Saturday, January 17, 2009

Cleveland won't cuddle the coldest of us

As the cold snap that had strangled the Midwest and Eastern portion of the United States slowly releases its relentless grip it takes only a quick glance from frosty windows to realize how dependent we are upon our shelters. Furnaces working overtime, panes of frosted glass separating us from the elements as we toil under the glow of electric light.

This mentality typically transfers over to our daily lives more than we realize. Waking up and glancing at what we can discern from our windows typically indicates that our location and the season has gifted us with the cardiovascular workout of removing ice and snow from walkways, vehicles, driveways or any other encumbrances that will hinder our daily journeys. Attempting our morning shower (if the pipes haven't frozen), dressing in a manner that allows us to brave the elements for the necessary time to get to our destinations be it either by automobile or bus commute (braving the roadways and suspect driving skills of our neighbors), the treacherous walkways of the sidewalks, the exposed platforms of our light rail system and the extremes of the temperature inherent in each.

As any denizen can speak commuting in the throes of winter is diabolically different then the leisurely drives of warmer months. Clear summer roadways lead to sporadic techniques seen in aggressive driving that seem almost mild when compared to the same technique applied on the slick and newly salted arteries. Cars with windows still covered in snow attempting to change lanes around those whom do not quite trust the roadways and are exhibiting a cautious relationship with particular rules of physics cause many to wonder at the sanity of man. Cleveland may have an exquisite public bus system however those lumbering giants are held to the same roadway rules as everyone else. When traffic flow is corrupted by the constant seasonal spin-outs so is the bus passenger's commute.

The Rapid system seems more logical for cold weather and the journey to downtown. Dedicated rail transit corridors that act independently of roadway conditions typically service somewhat protected waiting areas that are gifted with heat, lighting and full enclosure. Granted even these systems are not completely secure from winter's icy fingers and delays, etc. may occur I must admit that the rail system has been typically quicker, warmer and more comfortable then our bus line in winter months.

Why then is it a constant argument that rail systems do not make more sense in colder climates? The Euclid Corridor/SilverLine/HealthLine system, born of various marketing names to fit whichever guise it was being sold under has proven in execution to be nothing more than a glorified bus system, beholden to the same foul weather barrage as the system it replaced. Exposed and cramped waiting areas are open to the east/west wind that rips through Cleveland while open corners, a suspect cost cutting device, make sure that no sheltered area is attainable. For a city that makes jokes about the length and breadth of our winters one would expect that designers and planners would respect the dialogue of our seasons.

So what would I like to eventually see? Enclosed stations, perhaps ones that actually protect inhabitants. More passenger rail connecting the inner ring suburbs to downtown, perhaps even with the planning of more transit oriented development as the first step in redeveloping an area (see along the Lakeshore Line) instead of random suburban development that requires new service. Staggering of systems already in place such as having the HealthLine stop at every 6 to 10 blocks instead of every other block, capitalizing on timed traffic patterns to expedite movement into and out of the city instead of stopping at every regular bus stop (the redundancy of the #6 and HealthLine - which don't share lanes - make Euclid a very interesting avenue to actually attempt to commute along). Does public square need 3 HealthLine stops? Concentrated transit nodes would be nice at certain points so that "mini" stations could develop along extremely busy routes offering passengers a chance to use many of the secondary transit lines to get closer to their destination. These mini nodes could also offer more shelter, be located by businesses and institutions and offering partnering/marketing strategies.

We need to take advantage of our weather patterns and design for an urban experience that won't leave people out in the cold but instead creates places to rest, warm up, and safely wait for their next transportation option to arrive. Getting into downtown and getting around downtown should not be thought of as two separate problems, it is imperative that the solution be conceived to function in concert. We need to act as if the city of Cleveland is fundamental to the health of the region and plan and act accordingly.