Rider's Digest -- May 2017

 Rider's Digest -- May 2017

Late-night trolley service extended to Flats East Bank

Headed for Flats East Bank this summer? Just hop on the C-Line trolley. It’s free with a smile.

RTA will offer a new service seven days a week beginning Friday, May 26, just as summer kicks in. Other summer service changes begin Sunday, June 4, but the trolley service starts earlier, to help riders enjoy the Memorial Day weekend.

On May 26-28, Flats East Bank hosts Taste of Summer, with food, drinks, local music and local vendors, Cavs and Indians games on a big screen, and activities for all ages. The event ends at 10 p.m. each night.

“Flats East Bank is growing in popularity,” says RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese. “More transit service is needed on evenings and weekends. It is in the best interests of RTA, our customers, and Flats East Bank vendors to extend the C-Line Trolley service here., seven days a week. It is vital to better serve both Downtown and the Flats.”

From its current route, the C-Line trolley will travel west on Main Avenue, north on West 11th Street and east on Front Street. Several stops will be conveniently located along the route. Hours remain: 7-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

The rest of the trolley route remains the same. The C-Line trolley will continue to serve:

The Waterfront Line will continue to operate until 7 p.m., seven days a week. It stops at the Flats East Bank Station, in the heart of the development.

June 4 service changes

Some RTA bus routes change on Sunday, June 4. Most changes are minor. In late May, riders can pick up new timetables for the 1, 3, 11, 14, 22, 25, 26, 28-28A, 34, 41-41F, 45, 48-48A, 51-51A-51B-51C, 75, 76, 77F, 79-79A, 81, 246, 251 and 263.

Where to obtain new timetables

Real-time information for the new timetables will be available as soon as it is effective.

Timetables sport new design

In an effort to give riders simpler, more useful information about routes, some RTA timetables for the June 4 service change will sport a new design. They will have new maps, a redesigned front cover, and a new table format.

Timetables will be converted to the new format over the course of the year, with the goal of the entire system changing over to the new style by December.

Let us know how you like the new format. We welcome your feedback. Please send a note.

May filled with great sporting events

RTA is ready to take you to a variety of professional sporting events in May.

Baseball: The Indians play 14 home games at Progressive Field, including four weekend afternoon games, and a 4:10 p.m. contest on Memorial Day, May 29. It’s a great way to start the summer.

Basketball: The Cavaliers ended their regular season April 12, and NBA playoff games began April 15 at Quicken Loans Arena. Winning teams will continue to see action until early June.

Game-day service

  • Park for free at a Rapid Station.
  • For maximum value, buy a $5.50 All-Day Pass.
  • Ride the Rapid to the Tower City Station, and stroll down the 1,000-foot Walkway to Quicken Loans Arena. From there, it is a short walk outside to Progressive Field. The Walkway opens 2 hours before each event.

You can also ride the HealthLine down Euclid Avenue to Public Square. If you work Downtown, hop on a free trolley to reach Tower City.

Remember, Waterfront Line service ends at 7 p.m., and Green Line service ends at 9 p.m. If any event goes into overtime or extra innings, it could affect your ride home. Rail service on the Red Line and the Blue Line is guaranteed to operate for 60 minutes after the game ends.

May 21: Ride RTA to reach the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

Whether you are running in the 26.3-mile Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, or just going to watch, RTA could be your best partner that day.

Sunday, May 21: Ride any Rapid line to the Tower City Station, and walk outside. At 7 a.m., more than 16,000 runners will start the race on Ontario Street, in front of Quicken Loans Arena. The finish line is on Superior Avenue and West Third Street, just off Public Square. A finish line Rock Party begins at 8:30 a.m. on Public Square. A rock concert, food, drinks and a beer garden are open to the public. An ID is required to enter the Beer Garden area.

Friday-Saturday, May 19-20: A Health and Fitness Expo will be held at the Huntington Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave.
• Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday. Ride the free B-Line trolley.
• Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Ride the free C-Line trolley.

Marathon runners will go through portions of Downtown, Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit-Shoreway and Lakewood. Bus service in those areas may be affected for short periods. Go here for updates.

Bus customers: Take survey today

RTA asks all bus customers to take a brief on-line survey through May 21, to help the system continue to improve. "Bus" includes trolley and BRT customers on the HealthLine and Cleveland State Line.

This is the fifth year that RTA is participating in a nationwide research program with the American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG). RTA and 19 other like-sized transit systems measure customer satisfaction with bus service.

This opportunity provides RTA with a measure of customer service, identifies areas that need improvement, and compares it to the performance of other agencies.

Customer satisfaction is key to RTA’s mission: To provide safe, reliable, clean and courteous public transportation. Past surveys have given RTA valuable information.

RTA appreciates your cooperation. A large number of responses, from all segments of the ridership base, will make the survey even more valuable. Please take the survey.

RTA salutes 30 operators for 665 years of no accidents

RTA is saluting 30 bus, rail and Paratransit operators who have compiled a total of 665 years of accident-free driving.

Joe Calabrese, RTA CEO and General Manager, called that feat “unbelieveable.”

“Think about it. These operators drive a large vehicle in an urban landscape filled with potholes, orange barrels, unexpected detours, drivers pulling out without warning, and pedestrians who cross the streets while talking or texting on their mobile devices. Their routes are filled with situations that are just accidents waiting to happen.”

“Many of our operators are special, but this group represents the best of the best. We are proud to salute them.”

Head of the class

Leading the honorees this year with 30 years of safe driving is Ray Alan Bisaroe from the Triskett Garage. Bisaroe, now age 54, has been an operator for 33 years. He has been accident-free for 30 of them.

As a youth, Bisaroe and his dad would hop an RTA bus to see the Indians play at Municipal Lakefront Stadium, go to work with his dad, and go to the store. Today, he drives a bus on the 75 route, all over the West Side. He is based at the Triskett Garage, on the Cleveland-Lakewood border.

What's the secret of safe driving?

"In training, I was told to take my time, and do the best I could to stay alert. It was great advice,” Bisaroe said.

“Going to work for RTA was one of the best things I ever did. My customers are friendly, and I am grateful to have the job. I'll probably work 6-7 more years, and retire with 40 years of service."

In closing...

A total of 11 operators, including 1 from Paratransit and 1 from Rail, are being saluted for 25 years of safe driving. A total of 18 operators, including 1 from Paratransit and 7 from Rail, have each compiled 20 years of safe driving.

All operators enjoy a kind word, Calabrese said.

“Saying ‘thanks’ to your operator as you leave the bus is always appreciated. We expect our drivers to go the extra mile to serve you, and giving you a safe ride is always our goal.”

May 19: Celebrate Bike to Work Day, bikers ride free on RTA

May is National Bike Month. RTA supports National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 19.

Persons can ride free with their bicycles that day on RTA buses and trains.

  • As part of RTA’s Rack-N-Roll program, a three-unit bike rack is mounted on the front of every bus.
  • There is a designated space for bicycles inside Rapid cars and on HealthLine vehicles, with bike racks at many stations.

Bike Cleveland will host a Bike to Work Day party Downtown from 7-9:30 a.m. at The Bike Rack, 2148 E. Fourth St.

  • RTA staff will be on hand with a bus and a three-unit bike rack, to demonstrate their ease of use.
  • The event includes food from the Fresh Fork Market, coffee from Phoenix Coffee, and info tables by area bike shops and bike riding groups.

The Bike Rack is a full-service bicycle parking and commuter center, operated by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

IGORTA: Here are some options for places to go on RTA this month

For more information, use RTA's on-line trip planner.