By ideastream's Brian Bull
Rail passengers – who use both city and regional train lines – will have a say in improving their travel experience as well as discuss possible expansions tomorrow. A national non-profit that advocates for public transit is hosting its annual meeting in Cleveland.
The Rail Users Network is asking riders everywhere to meet with them at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s headquarters in the downtown area.
RTA spokeswoman Linda Krecic says they were asked to host the event, which includes a public comment period. She says these sessions help customers and transit services understand each other.
“Often times we do hear comments…“Oh, we’d love to have more rail” or “we’d like to see you extend service to a certain area” and it helps them to understand why that can’t be done, or perhaps it is on the drawing board, or what costs are involved to actually bring that about.”
Krecic adds it’s good to hear new ideas from transit advocates as well. She says besides spreading the word about existing services, they can also highlight budget challenges in trying to get the state to prioritize rail and public transit as well as highways.
The American Public Transportation Association says last year, national ridership rates were at their highest in 58 years.
Richard Rudolph is president of the Rail Users Network. He says two groups are behind the growth. First, elderly people who need mobility but don’t want to drive. And then there’s millennials.
“Young people really don’t particularly want to drive around. They’re more interested in using their electronic stuff. And of course it’s not really safe to be doing electronics and driving your car.”
In Ohio, Columbus saw a three percent rise in ridership from 2013 to 2014. And while ridership levels have remained relatively flat over a three-year period, Cleveland’s ridership levels are almost double the rates of Columbus and Cincinnati combined.
NOTE: The Greater Cleveland RTA is hosting the one-day event at its headquarters in the downtown area, with a public session Saturday afternoon
A presentation by RTA CEO Joe Calabrese will begin at 1:30pm, followed by other presentations by the RTA Citizen's Advisory Board, All Aboard Ohio, and Amtrak.
A one-hour discussion will follow, encouraging public input and feedback.
For more information:
Rail Users Network: http://railusers.net/index.php?link=home
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority: http://www.riderta.com/