Department of Transportation • Office of Transit • Fall 2007

APTA Names Greater Regional Transit Authority the Best Public Transportation System in the Nation

By Jerry Masek, GCRTA

The Regional Tran- sit (BRT) project, created a quarterly report card for sit Authority (GCRTA) has been named public accountability, implemented a Ride Happy NORTH AMERICA’S BEST PUBLIC or Ride Free service guarantee, introduced popular TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM by the trolleys, improved its financial status and compiled American Public Transportation Asso- four straight years of ridership growth. GCRTA car- ciation (APTA) for systems providing ried 57.2 million riders in 2006. more than 30 million annual passen- ger trips. GCRTA was given the award Enhanced customer service affects every passen- in October 2007 for demonstrating ger. On-time performance has improved 28 per- achievement in efficiency and effective- cent. Reliability has more than doubled. Customer ness. William W. Millar, President of satisfaction levels are up an average of 20 percent a APTA, made the announcement. year. Technology now allows up-to-the-minute cus- tomer information in both cyberspace and at pas- “Congratulations to Joe Calabrese and senger facilities. Major vehicle and fa- the employees of GCRTA for being recognized cility upgrades have been completed, as the 2007 best large transit agency in North making service even more convenient America,” says Millar. “Receiving this presti- for 200,000 customers each weekday. gious honor means that GCRTA and its employ- A new bus fleet is low floor, totally ees are the “best of the best” in North America.” wheelchair-accessible and bike-rack equipped. Through a simple “back to the basics” business plan, GCRTA’s focus is to: enhance customer ser- continues on page 2 vice, improve its image and strength- en its financial health. The agency of- fers light rail, heavy rail, Paratransit, “This is a truly fantastic achievement, highlighting the many accom- Community Circulators, fixed-route plishments realized, and improvements made, by RTA, for the benefit buses and trolleys to serve a popula- of our community and our customers. The net result has been four tion of 1.5 million. consecutive years of ridership growth. I thank our supportive Board of Trustees, our entire community, and especially the many great employ- Through hard work and dedication, ees at RTA, who work hard to make our motto a reality, which is to pro- GCRTA improved service quality vide Quality Service to Every Customer, Every Day.” — Joe Calabrese, and image, broke ground on a pre- Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority CEO & General Manager mium “New-Starts” Bus Rapid Tran-

In This Newsletter Cool Rider - A Regional Approach GDRTA Receives Partnership Award ...... 6 to Public Transit Education ...... 3 ODOT Co-sponsors Defensive Driving Course ... 6 Crawford County Council on Aging Helps Lynn Rathke Retires ...... 7 During Weather Emergency ...... 4 Transit Welcomes Two New Employees ...... 7 People on the Move: Easter Seals Project ACTION Training Sessions invitation ...... 4 STC Distributes 22 Vehicles in Cuyahoga Co. .... 8 Cincinnati Metro’s Government Square Transit .... Transit Moves ...... 8 Center Wins Architectural Award ...... 5 What’s Happening in Your System? ...... 8

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APTA Names Greater Cleveland RTA the Best continued from page 1

Significant efforts have been put into If you build it, they will come. After ers and students with innovative pass employee selection and training, an a decade of decline, four consecutive programs, resulting in much higher incentive program tied to a report years of ridership growth resulted in market penetration. And GCRTA card and a Ride Happy or Ride Free GCRTA receiving the FTA “Success in tripled the number of employers par- customer service pledge. Innovative Enhancing Ridership” Award in 2006. ticipating in Commuter Advantage, a marketing programs and key commu- GCRTA successfully targeted commut- pre-tax fare program. nity relationships have also boosted The future of the agency is bright. GCRTA’s new “I am proud of the outstanding achievements of When the more than $200 million BRT first-class image. the Greater Cleveland RTA. At a time when our Silver Line becomes operational in nation faces important energy issues, we must 2008, it will be GCRTA’s newest Rapid Services have continue to develop and support our public trans- Transit line, providing first-class ser- been upgraded, portation systems. With its commitment and ded- vice while lowering operating costs. It with trolleys ication to the Greater Cleveland community, RTA has already contributed significantly leading the way. has created a model system that other public to more than $2.5 billion in economic Downtown loops transportation systems around the country should development. ODOT’s Transportation were revamped aspire to emulate.” — George V. Voinovich, U.S. Review Advisory Council contributed with simpli- Senator for Ohio $75 million for the project. fied routing and unique, low-floor historic-looking trolleys. Operators competed for the right to dress as “The City of Cleveland is proud to be a partner with RTA in motormen or “ambassadors.” Service many efforts, especially the new Euclid Corridor BRT Silver – underwritten by a sponsor – is “free Line project. This project is a catalyst for development for with a smile.” Daily ridership jumped the City, connecting downtown with many of the City’s as- from 700 to 3,900. sets in an environmentally-friendly, technology-driven way. The Silver Line will ensure future generations of Cleveland- To coordinate senior transportation, ers will benefit from a world-class transportation system.” — GCRTA led in the formation of The Se- Frank G. Jackson, Cleveland Mayor nior Transportation Connection, one of the largest collaborative transportation efforts of its kind in the nation. The co- alition brings together municipal, so- cial service and non-profit agencies to address the travel needs of seniors.

To maintain and improve its financial health, GCRTA learned to do more with less. Annual expenses were re- duced by $25 million, while services were maintained through better utili- zation of staffing, equipment and facil- ities. More than 450 positions and 106 buses were eliminated. Major facilities, departments, and two municipally-op- erated bus lines were consolidated.

Through labor/management coopera- tion, attendance, safety, customer ser- vice and efficiency have steadily im- proved through an incentive-based program called TEAM (Together, Ev- eryone Achieves More).

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Cool Rider - cepted by the education community A Regional Approach to Public Transit Education when she received the call from Robert Haag, Mentor Schools Director of El- By Jessie Baginski, Laketran ementary Education, giving approval for the program to be offered in the Cool Rider is a one cool cat who is leaving his paw prints elementary schools. Within minutes of across . His quest? To teach young chil- that call, several elementary teachers dren the 11-Cool Rules of Riding! His territory? Any location phoned in to book Cool Rider! where young children can be found – preschools, elemen- One of the goals of Cool Rider is to tary schools, recreation sites and community events. cut the path for the next level of tran- sit travel training, the Class Pass pro- Cool Rider is the brainchild of Akron program – a definite at- gram. Class Pass is de- Metro – created to help teach young traction to educators. signed for students in children about bus safety. In the fall of The Cool Rider program grades 4-10 – students 2006, when the marketing profession- includes a 20-minute in- old enough to use tran- als of northeast Ohio’s transit systems class presentation on the sit on their own, but got together to share best practices, rules for the road that are not old enough to drive. Akron Metro unleashed Cool Rider. As applicable for car, bus, or This program will pro- all systems faced substantial decreases train safety, a bookmark vide a 30-60 minute in- in state funding and marketing always with the 11 Cool Rules of class program that cov- feels the pinch, the marketing pro- Riding and proper child ers how to read a system fessionals decided to take a regional safety seat securement, a map and timetables, and approach to their work – they would Laketran activity book, how to plan and prepare share programs and program names and a six-minute video, for your trip on transit. whenever possible to bring continu- featuring that fantastic Classes that complete ity to transit education across the area. feline, Cool Rider. this training are given The program to teach seniors to use a pass that allow the www local fixed route service would adopt Cool Rider crept his .laketran.com teacher to take them as a 1. Stand back from the curb when the name “Freedom Ride” from the way into a few day- waiting for the bus. group, to some other edu- 2. Find the bus number be Portage Area Regional Transportation care programs over fore cational destination in the boarding. Authority, the elementary and junior the summer, each time 3. Have your fare ready when you county using Laketran’s board – exac high bus training program would be proving to be a hit t change please. local fixed routes. The trip 4. Show respec t to other riders – No fighting or throwing thing can be a school field trip adopted from Laketran’s “Class Pass” with even the young- s. 5. Keep your cell phone or after-class activity. In – and the program to teach young chil- est children. Howev- conversations quiet and dren about bus safety would be Akron er, the prime market always use headphones. Lake County, this could 6. Never smoke Metro’s Cool Rider. that would benefit , spit, or litter. be a trip to the James A. 7. Don’ t eat or drink on the bus. from Cool Rider was 8. Keep your head, hands Garfield Historic Home, , and By spring of 2007, Cool Rider had the early elementary arms inside the bus. the Lake County Indian 9. Pull the cord to get off the bus . pounced his way up to Lake County group, grades K-3. 10. Stay seated until the bus stops Museum, or to Headlands . to work with Laketran’s Outreach Spe- Schick knew Cool 11. Stand back from the curb an Beach for ecological stud- d wait f cialist, Julia Schick. Schick enlisted the Rider had been ac- or the bus to pull away. ies. Research indicates that help of the Lake County Safe Com- 1-888-LAKETRAN teaching transit early is a In Partnership with Lake C ounty Safe Communities Coalitio munities Coalition and the Ohio n win-win for students and Department of Public Safety as schools. As school systems funding and information resource face funding deficits, busing for ex- partners. The Perry High School tracurricular activities is often first advanced media class produced to go. Teaching students how to a six-minute Cool Rider video use local transit offers other ben- as their end-of-the-year project. efits as well – parental burdens of Schick then took on the formida- chauffeuring are reduced, students ble task of navigating the jungle become more independent, and of education standards to identify teaching them to navigate their com- those elementary education stan- Cool Rider prepares for a video shoot on munity on transit can translate into dards that would be addressed a bus safety with Michael Blaurock and being more prepared for college and in the 11 Cool Rules of Riding Emma Hunt. to travel the world! please send your articles and picture to Dave Seech - [email protected] 3 OHIO TRANSFER

Crawford County Council on Aging Helps During Weather Emergency By Peg Wells, CCCOA

“Turn around, the water is pretty gency Management and the communi- deep.” “It’s okay,” came the reply, “I ty. There is obviously not only a place, have four wheel drive.” A portion of but also a need for public transit the abandoned and mostly-submerged in emergency preparedness and vehicle was one of many scenes of response. flooding in Bucyrus to appear on the evening news on August 21, 2007, after As a result CCCOA is looking at as much as seven inches of rain fell the how we can be more responsive to night before. the needs of our consumers during an emergency and how to integrate Had reporters arrived a few hours those responses with Emergency earlier, just a short distance away they Management’s plan. would have seen Crawford County Council on Aging’s (CCCOA) park- ing lot with Public Transit vehicles in Easter Seals Project ACTION invites you to water several feet deep. Unlike cars parked on the street in front of the building, the transit vehicles were not People on the Move: damaged. Using All Transportation Options By mid morning, the water that had covered many areas of the city — in- (ADA and beyond…) cluding the CCCOA lot — had receded. A free “train-the-trainer” Unfortunately it was receding into the Sandusky River which cuts through initiative to increase the north end of Bucyrus and, as a re- accessible transportation sult, the river was rising quickly. in your community

Applications are being accepted Although CCCOA has not had the op- for these sessions: portunity to participate in planning efforts, the local office of Emergency February 21-22, 2008 Management is aware of the avail- San Diego, Calif. ability of our vehicles for use in emer- gency situations and contacted the of- March 12-13, 2008 fice for help evacuating residents from New Orleans, La. flooded areas. The caller had no idea how many people might need trans- June 2-3, 2008 port, but wanted help as soon as pos- Washington, D.C. sible. Within minutes several drivers responded to provide assistance. June 25-26, 2008 Bloomington, Ind. While much of what we did was “hur- ry up and wait”, we did transport sev- July 9-10, 2008 eral people, including individuals with Eugene, Ore. special needs, from flooded homes and Easter Seals Project ACTION 1425 K Street, NW buildings. Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 www.projectaction.org We certainly did not do anything he- 800-659-6428 roic, but it was a learning experience 202-347-3066 R for CCCOA and hopefully for Emer- [email protected]

4 please send your articles and picture to Dave Seech - [email protected] OHIO TRANSFER Cincinnati Metro’s Government Square Transit Center Wins Architectural Award By Sallie Hilvers, Cincinnati Metro

Michael Schuster Associ- ates, Inc. (MSA), a Cin- cinnati-based architec- tural design firm, has won the high-level Honor Award for Urban Design and Planning by the Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Ar- chitects (AIA) for the Government Square transit center in down- town Cincinnati.

MSA was the architec- tural firm that worked with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Author- ity (SORTA), which op- erates the Metro transit system, and engineering firm Parsons Brincker- hoff Quade & Douglas on the $9.3 million reno- MSA Owner & Principal Michael Schuster and Metro CEO Michael Setzer at the award- vation of the downtown winning Government Square transit center in downtown Cincinnati. transit center. Govern- ment Square was com- pleted in 2006. for people with disabilities. The new The $9.3 million project was funded square features: primarily through federal and state The AIA Ohio Annual Award Pro- grants, including $4 million in federal • Larger shelters on the main square, gram is highly competitive and funds and $3.7 million from the Ohio MSA new shelters under construction on Department of Transportation (ODOT) was bestowed one of only eight honor Fifth, Walnut and Main streets awards given to architects and design- and its Transportation Review Adviso- ers throughout the state of Ohio. MSA • Safer bus boarding area ry Council (TRAC). received the award at a black-tie ban- • New Fifth Street sidewalk for pe- quet during the AIA Ohio Convention destrians crossing between Walnut Located in the center of downtown in Columbus, Ohio in late September. and Main Cincinnati’s business district, Govern- • Consolidation of more routes for ment Square is Metro’s primary transit “The new Government Square is a vi- easier transfers hub in downtown Cincinnati and the tal part of the downtown renaissance,” largest in Metro’s system. More than • Security camera system said Metro CEO Michael Setzer. half of Metro’s total service is routed “The new design offers our cus- • New information through the area. The Government tomers and the entire down- booth, staffed week- Square area serves 15,000-20,000 cus- town community improved days from 6:00 a.m. to tomers per day. convenience, safety, and ac- 6:00 p.m. cessibility.” • Journey Through SORTA operates both Metro fixed- History panels, route and Access paratransit services The benefits of the Govern- chronicling the his- in the Greater Cincinnati community, ment Square redesign in- tory of the Govern- providing about 22 million rides per clude improved safety, con- ment Square area and year. To learn more, visit www.go- venience, and accessibility transit in Cincinnati metro.com. please send your articles and picture to Dave Seech - [email protected] 5 OHIO TRANSFER GDRTA Receives Access Group’s Partnership Award By Sharon Balderson, GDRTA

The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Mark Donaghy, for expanding RTA’s agement staff, safety committee Authority (GDRTA) was honored by response to the problems of persons members, and all new bus operators Dayton’s Access Center for Indepen- with disabilities. Cochrun also praised participate in sensitivity training at dent Liv- the Access Center. The trainees go ing during through four-hour sessions designed its annual to acquaint people who are not dis- c e l e b r a - abled with mobility, cognition, visual, tion of the speech, and hearing issues, said Har- 17th an- ris Fry, RTA training supervisor. niversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act the authority for a day-long, two-ses- In one exercise, those being trained are (ADA) on July 26, 2007. sion ADA forum held in 2006 to give blindfolded, given a cane, and prompt- residents a chance to air concerns ed to walk a given path. In another, The RTA received the Access Center about accessibility issues related to tube socks are placed over both hands Partnership Award, which recognizes transit. and they must pick up items or local organizations for a relationship try to write with a pencil. with the Access Center that shows “ex- “The RTA addressed A wheelchair obstacle ceptional dedication to the substance every single com- course gives par- of our organization’s mission – to en- plaint expressed ticipants a chance sure that people with disabilities have that day,” Cochrun to feel what it is complete access to the community said. like to navigate side- in which they choose to reside,” said walks, streets, and get Alan Cochrun, the center’s executive A similar forum was held on board an RTA bus during director. again on August 15, 2007, in its usual route. which all who commented were prom- Initiated in 2006, the award is given to ised an answer. While Donaghy said Fry said the training is particularly organizations whom the center feels there is more work to be done to be valuable for new paratransit service demonstrate a “caliber of passion for fully accessible in the community, he operators, giving them a chance to the organization’s guiding principles.” acknowledged RTA’s commitment to compare training exercises with what the process. many of their customers experience Cochrun credited RTA’s management by “putting it into practice on the staff, particularly Executive Director Since Donaghy came on board, man- street.”

ODOT Co-sponsors Defensive Driving Course By Kim White, ODOT

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio of charge, set up in a classroom style, and have a TV and Department of Aging (ODA) will once again co- VCR available. All classes must be open to driv- sponsor a Defensive Driving course for calen- ers from any ODOT or ODA provider. If you dar year 2008. are interested in hosting an on-site class or you have any questions, please contact Kim If you represent a Rural Transit Program White at 614-644-0301 or kim.white@dot. system, Specialized Transportation Pro- state.oh.us. no later than November 26, 2007. gram agency, Ohio Coordination Program project, or receive funding from ODA, you The on-line Defensive Driving course will are eligible to host a class. A minimum of 15 continue to be available in 2008. For more participants is needed to hold a class. You are information on the on-line course, please visit responsible for finding a facility which can ac- the ODOT Office of Transit website at www. commodate at least 40 people. The room must be free dot.state.oh.us/ptrans.

6 please send your articles and picture to Dave Seech - [email protected] OHIO TRANSFER Lynn Rathke Retires After 34 Years of Public Service By Dave Seech, ODOT

Always there, but often in the background, Lynn Rathke We in the Office of Transit played a critical role in the ODOT Office of Transit. As the will miss her wit, wisdom Public Transit Manager over the Special Projects Section, she and tenacity. Marianne was responsible for multiple programs and projects from Freed, the Office of Transit the State Rail Safety and Security Oversight Program to the Administrator said, “Lynn Wright State University Transportation Professional Certi- was one of kind and one of fication Project. Lynn’s ability to stay organized in the face the best kind. We appreci- of an ever changing set of expectations made her a valuable ated her contribution to ODOT and public transit and she asset to the office and to public transit in Ohio. Lynn spent leaves us with so many wonderful initiatives that will con- the last 20 years of her career in public transit including a tinue to benefit public and human service transportation. position as ADA Coordinator for the Central Ohio Transit We also wish her well as she embarks on the next portion of Authority prior to her move to ODOT in 1996. her life’s journey.”

ODOT Office of Transit Welcomes Two New Employees Juana M. Hostin

I am the Urban Transit Dominican College and I received my graduate degree Program Coordinator at from the Ohio State University in public policy and man- ODOT. For the past 23 agement. I am active in WTS which promotes advancing years, I have been em- women in transportation and do fundraising walks for ployed at ODOT: most diabetes, leukemia, sickle cell, and the heart association. recently in the Office of Project Accounting, be- I am a Columbus native and a Buckeye fan. My husband fore that in Project Co- of 22 years, Michael and I have two teenage daughters, ordination, prior to that Midori and Seiko. When I have some spare time, I enjoy in Programming, and before that in the Bureau of Public reading, canoeing, women’s bible study, and snorkeling Transportation. Yes, I started my ODOT career in transit in the Caribbean. and my career has come full circle. I look forward to working with everyone in the transit My bachelor’s degree is in political science from Ohio community.

Rob Frum

I am the newest member of the Office of Transit team. from Ashland University I hail from the hills of eastern Ohio, having worked at in April of 2008. Since I ODOT’s District 11 office for three years. I was fortunate seem to love school so enough to be born and raised in Dover, across the river much, I will probably from New Philadelphia; unlike New Philly native Brett keep taking classes after Harris who was not as lucky. However, I enjoy work- that, but at this time I am ing with Brett, the rest of the Office of Transit team, and unsure where my inter- Ohio’s transit systems on public transportation. I believe ests will lead. this job will provide a great opportunity for me to learn as much as I can about this important mode of transpor- When I am not in school tation. or working, I usually have a full plate of activities and hobbies. I have recently started to build and fly model I earned my Bachelors degree in Information Technology airplanes, and aviation as a whole is of interest to me. from Franklin University and will complete my MBA Also, I enjoy hiking, movies, and reading.

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What’s Happening • In September 2007, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Author- in Transit? ity (TARTA) and the University of Toledo began to study the By Dave Seech, ODOT effectiveness of supplementing biodiesel fuel blends with hy- STC Distributes 22 drogen to improve engine per- New Accessible formance. The study Vehicles in Cuyahoga is funded from a $1.5 million federal grant County issued to the transit system to By Alisa McBride, Senior study alternatives to traditional petroleum fuel. Most of the mon- Transportation Connection • On October 22, 2007, Akron ey was spent for a biodiesel fuel- Metro broke ground for the $17.2 ing island at TAR- Senior Transportation Connection (STC), million Intermodal Transporta- TA’s main garage an Ohio Coordination Program project tion Center that is due to open in and for University that is a non-profit coordinator of senior 2009. The new 14,000-square foot of Toledo testing transportation in Cuyahoga County, an- facility will shift bus transfers of 40 regular-ser- nounced the distribution of 22 new 10- from South Main Street in down- vice buses that passenger, wheelchair lift-equipped ve- town Akron to the new location. now burn a 20-percent blend of hicles. The vehicles were paid for in part It will have a waiting room that biofuel and regular oil. from a Section 5309 earmark grant from can hold 300 people. About 2,500 the Federal Transit Administration. people either transfer from one bus to another on travel to down- The STC began delivering the vehicles town each day. About $12.4 mil- Transit Moves on June 25, 2007 to a variety of both mu- lion of the cost is from federal nicipal and non-profit providers. Recipi- funds with ODOT’s TRAC con- By Dave Seech, ODOT ent agencies included: Catholic Chari- tributing $1.9 million. The city ties, City of Beachwood, City of Bedford of Akron contributed the land, • Welcome to Denita Fields, Gen- Heights, City of Berea, Eliza Bryant Vil- appraised at about $2.3 million. eral Manager for MV Transpor- lage, City of Garfield Heights, Goodrich The remaining funding will be tation, service provider for the Gannet Neighborhood Center, City coming from local sources. Ashtabula County Transporta- of Maple Heights, City of Middleburg tion System. Heights, North Olmsted Commission on Paratransit, City of Richmond Heights, • Welcome to Reginald Arkell, Senior Citizen Resources Inc., City of Transportation Program Special- Strongsville, and TC3 Operations Inc. ist, for the Fed- eral Transit The new vehicles will be used to provide Adm i ni st r a- FTA transportation to seniors and persons • The Department of Homeland tion, Region 5. with disabilities throughout Cuyahoga Security (DHS), Federal Emer- County. Transportation services are gency Management Agency • Farewell and good luck to Dale provided to a variety of destinations, (FEMA), is committed to serving Madison, Director of Develop- including but not limited to, medical, all individuals equally. This com- ment, for Laketran. Dale retired shopping, and social services. mitment extends to individuals after 18 years of service and was with disabilities. FEMA has pro- actively involved in many of Senior Transportation Connection is duced a reference guide for Ac- Laketran’s capital improvement generously supported by the Greater commodating Individuals With projects during his tenure. Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Disabilities In The Provision Of Senior Success Vision Council, St. Luke’s Disaster Mass Care, Housing, • Welcome to Mike Weil, Director Foundation, Sisters of Charity Founda- And Human Services. You can of Transit Security, and Michael tion, Deaconess Community Founda- download a copy of the guide at P. Restle, Controller, for the tion, Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, www.fema.gov/oer/reference/ Southwest Ohio Regional Tran- Ohio Department of Transportation and index.shtm sit Authority. local communities.

8 please send your articles and picture to Dave Seech - [email protected]