The Observation Deck

Mike Coleman wrote:How does limiting traffic to two lanes help residents of Avon Lake or Rocky River get downtown faster? If anything it will make traffic along Clifton slower, and perhaps even force more commuters to I-90.

That said, what an idiotic idea!

Clifton is a state route, so the state can decide on how to manage traffic on it, and the city has little say.

I think it is reasonable to believe that the commuters in the buses , many of whom are from communities west of Lakewood, will get downtown faster with dedicated lanes. It is hardly an idiotic idea. I haven't worked downtown in many years, but I seem to recall that some of the express buses had stops in Lakewood, and if that is still so, Lakewoodites who take those buses would also benefit. If there are no stops in Lakewood, we should demand some.

I think we should work to make public transportation better, and one way to do that would be to make private vehicle commuting less attractive.

Mike Coleman wrote:How does limiting traffic to two lanes help residents of Avon Lake or Rocky River get downtown faster? If anything it will make traffic along Clifton slower, and perhaps even force more commuters to I-90.

That said, what an idiotic idea!

Mike

I meant faster for bus traffic from the suburbs downtown.

So, residents pay through parking tickets, less access to our streets, which have just recently
become even less accessible through garbage collection and "calming." And now more and slower
traffic. This administration made Detroit Ave. a nightmare to drive down, now side streets and
based on the terrible traffic on Detroit hired the same people for Madison.

Why does City Hall dislike the residents so much?

This was sold to us by the city as an enhancement for the City of Lakewood. WTF?

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Why does City Hall dislike the residents so much?

That is a great question, Jim!

And City Hall's disdain for our residents may be why we see things like ...





Oh, and such "negativity" on the Deck.

That's what City Hall calls resident "observations," right, Jim ... "negativity" ...

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Why does City Hall dislike the residents so much?

That is a great question, Jim!

Matt

Errrrr no, no recall. I'm still voting for Mike if he runs.

I am not getting into this here and now, but a serious conversation coming down the road.

Matthew John Markling wrote:\Oh, and such "negativity" on the Deck.

That's what City Hall calls resident "observations," right, Jim ... "negativity" ...

Matt

Matt

As one of the very few elected officials NOT AFRAID of open civic discourse, you know full well that
damn near every politician in Lakewood fears large conversations, and a recorded record of what
they have said and done.

I have never understood their fear, I have never understood their marginalization of the largest
most effective volunteer group in Lakewood, and I have never understood how "Democrats" run
and hide from discussion.

They view all residents as problems, not neighbors or bosses.

It is troubling.

.

I see Jim. Thanks for clarifying. How much time will be saved on a ride from Clague Park to downtown? Are there any projections? I'm just wondering.

There are hundreds of kids who must cross six lanes on Clifton every single day to get to and back from Emerson, Lincoln, Garfield and Harding everyday. Any plan to congest traffic on Clifton is, in my opinion, idiotic. Period.

Of course, there are unintended consequences. Perhaps the congestion will force more onto a bus or seek alternate routes not through school zones. In that case, maybe it's brilliant. We'll see I guess.

Mike Coleman wrote:Of course, there are unintended consequences. Perhaps the congestion will force more onto a bus or seek alternate routes not through school zones. In that case, maybe it's brilliant. We'll see I guess.

Mike

Of course this is the idea. The same idea with "Euclid Corridor" take six lanes give 4 to buses full-time
and the last two to buses part time, and it becomes impossible except with a bus. Likewise take 10
years to rebuild the bus line and starve businesses into bankruptcy and buy prime land for pennies on
the dollar.

These are the many things outlined by "Slaughter of Cities" how they herd humans from place to place
by decreasing value, convenience, peer pressure, religion, race, etc. These are not happen stance, and
if you are not in full understanding of the forces, that you are lost in the shuffle. If you are a City that
is not aware of the play, you get used abused, and spit out.

I believe this is one of the reasons, "Civic Leaders" promise monorails, well clear raised walkways,
and future living, but delivered Marc's Plaza. Promise us "highend groovy shopping" and delivered
5, Dollar Stores, promised us "Clifton Enhancements" and we got bigger less friendly shelters and
two lanes less traffic and parking for "our enhancement."

At some point, it would be nice to hear the truth. "Best Taco Bell"

pitiful

.

Hey Everybody! CTS (woops, I meant RTA) is putting the finishing touches of a public transit system appropriate for Cleveland in 1954. They have pretty much rehabbed the Rapid stations. Changes in ridership? Who cares. Not CTS. Keep the same station locations. Try something innovative like airline hub and spoke aka local circulator? No way. In fact lets dig our heals in to that golden age of Ozzie and Harriet and Leave it to Beaver. Rebuild the Clifton bus stops bigger and nicer. What???nobody works in offices downtown anymore? And just to emphasize how out of touch they are with the ridership--make the buses twice as long!
For those who are wondering what CTS is it is the Cleveland Transit System which was formed in the early 1950s.
It's kinda like deja vu all over again.
Stan Austin

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
"Of course this is the idea. The same idea with "Euclid Corridor" take six lanes give 4 to buses full-time and the last two to buses part time, and it becomes impossible except with a bus. Likewise take 10 years to rebuild the bus line and starve businesses into bankruptcy and buy prime land for pennies on the dollar.

I'm not going to look it all up again but in the last 10 years NOACA has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to widen freeways and build new freeway exits. That policy has encouraged

out migration and
discouraged the use of public transportation.

Now we are told that traffic patterns in Lakewood must be disrupted,
that the residents must put up with more congestion and
noise and
pollution and
our children must be put at risk because
public transportation is so important.



You have to read between the lines to get at the truth.
Eaton Corporations old headquarters building was recently sold at a 60% discount. If downtown is doing so great why are first class office buildings being sold at a discount? Why did the County spend $200 million for a new office building when they could have had a bigger (Eaton) building for less?

The Downtown entitlement zone is smothering the rest of the County.

None of this complaining does any good but at least its good therapy. How about a little civil disobedience?

Bill Call wrote:None of this complaining does any good but at least its good therapy. How about a little civil disobedience?

Bill,

I think sharing observations has value beyond being good therapy.

City Hall reads the Deck.

Don't believe me?

Ask Jim how fast his phone rings when "complaints" are posted on the Deck.

As to "a little civil disobedience," what do you suggest?

Matt

Bill Call wrote:I'm not going to look it all up again but in the last 10 years NOACA has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to widen freeways and build new freeway exits. That policy has encouraged out migration and discouraged the use of public transportation.

Now we are told that traffic patterns in Lakewood must be disrupted,
that the residents must put up with more congestion and
noise and pollution and our children must be put at risk because
public transportation is so important.

None of this complaining does any good but at least its good therapy. How about a little civil disobedience?

Reminds me of...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy

The real story on how we got into this mess.

The FBI have a theory, any business started through illegal means, is an illegal business.

A real moment for Cleveland in history.

.

I have to admit, that as they get finished I might have been quick to judge.

They are like little Japanese country homes, with living area, bathroom, full cable (UVerse),
hook up which also provide heat, and trash receptacles.



Not bad for $16 million.

[quote="Ryan Salo"]This isn't new information but I was reminded of what a great deal this was for Cleveland as I drove back to Lakewood from downtown today. They are getting sidewalk to sidewalk replacements on Clifton Blvd. The new curbs on the south side look fantastic.

It is unfortunate we didn't negotiate a better deal. Now when folks drive west from downtown they will notice not only more snow on Clifton but a drastic difference in the curb conditions when they cross into our city.
[/quote]

Ryan, to be fair Clifton in Lakewood was repaved just a few years ago. (remember all the complaints saying "why repave it now if RTA is doing this project in a few years?) Clifton Blvd in Cleveland was in horrible condition, even worse than it was in Lakewood before the repaving was done. Maybe somebody could do some research and find out what Clevelands cost is for this project and compare that figure to what would obviously be twice the cost to Lakewood since Clifton is about twice as long in Lakewood.

[quote="Bill Burnett"][quote="Ryan Salo"]This isn't new information but I was reminded of what a great deal this was for Cleveland as I drove back to Lakewood from downtown today. They are getting sidewalk to sidewalk replacements on Clifton Blvd. The new curbs on the south side look fantastic.

It is unfortunate we didn't negotiate a better deal. Now when folks drive west from downtown they will notice not only more snow on Clifton but a drastic difference in the curb conditions when they cross into our city.
[/quote]

Ryan, to be fair Clifton in Lakewood was repaved just a few years ago. (remember all the complaints saying "why repave it now if RTA is doing this project in a few years?) Clifton Blvd in Cleveland was in horrible condition, even worse than it was in Lakewood before the repaving was done. Maybe somebody could do some research and find out what Clevelands cost is for this project and compare that figure to what would obviously be at least 3 times the cost to Lakewood since Clifton is about 3 times as long in Lakewood.[/quote]

Bill,

I understand Clifton was recently repaved, but we didn't get new curbs and sidewalks like Cleveland did. I remember growing up there was always a clear visual distinction between Cleveland and Lakewood. The street conditions were better, the plowing was more thorough, the houses were kept in better shape...

In many ways the Cleveland side is now more appealing....

On a related note:

Opportunity Corridor Recognized as a National Model... For Highway Boondoggles

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-hea ... oondoggles

Cleveland Opportunity Corridor, Ohio, $331 million – A $100-million-a-mile road has been proposed for a community where driving has been stagnant for years, and where residents are calling instead for repairs to existing roads and investment in transit improvements.