Rider's Digest -- June 2017

Rider's Digest -- June 2017

Ride C-Line trolley to Flats East Bank, through Labor Day

You can now ride the C-Line trolley to Flats East Bank from 7-11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. weekends. The summer pilot service runs through the Labor Day weekend.

Service is always free with a smile. From the Warehouse District, the trolley heads west down the Main Avenue hill, turns north on West 11th Street in front of Punch Bowl Social, and goes east on Front Avenue to return to the Warehouse District.

The trolley also serves the Tower City Station and Jack Cleveland Casino on Public Square, the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and the Global Center for Health Innovation, Playhouse Square and East Fourth Street.

Major events at Flats East Bank this month include:

  • June 2, Flat Out Pride, 7 p.m.-midnight, an outdoor kick-off party for Pride in the CLE on Old River Road along Flats East Bank Waterfront, includes live music, entertainment, food and more. It is a celebration of Cleveland’s LGBT community.
  • June 9, Flat Out Friday. On the second Friday of each month, June to September, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance presents free Flat Out Friday at 6 p.m. Enjoy live music by the waterfront along with sweet treats, beverages and other outdoor entertainment. On June 9, the Spazmatics play on Old River Road by the water. Other events are July 12, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8.

Ride RTA to all University Circle area attractions

University Circle hosts many great summer events, and RTA can take you to all of them.

Many events are on or close to Euclid Avenue, where the HealthLine operates 24/7. The Red Line Rapid Transit has two convenient stations – Cedar-University, near CWRU, and the Little Italy-University Circle Station on Mayfield Road, in the heart of Little Italy.

The calendar includes:

June 30: Ride RTA to free Cleveland Orchestra Downtown concert

The Cleveland Orchestra presents its free Independence Day concert Friday, June 30, on the grassy slopes of Mall B.

Bring your own chair or blanket. The lineup:

  • 6 p.m., Food trucks and pre-concert activities.
  • 9 p.m., Concert begins.
  • 10 p.m., A fireworks display follows the concert.

Mall B, located between Lakeside Avenue and St. Clair Avenue, is a short walk from RTA’s Tower City Station. Music lovers are encouraged to ride the Red Line, Blue Line, or Green Line to the event. Green Line rail service that usually ends at 9 p.m. will be extended for the Orchestra concert. The last Green Line train to depart Tower City for Green Road will be at midnight. Red Line and Blue Line will operate regular service, which is also until after midnight.

RTA Web site lists apps with real-time data

Joining a national trend, RTA now offers open-source data.

Real-time bus location info is available on the RTA Web site. See the links to 6 available smartphone apps. Other apps will be added as they become available.

App developers can access data here, or send e-mail.

Use caution when installing new software on your mobile device. If you need support, contact the specific app developer directly.

Do you support alternative modes of transportation?

RTA is pleased to support the 2017 Commuter Choice Awards – a program from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), in partnership with Sustainable Cleveland and Cleveland 2030 District.

The program recognizes organizations that encourage employees and customers to use alternative transportation modes to support green commuting. Participating organizations are eligible to win great prizes and recognition at a special event in the fall.

It’s easy to enter. The process starts with a tracking sheet that must be returned by June 16. Then, your employees have to record their commuting experiences during July.

The more actions you complete and the more outcomes you share, the better chance you have to win.

RTA’s Commuter Advantage program includes more than 800 clients. They have all shown their interest in green commutes by allowing their employees to purchase Monthly Passes with pre-tax dollars. Those firms are encouraged to participate in this program.

For more details about the Commuter Choice awards, call Bev Burtzlaff, 216-241-2414, ext. 321.

RTA wins two major awards

RTA has received the prestigious Gold Award for Commitment to Excellence from The Partnership for Excellence (TPE). The award signifies “performance excellence through innovation, results and visionary leadership using the Baldrige Excellence Framework.”

This is a step up from 2015, when RTA received the Silver Award for Commitment to Excellence. RTA will soon receive a comprehensive report from judges who visited Cleveland in the spring. The report includes recommendations on ways that RTA can improve its programs and operations. Work will begin immediately to assess and prioritize opportunities for improvement where feasible.

“This is a significant step up for RTA,” said CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese. “It’s the hard work and commitment to excellence exhibited by the 2,400 employees every day that is making RTA one of the most well-respected public transit agencies in the nation.”

Safety Awards

RTA has also received a Certificate of Merit for Safety from the American Public Transportation Association. RTA teamed with Lytx DriveCam to promote more responsible bus/Paratransit operator habits and to gather information on safe driving behaviors. RTA implemented a Safety Management System that identifies the most at-risk behaviors and helps to avoid accidents. Over two years,

  • The number of claims against RTA went down from 1,557 to 957.
  • The number of safety events declined from 1,249 to 782.

RTA was also honored at the Annual Occupational Safety and Hygiene Awards. RTA was recognized for having the best Safety record in its peer group.

Where do you go on RTA? Why not tell us – and tell the world?

Share your RTA destinations with Cleveland. Use #IGORTA to post your photos on Twitter or Instagram. You could be eligible to win prizes. The contest ends Aug. 31.

And, your RTA pass can get you discounts for food and fun this summer. Go here for a map and a list of places that offer a discount. Use the hashtag, and your photos will automatically appear on that page.

If you need help planning a trip to the events listed here, use RTA's on-line trip planner, or call 216-621-9500.

For your safety: Tips to keep yourself safe in summer crowds

Transit Police offer these tips to stay safe this summer, especially when you find yourself in congested traffic, or in large crowds.

  • Pedestrians: Use crosswalks, obey traffic signals and watch for vehicles. Avoid distractions, like texting or listening ti music in headphones, while crossing the street. Be alert and listen for vehicles.
  • Everywhere you go: Pay attention to your surroundings.
  • Transit riders: Secure your belongings; protect your electronic devices. On the Rapid, read the emergency evacuation procedures above the doors.
  • See Something, Say Something: Call Transit Police 24/7 at 216-566-5163, or download the free CloseWatch RTA app and report any safety or security concerns via text, video or photo.
  • Parking: Put your junk in the trunk.
  • Plan ahead. During special events, buses may detour off their regular routes. Check Service Alerts. Automated service on the RTAnswerline, 216-621-9500, is available 24/7.
  • Listen to the radio for traffic updates.
  • Leave home early, and allow plenty of time for your trip.
  • Follow directions. Transit Police and RTA staff often work during special events to provide you with a safe, enjoyable trip. Transit Police will enforce regulations with uniformed and plainclothes officers. Your cooperation is appreciated.
  • Park legally. RTA offers plenty of free parking, but do not try to “squeeze in” if a lot is full. Look for an alternative station. Obey all signs. Transit Police will ticket and tow cars that block normal operations.
  • Bicycles are not permitted on trains that carry full loads.