Greater Cleveland RTA is up to its proverbial hairline in deception and thuggery.

RTA’s board of directors, along with general manager Joe Calabrese, want to eliminate two dozen bus lines – including all community circulators, drastically reduce service on twenty-seven other routes, and raise fares to ridiculously high levels.  The service cuts, scheduled to take place in October, would bring to an end the sole means of vehicular transport for thousands of workers, students, and patients in the Greater Cleveland area.  This is unacceptable.

Compounding the decision, Calabrese lied to riders who attended several meetings held the week of August 4th, citing bogus numbers about ridership, national fare averages, and other subjects.  This he did in an attempt to blame a projected $20-29 million deficit for 2009 on cuts in state funding and increased fuel costs.  The numbers, however, do not add up.  For one thing, according to research by the American Public Transportation Association, ridership has not going up for the last five years.  For example, a comparison of December 2006 and December 2007 shows that ridership actually declined from 4,607.1 to 3,882.0.  What’s more, ridership dropped from 4,423.2 in January 2008 to 4,141.3, then went back up again in March to 4,260.2.  That last number is lower than figures for March 2007, which was 4,982.

Sources:

http://www.apta.com/research/s…

http://www.apta.com/research/s…

As to average fare rates, according to the following link:

http://www.apta.com/research/s…

Average fare paid per unlinked trip was $1.12. For bus, it was $0.89, commuter rail $4.22, paratransit $2.45, heavy rail $1.10, and light rail $0.72.

The proposed fare increase for RTA riders?  From the current $1.75 to $2.25, more than double the national average for 2006.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the 2008 average, but I’m certain it’s not even close to what Calabrese and his fellow goons stated at the public hearings.

That Joe Calabrese is lying is evident.  The question that must be asked is, “Why?”  Why lie about these things?  One theory suggests that decreased state funds and rising fuel costs are not the primary reason for the projected deficit.  My guess is that the Euclid Corridor project, which is costing taxpayers around $200 million – 80-83% of which comes from the federal government, leaving the remaining $40 million or so to come from somewhere else, probably the operating budget – is the primary culprit.  Another factor for consideration is the expensive replacement of the nineteen years-outdated fare boxes which, according to many riders, are experiencing numerous glitches.

Something fishy is going on, and I suspect it has to do with fiscal mismanagement at RTA by the administrators.  This is worth looking into, as it affects the lives of thousands of people whose lives depend on the routes up for elimination and reduction.