GCRTA budget adjustments may affect Cleveland commute patterns

Yesterday the RTA Board Committee met, presented the 2008 budget and discussed upcoming service changes. Some issues discussed included the ECTP (Euclid Corridor Transportation Project) work milestones (Public Square to be completed 'within the week', scheduling for the utility work around the Cleveland Clinic area and the $5.3 million shortfall of the GCRTA budget.

There is currently a discussion to poise the GCRTA in preparation for the inevitable fuel cost increases which will have a direct effect upon the GCRTA's budget by "consolidating" routes. This "consolidation" includes utilizing transit nodules for maximum efficiency by rescheduling and rerouting bus routes to coincide with the Rapid Transit lines. In essence direct bus routes from the outer laying suburbs to downtown may be rerouted to converge upon suburban Rapid Stations.

With ridership currently on the rise (total ridership up about 4% (560,000 rides) and weekday ridership up about 4.4% (about 20,000 rides)) one has to wonder how an adjustment of this nature will affect the image of public transportation as being a convenient way to get from the suburbs to downtown. One would also wonder if the fuel increase wouldn't directly increase ridership resulting in more earnings driving down the current deficit.

I suppose that speculation may have to be put on hold until and re-evaluated when the ECTP starts running it's Public Square to East Cleveland routes to decide whether or not a change in route patterns would be effective. As I stood on the full Rapid on the way in this morning I wondered if perhaps adding more riders to an already seemingly crowded line was a good idea. Would more train cars or more runs be added to the Rapid to offset commuter population gains? Would the answer lay in more careful planning and staggering of route departures to maximize Rapid comfort and efficiency?

There is a very careful line to be aware of. Public transportation already has to overcome a perceived (incorrectly) stigma by constantly and consistently being cheaper, quicker and more convenient then an automotive commute. Once deviation from that formula (or the interjection of a less successful pattern) is achieved the GCRTA may find itself in a very uncomfortable situation. While I would love to argue that the GCRTA should immediately counter the deficit by increasing routes, serving more people and becoming 'super-convenient' the plan must be fiscally sound to be successful. There are already multiple Rapid upgrades already occurring whose affects have yet to be empirically measured who may play a large role in reconceiving GCRTA's image. I am extremely curious (and concerned) to see what develops.

Resources: RTA Board Committee Highlights