Rider's Digest -- May 2019

Update on Pillar Studies

Our pillar studies are well underway, and we’re happy to share the results of our Rail Car Replacement study as well as our Fare Equity Study.

Rail Car Replacement

In 2018, we contracted LTK Engineering Services to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the Heavy Rail (HRV) (Red Line) and Light Rail (LRV) (Blue, Green, and Waterfront Line) fleets.

Ultimately, LTK recommended that RTA procures two different fleets (HRV and LRV) rather than a single, common car to serve both High and Low platforms. They found that a single, common car fleet would require significant infrastructure work at rail stations and would eliminate the ability to phase in vehicle purchase and delivery.

Finally, LTK recommended that we try to procure the new fleets with available option on an existing contract, which would save time and money by reducing up-front engineering and development costs.

Fare Equity Study

The methodology for the initial phase of this study involved comparing RTA’s offerings to those of other similarly-sized transit authorities across the nation. Additionally, a customer survey was conducted last winter to gather information related to current fare media use.

A key finding in this area was that over half of all trips are taken by riders who would be best served by a monthly or weekly pass, but only half of this group actually used these options.

The next step in this project will be intense community engagement. A series of public meetings will be held throughout the month of May (See below for entire schedule). 

Upcoming Service Changes

Expect upcoming service changes for the summer starting Sunday, June 2. These routes are being adjusted mostly to remove school trips and make better connections. New timetables will be available for the 1, 2, 11, 14, 41-41F, 76, 77F, 78, 81, and 90F bus routes, as well as the Red Line.

The first Red Line timetable will be effective June 2 – June 29 only, due to a major track reconstruction project between West Park and the Airport. Regular Red Line service will resume for two weeks (June 30 – July 13) for the All Star Game. From July 14 – August 10, the Red Line will have one last new timetable due to major track reconstruction between Puritas and the Airport. So in total, there will be three Red Line timetables printed this summer. You can pick them up at RTA Headquarters or the Tower City Customer Service Center approximately one week before the service change.

Join Us at Community Meetings

We’re in the midst of a system redesign, and we need your help! We’re seeking public input to ensure our changes align with your needs. At these upcoming meetings, Jarrett Walker + Associates, the firm leading the renovations, will share initial concepts based on the results of customer surveys. This is the first of several opportunities for the public to share their input; we hope you’ll join us:

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Announcing the 2018 GM  Customer Service Award Winners

Congratulations to William Pillow, Alarice Reedy, and Calvin Scalf, the 2018 winners of the General Manager’s Customer Service Award!

Mr. William Pillow (Hayden District) had multiple nominations stating that he’s consistently compassionate towards his riders. RTA passengers applaud Mr. Pillow for his kindness, professionalism, and positivity—he’s always greeting passengers with a genuine smile!

Ms. Alarice Reedy (Tower City/Rail) was nominated by three passengers who admire her willingness to go above and beyond for customer satisfaction. She always exudes patience and guidance and assists any customer who needs help. She embodies the mantra of “customer service is everyone’s job.”

Mr. Calvin Scalf (Triskett District) was nominated by two passengers who said he “exemplified everything it takes to be an amazing operator.” Specifically, when a passenger on Mr. Scalf’s bus realized he’d left his briefcase at the bus stop, Mr. Scalf waited while he retrieved it. Despite the minor delay, he still managed to get his passengers to their destinations on time.

We’d like to congratulate Mr. Pillow, Ms. Reedy, and Mr. Scalf for their exceptional customer service, and thank them for exemplifying our values. We appreciate their dedication to providing safe, reliable, clean, and courteous public transportation.

May 17: Bike to Work Day

Cyclists: get ready to celebrate. Wherever you’re headed, RTA makes it easy for you to bring your bike along, thanks to our Rack-N-Roll program. So in honor of the Bike to Work holiday, we’ll be holding demonstrations of our front-mounted bike racks at the Bike to Work Day kickoff, from 7-9 a.m. at The Bike Rack on East 4th Street. Once you see how simple it is to use, you’ll be biking and busing all over the city—and the environment will thank you!

May 18 – 19: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

The Cleveland Marathon is right around the bend: the one-mile run, 5k, and 8k will take place on Saturday, May 18, and the marathon will occur on Sunday, May 19. The course runs through Downtown as well as parts of Lakewood and Tremont, so expect road closures and detours—better yet, ride RTA! Use our trip planner to map out your day.

Enroll in the ReadyNotify Emergency Alert System

Sign up for Cuyahoga County’s ReadyNotify emergency notification system to stay informed and receive safety alerts. You can receive notices about emergency events, government news, Cuyahoga County building closures, water boil alerts, and safety messages, among other important information. Upon signing up, you can select how you’d like to receive these messages: through a phone call, SMS/text message, email, or fax. Or you can download the CodeRED app and receive notifications there. 

RTA Runs Holiday Service on Memorial Day

In observance of Memorial Day (May 27), RTA will be running Sunday/Holiday service. Additionally, the main office, Tower City Pass and Farecard Sales, and the Telephone Information Center will be closed. Enjoy the holiday and celebrate safely.