08/05/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 8/5/2008 ~~ . Amendment. After a brief discussion, a committee motion was made by Mr. Barker to recommend approval of Ordinances 2008-72 and 2008-73. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gazeau, and the vote was 2-0 for approval. The committee meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Council Member Dailey Jones reported that, along with Councilman Barker and the Mayor, she had attended the RTA public hearing which was the first of five hearings to be held regarding a proposed fuel surcharge increase and service reductions. She noted the Westshore was represented well by both mayors and councilpersons of the various suburbs. The concern of the western suburbs is the number of routes that are proposed to be cut. In particular, in North Olmsted the 75X is being proposed to be converted to a redline feeder route operating between North Olmsted and the Westpark station only. They would discontinue service on Triskett Road, Berea Road, and West 117 Street and discontinue service on the Berkshire-Porter route deviation in North Olmsted during rush hour times. Our question is: how are the residents of North Olmsted supposes to get to downtown? If the only feasible solution that RTA sees is through the west side rapid station, that is something we should all be concerned about. Many North Olmsted residents may travel to work in a car. But you never know when you don't have a car. The option of having public transportation here, whether you live in the suburbs or the city, is something that people look at when they are looking for a place to live. RTA will have two additional hearings this week: Wednesday, August 6, at Cleveland Hts. and Thursday, August 7, in Brooklyn. She would urge everyone to make their voices heard about these proposed cuts. The website (GCRTA.org) includes a form that can be e-mailed and there is also a phone number. The public comments regarding these cuts are going to be taken until August 18. Councilman Barker commented on the RTA cuts and said that the 87F route run through the middle of his ward and through Deerfield, the largest development in the ward. His wife took that bus back and forth downtown for 15 years. If she worked late, she took the 75 route and he could pick her up at Clague and Lorain. One problem with cutting out the 87 is that people who live in Deerfield would have to walk up Walter Road to Lorain or walk to Columbia and up to Lorain Road. In the winter, this could be an unsafe walk as sidewalks aren't cleared in the mornings. Cutting those two routes would really hurt the whole city as far as how many people work downtown. At the public hearing, some people said they have served their whole life working downtown taking our bus. Actually, the 75 was the first route started in 1931 by NOMBL, and it ran all the way down Lorain Road. RTA wants to do away with that. All the mayors were pretty strong with RTA and Mr. Calabrese regarding the protection of our cities and our routes. He would strongly suggest that any comments be given to RTA. He is sending an e-mail and did a written report last night. He supports what Mrs. Jones and the Mayor said that we need to let RTA know that these routes are very important. These three routes, 87, 75 and 96, start here but they affect Fairview Park, Westlake, Rocky River and people who live in Cleveland on the way to downtown to take them to their jobs. It's pretty important that we all get involved and let RTA know that they have to find other ways to cut costs. Congressman Kucinich was very emphatic on increasing service, and so were the other mayors. Service should be increased because of gasoline costs, and people are looking to 10 ~.,~ a.~.,M::w.