustments to be based on RTA revenues. Some 120 Transit Police officers, sergeants and dispatchers are members of the FOP.

“This is the second consecutive time that an innovative agreement has been reached that balances the needs of our employees, our customers and the taxpayers by tying future wage increases, if any, to increases in RTA revenues. This best assures that future wage increases will not have a negative impact on future service levels or fares,” said RTA CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese.

Health-care benefits are unchanged until 2016, when deductibles and co-pays increase. This change will then match the health-care benefits of non-represented RTA employees.

Prepare now for winter weather

December is a good time to prepare for winter commuting.

NextConnect: Using GPS technology, NextConnect allows you to check the location of any vehicle on any route, and predict when that vehicle is expected to arrive at a given stop.

rideRTA.com: The site is mobile friendly, and offers a variety of service alerts, maps and news.

Twitter: Learn about service changes, service interruptions and more.

iWatch: A free app that allows customers to communicate with Transit Police anonymously. Send texts, e-mails, photos and video.

e-newsletter: Published an e-newsletter twice a month.

Heading for Hopkins? Take the train to the plane

If you’re heading for Hopkins this holiday season, the best way to get there is on RTA.

Ride a Red Line train. It takes less than 30 minutes to go between Downtown Cleveland’s Tower City Station and the Airport Station.

RTA's Airport Station is on the lower level of the terminal complex. To reach it, take the elevators or escalators near the center of the ticketing and baggage claim levels.

RTA's regularly scheduled service also makes this the most convenient and least expensive way to travel. The Red Line operates 7 days a week, from 4 a.m.-12:30 a.m. 

Riding the Rapid costs $2.25 each way for a one-vehicle or one-train ride. If you will travel on more than one vehicle or train (i.e. Red Line and transfer to another rail line or bus to complete your trip), buy a 5-Trip farecard, which includes transfers. For unlimited rides for an entire day, buy a All-Day Pass for $5.

Transfers are included in all Monthly Passes, 5-Trip cards and 7-day passes. Passes can be purchased from the Ticket Vending Machines at the Airport Station. Exact fare is required and credit/debit cards can be used.

The Red Line uses a Proof of Payment system. Keep activated passes and farecards handy, in case Transit Police asks to see your Proof of Payment.

RTA's Red Line was the first Rapid Transit service to an International Airport in North America. On Nov. 15, 1968, direct Rapid Transit service began operating between Downtown and Hopkins International Airport. In addition to serving air travelers, the new extension brought rapid transit facilities closer to Southwest suburban commuters.

Nominations sought for customer service award

Do you know an RTA employee who has provided exceptional customer service? Nominations for the General Manager’s Customer Service Award must be received by Jan. 10, 2015.

This award recognizes employees for exceptional service. Nomination forms can be found on buses, trains and on-line. The General Manager reviews all nominations and selects the winners. Employees must meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Solve an extraordinary problem, achieve or exceed a significantly difficult goal that serves internal and/or external customers. 
  • Successful implementation of an innovative customer service idea or concept, where the result is identifiable and measurable.
  • Outstanding act of customer service that brings positive recognition to RTA and results in a delighted customer.

Follow the instructions on the nomination form to describe why the nominee deserves the award. 

Limit attachments to no more than three pages.

Stay safe for the holidays

Transit Police offer these tips to stay safe on vehicles, at stations and on the roads.

Pedestrians: Always use crosswalks. Obey traffic signals and watch for vehicles. Avoid distractions, like texting or listening to music, while you are crossing the street. Listen for vehicles. Stay alert.

Everywhere you go: Pay attention to your surroundings.

Transit riders: Secure your belongings. Protect your electronic devices. If you are using a mobile device, try to sit next to a window. Avoid seats near the door.

See Something, Say Something: Call Transit Police 24/7 at 216-566-5163, or download iWatchRTA app for free. You can report any safety or security concerns via text, video or photo.

Parking in a station lot: Put your junk in the trunk.

Check out our Web site here

The Web site has separate pages for:

HealthLine safety
Bus and train safety
Grade crossing safety
Escalators and elevator safety
Bicycle safety