Rider's Digest -- September 2019

Join Us at a Community Meeting

As part of our ongoing system redesign study, we will host another round of community meetings beginning in late September. These sessions have been an invaluable source of input as we work to accommodate the wants and needs of those we serve. We hope you’ll be able to join us on one of the following dates:

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Before attending the meetings, we suggest you watch the presentation Jarrett Walker gave back in July.

Additionally, LTK Engineering Services shared an interim report on the fare equity study with an early draft of recommendations. A number of approaches and enhancements have been suggested, but no final decisions have been made, so your opinions will be very helpful.

Red Line Construction Complete

The Red Line had been closed between the Airport and the West Blvd. stations so that repairs could be made to stabilize the S-Curve retaining wall. After installing 75 steel beam frames to stabilize approximately 300 feet of retaining wall, the Red Line reopened on Monday, August 26.

“It was not an easy decision to close our rail line because of the inconvenience to our riders, but we had to put the safety of our customers first,” said RTA’s Interim CEO and General Manager, Floun’say Caver.

“We want to thank our riders for their patience, and we look forward to serving them again with the service they’ve come to depend on.”

RTA Adds Wi-Fi to Stations and Vehicles

As part of an ongoing upgrade to communications systems, RTA has introduced free Wi-Fi at a number of stations. Upon completion, this connectivity will provide real-time information and an improved experience for riders, as well as better communications for safety forces.

Starting this month, buses from the Hayden District, as well as the CSU Line, the HealthLine, and Trolleys will have Wi-Fi. We expect that eight vehicles per day will come online, with buses from the Triskett District and Paratransit to be added later in the fall. Rail cars will have Wi-Fi beginning in January.

Select stations and transit centers now have Wi-Fi, including:

Tower City Station: rotunda waiting areas, platforms adjacent to waiting areas
Cedar - University Station: interior bus waiting area, rail lobby
East 55th Station: lobby, outdoor platforms
Louis Stokes/Windermere Station: interior lobby, rail platform, bus loop
Southgate Transit Center: interior lobby
Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center: interior lobby, first two bus lanes

Sites in process:

Cedar - University Station: Outdoor bus area, rail platforms
Puritas - West 150th Station

Planned additional sites:

West 65th Station
West 117th Station
Brookpark Station
Superior Station

RTA pilots solar real-time bus arrival information signs

Real-time arrival information has been consistently rated as a high priority by RTA riders and by transit users nationwide. Which is why we’re excited to test solar-powered, real-time arrival information signs from CHK Connectpoint. These signs will list the bus’s arrival time for all routes at the stop, and will give up-to-the-minute updates on the bus’s actual location.

The first two have already been installed at stops on Prospect at E. 4th St. and Superior at W. 3rd St.; you can find them just outside the shelters. We plan to place five additional signs along the Euclid Corridor (in downtown Cleveland).

These next generation displays have an e-paper look that’s powered by a solar panel. In addition to buses’ estimated arrival times, they can show messages and service alerts that are monitored by RTA.

RTA would like to thank the community partners that contributed funding and support for this endeavor, including: the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Historic Warehouse District, and the Historic Gateway District.

The pilot project will run through December 2019. RTA’s real-time arrival reporting system will be getting even better in the near future thanks to a communications systems upgrade, which should be completed in 2020. In the meantime, you can provide feedback on the signs here.

Don’t forget you can also get real-time information on the go with your smartphone’s RTA CLE App and Transit App.

College Students: Use Your U-Pass

Students at participating colleges and universities (including Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland State University, and Cuyahoga Community College) can enjoy unlimited rides on any RTA route when they show the operator their U-Pass, which is a sticker that can be affixed to their student IDs.

All students are automatically charged for this service, so don’t forget to pick yours up today. Plus, you can show it at our partner vendors (including Qdoba, Phoenix Coffee, and Melt, among many others) to receive discounts that are exclusive to RTA riders.

September 14 – 15: Chalk Festival at CMA

Bring friends and family to enjoy the Chalk Festival at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Now in its 29th year, this event allows people of all ages and backgrounds to express themselves—if only temporarily—and add to a beautiful mosaic of chalk art. Supplies are available for a small fee.

The best part is that you don’t have to circle for a parking spot—you can simply ride RTA! Take the Red Line Rapid to the Little Italy-University Circle station, or ride the HealthLine to the Museum Stop. Rain or shine, we’ll see you there.

September 27 – 29: Ride RTA to IngenuityFest

IngenuityFest is a chance to celebrate the makers who make Cleveland the creative hub it is. They host dozens of bands, dance acts, and performances across multiple stages, in addition to featuring art and projects from the IngenuityLabs incubator.

This year’s festival runs Friday, September 27 through Sunday, September 29. Admission is $10, but children 12 and under are free. It’ll take place at the Hamilton Collaborative, which is located at 5401 Hamilton Ave.; you can get there by taking the #1 St. Clair bus to the E. 53rd St. stop.

 

This Football Season, Take RTA

As football season starts again, we’d like to remind you that RTA has a stop right outside FirstEnergy Stadium! If you ride any Rapid line to Tower City, you can transfer to the Waterfront Line, which has a stop at W. 3rd St.

RTA can even accommodate your tailgate: extra rail service begins about two hours before kickoff and continues after the game as long as needed.

Or if you’re catching the game at bars or restaurants downtown, don’t forget about our free Trolleys.