Location(s)

The RTA Citizens Advisory Board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 8:30am at RTA's main office.

All meetings are open to the public.

Agendas and other CAB information can be found at:  http://www.riderta.com/CAB

Location(s)

The Volunteer Action Committee of the RTA Citizens Advisory Board meets on the first Friday of each month at 8:30am at RTA's Main Office.

The Sept. 5 meeting will include a presentation and discussion of upcoming Transit Waiting Environment improvements throughout the RTA system and discuss VAC priorities for the rest of the year.

All meetings are open to the public.

Full Agenda: http://www.riderta.com/CAB/docs/VAC_Agenda_200809.pdf

Other information: http://www.riderta.com/CAB

RTA is holding hearings this week on how to address its budget crisis. The transit agency is considering cutting routes—including all of its community circulators—and raising rates ($1-2 on daily passes; $3 on five-ride passes; and $20 for monthly passes). They explain the causes and what you can do to help:

At a time when more and more commuters in Northeast Ohio are turning to transit for shelter from high gas prices, these same high fuel prices are also causing RTA to face a budget crisis of its own. Over the last five years, RTA’s fuel costs are up 400 percent, while state funding for transit is down by 63 percent. Between 2007 and 2008 alone, the cost of diesel fuel for RTA buses will nearly double. And while ridership has steadily increased, the fares paid by riders cover only 20 percent of RTA’s total expenses.

RTA is not alone in this battle with surging oil prices. Transit authorities across the country are being forced to make tough decisions, with many forced to make drastic service cuts. In Ohio alone, service was cut by 50% in Youngstown, 32% in Akron, and 17% in Dayton, with possibly more cuts to come.

If you value public transportation, your voice is needed. Let the Governor, your state representative, and your state senator know that you believe the State of Ohio should provide more financial support for public transportation. Also, contact your U.S. congressional representative and Senators and ask them to support additional funding for public transportation. The goal is to keep transit affordable for all and minimize further service cuts.

Go to www.jointheride.com to help save your ride.

Go here to see the dates and times of RTA’s hearings.

How much will carpooling, biking or riding the bus reduce the carbon we put into the atmosphere? U.S. EPA figures we produce 29% of our carbon emissions from transportation, and that amount has grown by 47% since 1990.

For the next two weeks, NOACA, our local transportation planning agency, wants to know, can you rethink your commute?

Please, encourage friends and co-workers to find some way not to drive alone. Bus. Bike. Walk. Telecommute. Carpool (find a partner at www.OhioRideShare.com – it’s free, easy, and confidential. Just point, click, & ride!).

And we have bike maps for five counties to view, print, and download.

How? Log on to get information and to tell us about your participation. You can even fill out a tally sheet for a whole group!

Freebies? Get a free one-day transit pass by signing up for Commuter Challenge – just specify whether you want the RTA pass, the Laketran pass, or the Lorain County Transit pass! Encourage someone you know to give transit a try.

During the Second World War, conservation at home was more than a virtue, it was a crucial act that every American man, woman and child was asked to make in their daily lives. Saving every last scrap of metal, paper, even grease from frying pans for the good of the troops abroad was embedded in every move you made.

A brilliant series of posters sold the American public on quickly mobilizing around actions like “Plant a Victory Garden”, “Is your trip necessary?” or, emblazoned above an image of a war-weary soldier, “Have you really tried to save gas by getting into a car club?”

The fight against manmade global warming demands a similar mobilization campaign. On July 4th, 40 busses hit the streets of Cleveland with banners designed by Michael Bierut. They are asking people to enlist as a Green Patriot by using mass transit, advocating for green jobs, and changing their daily habits–right now–to improve our chances for survival. The Cleveland posters are a pilot for a nationwide Green Patriot campaign.

This Thursday at 10:30 a.m., join a local group of Green Patriots mustering at Public Square to ride RTA buses and spread the message while building support. You can also go online, sign a petition to fight global warming and create green jobs, figure out ways to tweak your actions to be more green, and view the WWII-era posters that inspired Green Patriots.

Those cross-country cyclists working to raise attention for climate change and the need to address an issue of national and international impact are at it again, organizing a ride from New York to Washington, DC. They are asking concerned citizens and riders to plan on joining them in September for a five to Washington D.C.

The ride is to promote renewable energy and solutions to global warming: www.climateride.org and they will have cyclists from all over the country joining them, and they say it would be great to have representatives from Cleveland join us and ride to Washington. Here’s the release:

Join Brita Climate Ride 2008
September 20th - 24th
New York to D.C.
www.ClimateRide.org

Join Brita Climate Ride 2008 for the first multi-day supported bicycle tour where you pedal to promote renewable energy and solutions to global warming. Climate Riders will cycle 320 miles in five days from New York to Washington D.C., following scenic country roads and finishing on the steps of our nation's capitol, where we will make a statement about our country's need for action.

Along the way, expert speakers will educate and inspire Climate Riders and local communities about the science, the policies and the solutions to global warming. Our riders and the communities we pass through will learn how our government, businesses, and all Americans will benefit from a cleaner, healthier climate. This is a unique event--a fundraiser and climate conference on wheels, and an opportunity to meet people who are engaged in making a difference.

Each rider will be responsible for raising $2,250. Proceeds from the ride benefit Clean Air - Cool Planet and Focus the Nation, two organizations that lead the way in expanding climate change education, encouraging renewable energy policies, and promoting solutions to global warming.

Location(s)

HOW MANY DAYS CAN YOU AVOID COMMUTING ALONE, DURING THE WEEKS OF July 20th – August 2nd?

Carpool - Find a partner, even for just 1 day a week, using our free service at www.OhioRideshare.org.

Bike To Work and To Do Errands - View or print a FREE county bike route map at www.noaca.org/bikemaps.html

Ride the Bus - Visit www.noaca.org/cc2008.html for all the regional transit links Walk - No additional equipment needed!

Telecommute (Work from Home) - First time? This is a good week to try it!

Compressed Work-Week - Work four 10-hour days and take a day off!

Please share your commute story at www.noaca.org/cc2008.html and we will calculate the emissions you saved as a region!

Commuter Challenge 2008 is brought to you by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s Air Quality Programs, Rideshare Program, and Bicycle Planning. NOACA is a regional transportation and environmental planning agency. For more info call (216) 241-2414 ext. 252 or 373.