How to Save Light Rail in Cleveland

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  • Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
  • Cleveland RTA's light rail system suffers from low ridership, making it difficult to justify greater system investments compared to higher ridership bus routes. How can the GCRTA increase ridership on its light rail lines?
    This was the first time I made such a long video on a single topic and was a massive learning experience so forgive me for the random pacing and motion graphic/audio anomalies.
    Footage:
    "Transit-Oriented McMansions"- Rice Rust Belt ( / rice_rust_belt )
    • 88 Shaker Life: "Run a...
    • Greater Cleveland RTA ...
    • Hilltop Link light rai...
    • Eastside Link Light Ra...
    • Blue Line Extension Li...
    • Update on light rail e...
  • КиноКино

Комментарии • 136

  • @Kludgzenjammer
    @Kludgzenjammer 5 месяцев назад +53

    Well, I feel it's just awful to abandon a line due to the "impossible" nature of trying to overhaul the car-centric development mostly around it. It takes much more time than what you proposed, but reforming the development around the Green Line stations to bring up ridership can happen, and in respect to all those who take the Green Line who don't own a car or prefer not driving, I'd say keep the line running! Last thing anyone wants to see is more traffic and people's commute options dwindled.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +2

      You're not wrong! There are definitely benefits to operating the green line as a transit service and abandoning a line would really suck. In an ideal world of sufficient transit funding, I would probably openly oppose reducing or removing green line service. My suggestion about cutting or reducing service on the green line was more so from an equity/priority viewpoint because from my own experience riding RTA, many bus routes serve more people who don't own cars and depend on transit. However, those bus routes see much less funding than the green line- from inadequate shelters to poor frequency. Therefore, I am of the opinion that prioritizing funding efforts for those bus routes over the green line would be a more equitable approach towards transit funding, especially since most who live along the green line own cars and do not use transit while the blue line basically parallels the green line just a block south. Just my opinion of course. On the other hand, the city of Shaker Heights will likely oppose eliminating the green line since it is a hallmark of the city and forms a large part of its identity, so political barriers will likely keep it around.

  • @BoredSquirell
    @BoredSquirell 5 месяцев назад +40

    RUclips algo strikes again. I'm from Spain, and very interested in public transport.
    YT has been serving me a lot of US content lately, and I actually like it. Glad to see a lot of people pushing for better cities, and having a good idea what needs to be done.

    • @bennyg2688
      @bennyg2688 5 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you, were trying our best. It takes time

  • @Rattlesnake153
    @Rattlesnake153 5 месяцев назад +14

    As a Clevelander, I hope they expand the light rail and train system here. Being originally from Houston, it's nice having a useful public transit system.

  • @lillywho
    @lillywho 5 месяцев назад +32

    Those discord notification sounds drive me nuts...

  • @schalitz1
    @schalitz1 5 месяцев назад +12

    Was just in Cleveland the other day. It has far more potential than pretty much any other rust belt city, in my opinion, due to its heavy and light rail lines. Its main problem as you said its that they've failed to develop high density areas around the stations.

  • @CoachHoffmanOL
    @CoachHoffmanOL 4 месяца назад +4

    I appreciate the time and effort you put into this video. Shaker has been wishy washy regarding TOD (excepting the Van Aken District) but RTA has been more proactive. RTA has studied TOD in-depth and has begun selling/leasing some of its land along the Red Line for mixed-use development. I'm just hoping Shaker and RTA come together regarding the Green Line: There is prime land to develop and the Green and Warrensville Stations. The City of Cleveland has also begun to get more proactive about density along its portions of the Green, Blue, and Red Lines.
    There's also the money aspect. RTA has sunk hundreds of millions into infrastructure improvements on the Green, Blue, Red, and Waterfront Lines. Hundreds of millions more is being spent on a new, universal rolling stock to serve all lines, regardless of their current heavy or light rail status. The Red Line stock is due to be replaced in 2026 and the Green/Blue/Waterfront in 2030. RTA wouldn't invest all this money to abandon the rails anytime soon.
    I do love your idea to realign the busses to better serve the rail lines. RTA can both cut down on bus stock and increase rail ridership. A great combo of cost-cutting and income generation.
    -The son of a longtime, now retired RTA Rail Department employee.

  • @MilesinTransit
    @MilesinTransit 4 месяца назад +6

    Really good video! I recently rode the Cleveland light rail for the first time, and my Green Line train literally ran nonstop from Green Road to Shaker Square because no one was getting on or off. West Green Road has to be one of the most baffling light rail stations I've ever seen... Meanwhile my Blue Line ride wasn't packed or anything, but the land use along it is just so much better, and at least one person used every stop.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  4 месяца назад +4

      Thanks! That definitely has been my experience riding the green line versus the blue line as well. It'll be interesting to see how that changes as development patterns in Cleveland change. Hope you'll be able to come visit again once the waterfront line is fully up and running regular service as well!

    • @williamerazo3921
      @williamerazo3921 28 дней назад +2

      Miles when were you in Cleveland.? You got a video coming out?

  • @AverytheCubanAmerican
    @AverytheCubanAmerican 5 месяцев назад +8

    Having signal priority, dense housing around stations, pedestrian-oriented infrastructure, and accessibility are all keys to a successful system and a strong city. In Jersey City, the HBLR has played a role in bringing so much development to downtown. When Jersey Ave and Marin Blvd stations opened in 2000, they were in the middle of brownfields! Now, they're surrounded by lots of apartments and condos. It's not a perfect system but the HBLR gets the job done at unifying Hudson County! They went above and beyond to serve everyone, whether it's building an underground station in the Weehawken Tunnel (formerly used by West Shore Railroad/NY Central trains) to serve Bergenline Ave in Union City or building an elevator off the Palisades at 9th St/Congress St so people living in JC's The Heights can access the station down in Hoboken.

  • @MrTacarr
    @MrTacarr 5 месяцев назад +3

    They are currently redesigning Lee rd. Much of the funding is already in place. Shaker is also rezoning most of the street for larger mixed use development. Currently it is illegal to have a restaurant on the street because of outdated regulations. The real reason for people not using the rail lines is poor service. Service is scheduled for every 30 minutes. The trains are frequently broken due to lack of maintenance. You cannot expect to keep a job if your transportation is unreliable. Residents are given a choice between having a car or tossing a coin when it comes to to arriving on time.

  • @mxhe9457
    @mxhe9457 5 месяцев назад +29

    Me and my friends from Toronto went to visit Cleveland last year. While we were taking photos of the light rail at one of the stations, a transit supervisor approached us and asked why we were taking photos. After telling him we were just visiting, he said we were not allowed to take photos and threatened to have us arrested at the end of the line. We never did however. Horrible staff on the RTA.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +9

      Yikes! I had quite the opposite reaction from RTA staff. Every time they saw me with a camera, the operators got super excited and started a conversation. Sucks that you had such a negative experience while here.

    • @marka5478
      @marka5478 5 месяцев назад +9

      Photography is permitted, as long as one does not interfere with the operation of the vehicles or passengers. This employee should have been reported.

    • @williamerazo3921
      @williamerazo3921 28 дней назад

      Hmm that’s weird. They don’t care

  • @rust_belt_city_enjoyer
    @rust_belt_city_enjoyer 5 месяцев назад +19

    Wow! This is a really well done video :)

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +3

      Thank you!

  • @TheFlyingMooseCA
    @TheFlyingMooseCA 5 месяцев назад +2

    A lot of us don't know too much about Cleveland's transit, let alone light rail there, so thanks for sharing the detailed look - great video :)

  • @middletransport
    @middletransport 5 месяцев назад +9

    I wonder if a branch line service is a possible option, with the Green Line simply running as a shuttle to the line split, and increasing the Blue Line service to a 20 min frequency. It would be a pity if the Green Line became VTA Almaden Shuttle 2.0 and closing down.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      One of the proposals I've seen seems to have something like that. I think they had the green line operate as a shuttle service but only during rush.

  • @scottmichaud9454
    @scottmichaud9454 3 месяца назад +1

    As someone on the Westside my biggest thing is how hard it is to get to the redline via bus or walking due to the spacing of stations and destinations. I would take the train or the bus everyday to work downtown if it wasn't a 1 hr process from the Westside of Lakewood. All lines need more buses heading to the stations and stations need more frequency to aid the redlines growth in ridership.

  • @calvinunroe2312
    @calvinunroe2312 5 месяцев назад +3

    Very well done video explaining the LRT lines in Cleveland, ideally TOD keeps being developed along the green and blue lines

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +2

      Thank you! Yes, hopefully TOD efforts continue!

  • @josephwelch992
    @josephwelch992 5 месяцев назад +1

    I loved this video, I hope you make more Cleveland content soon! Regarding the Green line, Id love to see and extension to Cedar/Richmond and use its less-dense through neighborhoods as express perhaps and focus more on station placement and less on route throughput. :3

  • @paikiwika
    @paikiwika 4 месяца назад

    Very well done! Please make more urbanism videos like this. I dig the 70s music too, which kinda reminds me of Alan Fisher's videos, but of course you have your own style. I just subscribed. I hope your channel grows and gets more subscribers!

  • @exploringsydneysrailways
    @exploringsydneysrailways 5 месяцев назад +4

    Great video, really well-produced! It seems so strange to me that a train system as built-out as Cleveland's could be struggling with ridership, though this makes sense considering the population decline of the city. I hope Cleveland grows again in the future with transit-oriented developments like these.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you! Yes, that's the hope!

    • @Newbyte
      @Newbyte 5 месяцев назад +2

      I've visited Cleveland and the video is spot-on about the rail systems just not really taking you where you want. I travelled with plenty of buses (and an imposter trolley, lol) when I was there but the only time I went by rail was when a station was called "Little Italy" so I felt curious what that would entail. Ironically, I had to take the bus to a different station to actually get to "Little Italy" because the one I saw it on was closed because it's apparently only open when the Browns are playing? I even took the bus back from there because when I'd walked from "Little Italy" to an actually interesting area nearby the best mode of transport to get back in terms of speed was not walking back to the red line I'd taken there but rather the HealthLine. Even just finding the red line's station in Tower City was tricky.

  • @WilliamThorsson-zg4yy
    @WilliamThorsson-zg4yy 5 месяцев назад

    AWESOME video. I personally hope they focus on further Van Aken development and Shaker Square redevelopment. Those are places that already have some popularity, so bringing in more businesses seems doable and would boost light rail ridership. I'll also say even if it has lower ridership, I view the Green Line as invaluable. It's the only rail line in Cleveland that takes riders to nature (Nature Center, Beechwood Park). It's so nice to step off a train and be able to access nature within minutes of walking.

  • @THE_IRON_HORSE
    @THE_IRON_HORSE 5 месяцев назад +1

    Very great video bud, I live 15 mins from Cleveland on the NS Chicago Line, and when ever i go to Cleveland I ride it just because and yeah the trains are very empty which is sad, but yeah if there was more jobs, there woukd be ore ridership, my moms freind lives off the green line and i thought it was amazing that people can just hop on the train cuz its so close but at what cost there no need to, if they made more jobs and a good real purpose to really take it, it would get way more higher ridership

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      For sure! One thing I love about TOD is that it places jobs right next to the station. Hopefully Cleveland's 15 minute city legislation helps to spur ridership!

  • @SigmaRho2922
    @SigmaRho2922 5 месяцев назад +4

    The replacement of the light rail rolling stock with Siemens S2000 trains and the conversion of the Red Line from heavy rail to light rail is going to partially solve the problem.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Let's hope!

    • @SigmaRho2922
      @SigmaRho2922 5 месяцев назад

      @@spd_bird If the RTA decides to close the Green Line then it would make sense to convert it into a BRT route.

  • @railsand
    @railsand 5 месяцев назад

    banger editing, great vid

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Thank you!

  • @forkast
    @forkast 5 месяцев назад +3

    Great vid!

  • @nickmorr8649
    @nickmorr8649 5 месяцев назад +1

    Instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, I think it would be wonderful (however expensive) to re-route the Green Line up into Cleveland Heights and over to University Heights where there is a much denser and more economically diverse population, destinations (theater, cinema, bars/restaurants, concert venues, colleges), and new dense developments already underway. It would be well cheaper to do this here than in most cities starting from scratch. There is currently no good way to get from The Heights to downtown unless you bike to the Green Line.

  • @BorIlovar
    @BorIlovar 5 месяцев назад

    Great video

  • @Blank00
    @Blank00 5 месяцев назад

    Would you consider it a start that they ordered Siemens trams to replace the Red Line trains and maybe the Blue/Green/Waterfront trams?

  • @elliotgilfix2108
    @elliotgilfix2108 5 месяцев назад +3

    Lakewood would be very well served by a light rail line or streetcar looping around Madison and Detroit. Maybe someday.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Yes! In the meantime, I would love to see some real BRT serve Lakewood as well

    • @user-ge5wj3ko7r
      @user-ge5wj3ko7r 5 месяцев назад

      Lakewood had one! It extended west out of Cleveland, along Clifton. They scrapped the line back in the fifties and used buses instead.

    • @BIFC216
      @BIFC216 3 месяца назад

      Lakewood is already served by the redline they're replacing the entire rail fleet so they'll be fine

  • @mtrmotrio3963
    @mtrmotrio3963 5 месяцев назад

    Man your video is really high quality. The editing and the music is especially nice. But please remove those discord notifications sounds.

  • @tylermcintyre1454
    @tylermcintyre1454 5 месяцев назад +1

    Tyler Mac we need the vacation

  • @CMGCRMN
    @CMGCRMN 5 месяцев назад +1

    So well done. I lived on Overlook / top of the hill from 2010-2012, and rode the HealthLine, Green Line, and Red Line all throughout that time. Your analysis of the green line is spot-on. The streetcar-suburb history of the green and blue line is almost unique in the US and I think has a great place in the 21st century.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you! Yes, the more I learned about the green/blue lines, the more I realized just how unique they were along with the city of Shaker Heights itself!

  • @jacksonp2397
    @jacksonp2397 5 месяцев назад

    phenomenal

  • @elliotgilfix2108
    @elliotgilfix2108 5 месяцев назад +2

    It’s beyond silly that the blue line and green line don’t have signal priority. Light rail trains should never have to wait at a red light.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Literally had the same thought when I first rode them!

  • @boomerangbrian7133
    @boomerangbrian7133 5 месяцев назад +1

    I really want top see the Blue Line rerouted from Shaker Square to University Circle and Cleveland Clinic. It would be a short line that would make a HUGE difference! If done right, with stations very close to hospitals, it would likely at least double rail system ridership from day one. Imagine directly connecting all those jobs and appointments at the hospitals, universities, and institutes to the wonderful apartments lining the Blue Line. With the local community non profit development org owning Shaker Square, the time is now for maximizing that investment. Added bonus, since that would be much shorter than running downtown, the Blue Line would get better frequency with the same amount of trains and staff.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      For sure!

  • @jfjjgbggkhv
    @jfjjgbggkhv 5 месяцев назад +1

    With RTA buying new rolling stock that can run on both high and low platforms, closing the green would be counterproductive. If anything, the off peak service should increase to 15minute headway to increase the attractiveness and overall travel time. And once the Waterfront line and the change of rolling stock is complete there should be either green or blue overlapping to the airport and the other running on the waterfront line. One thing though that might be downgraded though is the number of stations on the green line . They are very closely spaced for being in a suburb, with average distances that might make sense in a city centre but not there. So keep the line open but close some stations on it. (This might hold true for the blue line as well)
    Last, if there were two lines between the airport and Tower City Center, it might be worth building infill stations between Ohio city and W 65 Lorain and -Cudell Station. (Possible also one between Puritas and Brook Park)

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      15 minute headways off-peak would be great! The only challenge to that would be the massive operator shortage that the RTA is facing which is why the waterfront line isn't even fully operational yet. I'm also skeptical as to how much of an increase in ridership that would generate for the green line versus prioritizing other lines since ridership potential is severely limited by adjacent land use and demographics, but it's an interesting idea. Stop spacings definitely need to be improved on both light rail lines. To their credit, in one of the TOD plans, there was actually a proposal to consolidate Warrensville and Farnsleigh (but it didn't look at other stops along the line).

    • @jfjjgbggkhv
      @jfjjgbggkhv 5 месяцев назад

      If there is a driver shortage I guess there are usually two ways of fixing it, either pay more or check if there is a workplace issue. As far as I have been able to see from open sources, RTA's income is greater than the operational expenses so if it's money it shouldn't be a problem. I think closing down should be avoided because once closed down it will likely never come back. IIRC the waterfront line is also only half-finished, isn't it? It was supposed to go back into the city centre and then out again wasn't it? Curious to see if you could make a feasibility study of leading it up on a ramp and then either converting line 1 or 3 to light rail.@@spd_bird

  • @mrxman581
    @mrxman581 5 месяцев назад +1

    Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it's worth saving. It's only 16 miles long even though it opened in 1996. 16 miles after 28 years implies a failed transit system with low ridership.
    LA Metro light rail started in 1990 with one line and now has 95 miles of light rail with four lines and growing. Two additional light rail lines have already been approved and will start construction in a year or two. And two existing lines are being expanded.

  • @Fenix-MU
    @Fenix-MU 5 месяцев назад +1

    Perhaps that plan to unify all 3 lines into a single light rail system could help the Blue/Green lines. But I have no idea if they’re going forward with this plan or was just an idea

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      There have been some proposals for consolidating green/blue line service onto just the blue line but I've only ever seen it as a proposal by outside consultants and members of the public, not the RTA itself.

    • @MarloSoBalJr
      @MarloSoBalJr 5 месяцев назад +1

      This is probably the best option tbh. Maybe leave the Green Line as a short route to/from Shaker Square so that the infrastructure doesn't go to waste

  • @qjtvaddict
    @qjtvaddict 5 месяцев назад

    Why not replace the LRT with an EL? Then extend it to new areas?

  • @a81517
    @a81517 5 месяцев назад

    Oh my God its the rust belt enjoyer

  • @9842JB
    @9842JB 5 месяцев назад +1

    Hell yeah! TOD!

  • @marktownend8065
    @marktownend8065 5 месяцев назад

    Perhaps extend the lines to the denser housing and employment sites around the interstate junctions. Say North Randall for the blue line, Mayfield for the Green. The end stations could become hubs for the surrounding more rural areas.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      I was thinking the same thing! RTA actually had plans for that. They had bridges built and owned ROW for a green line extension and proposed a blue line extension. Unfortunately, it seems that the RTA changed course at some point and sold off the ROW to the city of Shaker Heights. The bridges were also demolished and filled in, basically killing the green line extension proposal. It seems that the RTA is focused on improving existing transit service more than expanding it (which makes sense given low ridership and inadequate operations funding).

  • @SebisRandomTech
    @SebisRandomTech 5 месяцев назад +1

    Pittsburgh’s light rail system suffers from a lot of the same issues as Cleveland’s. The transit agency here has little interest in keeping at least one of the lines running.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Hopefully they keep it around! Pittsburgh's system is pretty unique in many ways.

    • @urbanpreppie05
      @urbanpreppie05 5 месяцев назад

      so that’s not totally true. the issue is that the silver lines southern leg needs a lot of repairs and maintenance for admittedly a lower used line, especially post covid. The current study is that they want to bring back the brown line to penn station- which would serve more people, cost way less (the lines are maintained all the time) and serve one of the most urban and diverse neighborhoods with a high frequency of transit users already.
      Don’t get me wrong- the PRT should not only keep the silver leg line to library and reopen the brown line to penn. But if they need to pick one or the other? Brown line all the way.

    • @SebisRandomTech
      @SebisRandomTech 5 месяцев назад

      @@urbanpreppie05 The "best use study" for the Allentown/Penn Station lines is good to see and I'd like service restored over those rails. But as Kezi pointed out in the video regarding Cleveland shutting down any electrified light rail line at a time when every other city is constructing new lines is short sighted and a step in the wrong direction. PRT openly admitted to considering scrapping the whole system as recently as last year, as pointed out in some of Ed Blazina's reporting over on Union Progress, and aren't really trying to hide their disdain for maintaining the Silver Line. To me it's a snowball effect - PRT has for years been scaling back service on the Silver Line, reducing frequencies, getting rid of two-car trains, not giving regularly scheduled Silver Line trains priority when they're running extra Blue/Red line trains for Steelers games (I've had to wait at the signal by Washington Junction for as long as 15 minutes while they let game trains pass), and starting in a few weeks evening service is only shuttling riders to Washington Junction. This all has the effect of making the line less convenient to ride, which leads to lower overall ridership and once again reduced service. The agency also has not been in open communication with municipal leaders in Bethel Park, who have plans to redevelop land along the line and adjust zoning laws to allow for transit-oriented development similar to what Shaker Heights has been doing with the RTA lines. My modest suggestion of improving wayfinding/signage at the line's stops was shot down by leaders at PRT. I'm aware of the reality of the situation, but PRT isn't even trying. They for their entire existence have had little interest in maintaining or expanding rail, and it's frankly a miracle we even have the light rail system at all.

  • @thomasoneill6818
    @thomasoneill6818 5 месяцев назад

    I would guess that a large % of residents along the green line work in either Univ Circle or CCF area, rather than downtown - making it mainly useful as transportation to sporting events

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Probably! Also, job sprawl is pretty bad in the Cleveland metro area so that also reduces the utility of the light rail lines.

  • @qjtvaddict
    @qjtvaddict 5 месяцев назад

    The green and blue lines need to be straight up rerouted and de interlined and serve new areas like the museum of natural history and the university areas. The green line should be extended to places people are heading to.

  • @user-ox9yd8cm9s
    @user-ox9yd8cm9s 5 месяцев назад +1

    This was a great vid!! I'm curious though as to why you didn't talk about the new train cars the city is getting that'll allow trains to cross from the red line to the blue/green lines. Do you think the new route options that allows could help increase ridership?

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +2

      Thank you! Yes, the new trains and route options may help to boost ridership, especially if there's a direct connection to University Circle instead of having to transfer onto the red line. It will be interesting to see how large of an impact such routes could have.

  • @Wolfletech
    @Wolfletech 5 месяцев назад +1

    One thing people don't realize is the long term impact such projects have for the area. High Speed Rail between Madison and Milwaukee was going to stop in the cities between on the route and it would have made the corridor grow as a part of it as it. Madison is moving towards selecting a place for an amtrak station but no passenger rail track directly to it. So Rail is good, people want it, just the few get in the way preventing the growth of the community.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      It's sad to see when a rail project like that dies. Ohio was supposed to have rail service connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati about 10 years ago. However, the governor rejected federal funding and killed the proposal. Luckily, Ohio is being given a second chance now so hopefully the state takes full advantage of it.

  • @Newbyte
    @Newbyte 5 месяцев назад +1

    Why did you put a Discord notification sound at 0:21?

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +2

      I recorded the clip while Discord was running in the background. I didn't realize the notification sound was in the recording until after uploading lol

  • @SRN42069
    @SRN42069 25 дней назад

    Please put on do not disturb mode in discord while filming.

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    ya gotta invest

  • @icetow33
    @icetow33 5 месяцев назад

    It would be sad to lose any light rail since so many places would like to have that type of service. Unfortunate there hasn't been more TOD but maybe that's just a reality of the economic situation in the area.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +2

      Yeah, it's stuck between a rock and a hard place. Luckily, some areas around Cleveland (such as Ohio City) are actually seeing good TOD happen so TOD in certain areas are not out of the picture. It'll just be slower to foster and less prevalent compared to other US cities. Cleveland did pass "15-minute city" legislation (Transportation Demand Management) so hopefully that helps!

  • @Bluestreak589
    @Bluestreak589 7 дней назад

    Why haven't I used the Green Road line in 20 years? Its become completely inconvenient (only was ever minimally convenient) to get to. SHRT should have been expanded eastward and run down the median of I-271 (since wiped out by the express lanes) towards Painesville and Mentor decades ago. That would have made the line infinitely more useful for me - A guy who much prefers rail to busses (which have also become a major problem with increasingly limited useful service). Back in the early 2000s the Green Road line is how I got to Cleveland State every day - Ended up being easier and faster for reasons rather than trying to deal with a #9 bus most of the time. Also - Turn off Discord when recording voiceovers...

  • @davidkacprzyk1989
    @davidkacprzyk1989 5 месяцев назад +1

    Pittsburgh light rail has the same problem.

  • @Frahamen
    @Frahamen 5 месяцев назад +2

    why can't the richest country in the world not afford public transit while far poorer countries all can?

  • @marka5478
    @marka5478 5 месяцев назад

    You totally neglected the fact that RTA is re-equipping the car fleet with Siemens S200 LRVs with dual platform capabilities. This will allow through-routing from the Blue and Green Lines with the Red Line to Hopkins Airport. Also, with one type of car on the roster, maintenance would be easier and parts inventories would be lower.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      Yup, the $308 million rebuild I mentioned also includes the new rail cars. The reason I didn't mention it specifically was because the main cost was not maintenance but operators/wages which are holding the system back. The operator shortage right now means that the RTA doesn't even have enough people to operate the waterfront line during regular hours. I'm therefore skeptical towards new vehicles generating a significant increase in ridership but it'll be interesting to see what happens.

  • @idk-ol2it
    @idk-ol2it 5 месяцев назад

    expand it to the highways expanding the green line to highway and making a park and ride would increase riders

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      That's actually the original proposal by the RTA! However, they shifted priorities and have sold off the ROW for the extension. All of the bridges going over a future extension have also been filled in, basically meaning that the RTA does not intend to extend the green line in the future

  • @alihaleem8264
    @alihaleem8264 4 месяца назад

    I can't believe that Cleveland has lost two thirds of its population since the 50s. I mean, I understand why, it's just unfathomable to me idk

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    no parking requirements

  • @yukaira
    @yukaira 5 месяцев назад

    light rail in cleveland some mooore

  • @neuralwarp
    @neuralwarp 5 месяцев назад

    Oh, you mean New Cleveland, not the original one in Britain.

  • @F4URGranted
    @F4URGranted 5 месяцев назад

    Ok i dont want to be that guy, but seeing a fellow furry who also makes transit content?? Instant sub from me 😂

    • @F4URGranted
      @F4URGranted 5 месяцев назад

      Now after watching this video is absolutely fantastic quality!! Your graphics following roads and circles on maps are very easy to follow, and if you keep quality like this, I will watch every video! Your analysis on the TOD along light rail seems like many places in America, all bark, until development and approval comes push to shove. Thank you!

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      Furbanists unite! :3

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    add commuter rail

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    or build more heavy rail

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    longer trains

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    re-direct it-duh

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    decrease stations

  • @morewi
    @morewi 5 месяцев назад

    The housing isn't the issue it's the the "squalid" conditions around the station people don't like to walk in dirty, poorly lite areas

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      If you're talking about just the blue line, you're not wrong! Housing density there is definitely less of an issue relative to the walkability of the area

    • @morewi
      @morewi 5 месяцев назад

      Well I'm not from Cleveland so i can't talk about what the area looks like but where i live in the Chicago suburbs there is a train station that's surround by single family housing and a busy road and the parking lot is always packed full of cars. It sounds like the issue is accessing the station but again i don't know what the area is like

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      @@morewi That makes sense! I'm guessing that a lot of the demand is from the fact that Chicago has more jobs located in the city (higher job density) compared to Cleveland, so vehicle traffic and convenience probably play more of a driving factor for ridership via a Park-n-ride, despite surrounding land use.

    • @morewi
      @morewi 5 месяцев назад

      @@spd_bird well I know Cleveland did have a pretty big population loss but how many jobs actually left the city?

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад

      @@morewi It's hard to find exact numbers but from just 2000 to 2010, Cleveland lost 78,000 manufacturing jobs, and that's well after Cleveland began its decline in the 70s. I'd assume it was much worse overall since population loss probably reflected job loss.

  • @danielfrancella5219
    @danielfrancella5219 19 дней назад

    You also have to remember Cleveland keeps on losing population. I think light rail is way better than light rail in Pittsburgh.

  • @oliveryue4076
    @oliveryue4076 5 месяцев назад +5

    I am not living in Ohio so I am only guessing. Does low light rail ridership symptoms of metro Cleveland declining population and "relatively" weak economy?

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  5 месяцев назад +1

      It is definitely a contributing factor! A lot of people and jobs left the city for surrounding suburbs and population growth has been stagnant, essentially killing a transit system that functions best in bringing people into downtown for jobs.

  • @Daniel-ci4cd
    @Daniel-ci4cd 5 месяцев назад

    screw motorusts

  • @commentorsilensor3734
    @commentorsilensor3734 Месяц назад

    I don't live in Cleveland, but your argument to save light rails.
    Please enlighten us more when you bring non sense.
    Most light rails outside New York stop less places.
    Bus stops more places.
    Thats the reason eails are faster. Of course, your argument is valid.
    How do people get to places where rails, walk 3 miles or take bus. As the result, people prefer to take bus. That's what happens in LA. LA has built a bunch rails. Google is so smart to tell people who cannot park their cars at both end, aka non car drivers, take bus. I don't believe. I look the bus n train schedule. Taking 2 buses is faster than taking 2 buses n one train.
    Thats the reason people taking buses in Cleveland. It would be nice if both exist. However , if bus help people, and there is budget issue, why keep light rails. Other places are building light rails because they are following footsteps of LA to build parking lots at each station, to maintain expensive rail, LA has cut down already lousy services.
    You wanted Cleveland to do same thing. Public transportation in Cleveland is terrible, n you want non car drivers to suffer just to fulfill your stupid rail dreams.
    I hust report for your selfish.

    • @spd_bird
      @spd_bird  Месяц назад +1

      I think you missed the point of the video. At no point did I recommend eliminating bus service to feed light rail frequency. Also, Metro systems and local buses complement each other- you shouldn't only see them as a zero-sum game if you truly understand the reasons behind poor transit quality (low ridership and poor funding)

    • @commentorsilensor3734
      @commentorsilensor3734 Месяц назад

      @spd_bird my apologies. For rail videos, I usually stopped when I sense. When you compare bus route n rail route, n state rail is quicker, I got agitated. Not again, another you need car rail video.
      Again my apology.
      Your video is pro transit.
      Unfortunately, your video will just be dreams.
      LA started building TOD 25 years ago. The studio apartment was 3200 a month. That was way above average rent in the area. I understand real estate near train stations. it's true everywhere. In many places, poor people live near bus stops that will take them to train stations. Upper middle class live near train stations. In LA, very rich people live in TOD. The difference is in other countries upper middle class take busee n trains. In LA, very rich living in TOD drive TESLA, Mercedes. The director who I used to work with. She lived in TOD. she did have intention to reduce driving, but that didn't help. The company we used to work was 2 miles from train station. She wouldn't walk 2 miles. That's typical in LA. Just like the rest of world, TOD are unaffordable to many people. Transportation is only good within TOD. In some areas, only one lousy bus connecting to TOD.
      Past 30 years, LA has built so many rails n TOD. A lot recruiters called me for jobs in the cities that have train stations. I tried to get addresses. I googled it. It turned out it is faster to take 3 hour buses than taking trains. The sad thing is when I google, it's 1 hour bus from train stations, 45 to 75 minute walking, 5 minute driving. Those are areas are fully developed with walkable. For example, Culver city is one of them. I used to walk 2 hours to do window shopping. Lots of people live, work, shop at Culver city. Culver city is small, but getting from Culver city station to an office buildings in mid Town Culver city is mission impossible by taking bus. That's how screw up LA has been doing on rail n TOD.
      It's mentality. If people insist on driving to train stations, every thing remains the same. I remember sitting in my friend car. She would rather spend 2 hours finding free parking lots nearby in Chinatown than park her cars at train stations n take trains. Some People take trains so they don't have to drive long distance, but if trains don't go to their destinations, they drive. Across the nation, politicians n transit agencies listen to you need cars to use rail advocates. We can talk all we want. Things will get worst. I do agree with you. If there is budget crunch, Green line should be axed. That's like dream. Most likely, so called duplicate bus routes will be cut.
      I appreciate your pro transit riders n I apologize for rude statements.
      BTW, someone did make video on how great Culver city is with train station. I watched the whole thing. Some parts, I actually watched 3 times, so I do not make stupid comments like this. I got so agitated n fight back. That was legit because I kept watching. The comments above were insolent because I am getting tired of people praise trains. I know people get credit if I watch. I do not want to give credit to the people I do agree. Well that is the problem about my terrible comments.
      Thank you n sorry for misunderstanding

  • @scruf153
    @scruf153 4 месяца назад

    ban private cars from within the city limits

    • @jasonpoole2093
      @jasonpoole2093 Месяц назад +1

      Yes, let's limit people's options. SMH