Updated: 11:31 a.m., Wedensday, June 16, 2021
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is rolling out its much-anticipated system redesign this week, increasing the frequency of some bus lines, but limiting service in other areas.
Implementation of the redesign has gone well so far, said Clevelanders for Public Transit Chairman Chris Stocking.
鈥淢ost riders that we鈥檝e heard from really like the changes,鈥 Stocking said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of new routes, there鈥檚 more new jobs riders are able to access.鈥
Many of the changes are the direct result of result of public feedback. In the years-long process, riders indicated they preferred more regular service in high-traffic areas, even if it meant losing stops elsewhere.
The transit agency is waiving fares for this first week of new services. That is helping to speed up the process, Stocking said, as people aren鈥檛 waiting as long to get on buses. It could serve as an outline for how to improve efficiency moving forward, he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 good and maybe something RTA should look at as like, what something like all-door boarding or something like a proof of payment system would look like,鈥 Stocking said.
While many of the changes are getting positive feedback, there is some confusion on select routes, Stocking said, particularly Route 25 along Madison Avenue in Lakewood and Cleveland鈥檚 West Side.
The route was supposed to include late-night service under one proposal, Stocking said. Instead, buses stop running at 7 p.m. on weekends and 8 p.m. on weekdays. Confusion over that change has prompted some complaints, he said.
An RTA spokesperson told 海角破解版 via email that 鈥渆vening service鈥 includes all routes that run past rush hour. That includes Route 25, where service continues until 8:01 p.m. eastbound and 8:08 p.m. westbound.
鈥淲e understand where there may be some confusion,鈥 the email said. 鈥淚f no service is provided past rush hour, the route is not included in the 鈥榚vening鈥 category on both interactive map and bus stop signs. However, if there is SOME service past rush hour, the route is included in the 鈥榚vening鈥 category on the map and sign.鈥
Weekday daytime service along that route has improved from hourly to half-hourly, RTA said, and weekend service has shifted from no service to half-hourly.
Stocking said RTA could be doing more in general to reach out to riders during the transition. The transit agency should try harder to hear from riders who don鈥檛 have internet access in particular, he said, and can't access s.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e relied a lot of online surveys, but they haven鈥檛 done as much direct rider outreach as we鈥檇 like,鈥 Stocking said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no paper maps available of the entire system-wide changes.鈥
RTA does have printed versions of the changes for individual routes available, and is answering questions about the redesign by phone for riders without internet access.