On Friday, February 13, 2015, a #135 RTA commuter bus caught fire.

 

Fortunately no one was hurt and all the passengers (about 10) were safely evacuated.

 

The fire appears to have started in the rear of the bus – on the driver’s side – the left side of the bus.

 

The bus (from North Royalton) was traveling north on Ontario Street and the fire started shortly before 8:00 a.m. when the bus was between Superior Avenue and the South Roadway which merges in to Euclid Avenue. 

 

Firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze.

 

RTA has not provided any details about the cause of the accident.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The proposed $32 million radical makeover of Public Square will require the permanent closing of Ontario Street – a major artery -- and the narrowing of Superior Avenue – another major artery -- from the existing 77 ft. to 48 ft. and limiting the avenue to bus traffic only. 

 

However, when there are major events, the narrowed Superior Avenue will also be closed to bus traffic. Existing traffic will be routed along the narrow perimeter roads and other avenues & streets. 

 

One has to stand at the intersection of Public Square and easily conclude that the traffic has nowhere to go except create gridlocks.  

 

Way to go, Cleveland, Ohio! No shortage of stupidity here.

 

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

A corrupt process was used in the development of the radical makeover of Public Square. The proposed renovation dubbed a masterpiece in urban park design – - based on the Mayor’s vision of one big square -- was actually a defective design which the Mayor knew would cause gridlocks and delays in travel time affecting thousands and cost the RTA millions in annual operating costs over the 30-year lifespan of the renovated park.

 

During construction, both Ontario Street and Superior Avenue will be closed to traffic.

 

The plan is to complete the radical makeover of Public Square in time for the Republican Convention in July 2016.

 

Construction which was scheduled to start in late November/early December 2014 – has not yet started. Public Square had a dark Christmas in 2014. 

 

The re-routing of buses along 33 routes, during construction, is projected to cause gridlocks and delays in travel time affecting thousands and cost the RTA $3.5 million in operating costs over the 16-month construction period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During construction, firetrucks and ambulances will not be able to go through Public Square.

 

It is not clear what route they will follow.

 

Mayor Jackson (“It is what it is”) has not responded to multiple e-mails (August 24, September 14, October 19, and November 28, and December 29, 2014, and February 9, 2015) seeking a response to the safety issue.

 

The arrogance of Mayor Jackson, who is in the pockets of the rich and powerful, is beyond description. His honor does not even respond to certified letters. I have to walk three-miles round trip to mail one.  

 

Traffic from the closing of two major arteries  -- 6 lanes of Ontario Street and 4 lanes of Superior Avenue will be routed along 3 lanes of the outer roadway – where the inner lane is already dedicated to the 60-foot long articulated buses of the HealthLine.

 

So two lanes of the outer roadway will have to accommodate cars and buses from ten lanes.

 

This constriction poses a safety hazard.

 

How will ambulances or firetrucks reach a vehicle that needs attention and is stuck in the middle?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scheduled to be ready in time for the Republican Convention in July 2016, the park will have Eight Bus Stops on Superior Avenue – and with 4,000 bus trips every day – will transform the avenue in to a virtual parking lot.

 

 

 

 

Since August 2014, I have been actively opposing the proposed radical makeover of 218-year old Public Square. So far there have been over 200-hours of demonstrations – mostly in Public Square. The LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE signs have been seen by thousands. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos of RTA bus on fire: Staff photographers of The Plain Dealer and WKYC Television.

 

 

12-27-14: A 3-HOUR DEMONSTRATION IN PUBLIC SQUARE ON A PLEASANT FRIDAY, 12-26-14, AFTERNOON!

 

12-21-14: CAVS vs. GRIZZLIES! FANS SUPPORT THE LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE CAMPAIGN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

12-14-14: BROWNS vs. BENGALS! FANS AGAIN SUPPORT THE LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE CAMPAIGN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

12-07-14: BROWNS’ FANS SUPPORT THE LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE CAMPAIGN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

12-04-14: PUBLIC SQUARE ROCKS WITH TWO DEMONSTRATIONS ON A COLD THURSDAY, 12-04-14, AFTERNOON!

 

11-27-14: CONFLUENCE OF TWO DEMONSTRATIONS IN PUBLIC SQUARE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

10-31-14: BEATING THE RAIN IN PUBLIC SQUARE ON A DRIZZLY HALLOWEEN AFTERNOON!

 

10-30-14: PUBLIC SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ROCKS WITH CAVS’ FANS DURING A COOL BUT PLEASANT THURSDAY 10-30-14 AFTERNOON/EVENING!

 

10-26-14: TALK OF THE TOWN – I: The LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE Campaign Rocks Cleveland, Ohio!

 

09-06-14: TRANSIT POLICE QUESTION ACTIVIST WAVING “LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE” SIGN IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OHIO 

 

08-17-14: LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE: DON’T CLOSE ONTARIO STREET, DON’T NARROW SUPERIOR AVENUE, & DON’T MESS UP THE TRAFFIC