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$17 million RTA site on South Broadway is heated and secure
By Carol Biliczky
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Jan 19, 2009
Charice Giddings and her two daughters made only a dry run on Sunday, but they still made history of a sort.
The West Akron family was among the first passengers to see the Metro Regional Transit Authority's new station on South Broadway near downtown Akron.
The $17 million station debuted Sunday to replace an outdoor area along South Main Street as the main location for passengers to catch and change buses.
With Akron's first fully functional transit center, customers no longer have to cross busy streets and crowd into unheated bus shelters in bad weather.
The glass-and-steel facility features luxuries that will be new to the 4,000 Akron RTA riders who will use it each weekday.
Those include a heated waiting area, indoor restrooms, monitors that relay departure times, customer service, vending machines and free wireless Internet service.
More than 90 security cameras will monitor the facility and two police officers will be on duty when the facility is open.
The station will become a larger hub for bus transportation Jan. 27, when the Greyhound Bus Line moves there from Grant Street in Akron. Its 18 daily trips will bring 600 more customers to the terminal.
Transit systems in Portage and Stark counties each will be assigned a bay for their routes, too.
''Things went remarkably well,'' Kirt Conrad, Metro RTA's director of planning and development, said of Sunday's rollout.
Conrad said Metro RTA is paying for the $17 million facility with $2 million from the state; $12 million from the federal government; and $1 million from other local sources. Akron contributed the land, which was valued at $2 million.
Bus schedules changed with the advent of the new terminal, so passengers are advised to check schedules and remember that they won't be changing buses on Main Street anymore.
That's what the Giddings family was doing.
Charice Giddings wantedC-urrai-e, 11, and Cheyenne, 9, to be familiar with the bus terminal for their daily trips to Portage Path Elementary School from their Akron home.
Mom will be riding the same bus, although at an earlier time because of the schedule changes.
''We use the service constantly,'' she said. ''There's going to be some kinks that have to be worked out, but my girls have it down pat.''
Carol Biliczky can be reached at 330-996-3729 or cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com.
Charice Giddings and her two daughters made only a dry run on Sunday, but they still made history of a sort.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 07:19 AM, 01/19/2009
Carol, y'all forgot to mention how nice the bathrooms are.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:21 AM, 01/19/2009
What a waste of $17 million. The only good thing about it is, now I don't have to walk past all those strange people hanging around the old outdoor bus pickup area when I go downtown to main street.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:20 AM, 01/19/2009
How long do you give them to trash that place?
Posted 08:49 AM, 01/19/2009
I'm not going to trash this article cause one day America may wake up and stop buying Saudi's oil and I may have to take the bus.
This Place, 32
Posted 09:37 AM, 01/19/2009
WOW! AMAZING. According to some of the Ohio.com Scholars here, if you take the bus, you must be a "strange person" or a piece of "trash"?
I guess most of you that wrote those comments have never been in a city where public transportation is a way to get around.
Keep those comments coming, pretty soon, you may need to ride the bus.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:51 AM, 01/19/2009
Now if only the train would stop in Akron once more. Also, a dedicated bus line to Akron-Canton airport would be really convenient. I'd gladly leave my car at home and take public transportation.
barberton, oh
Posted 10:54 AM, 01/19/2009
I give it about 30 days before the place is trashed. You'll find more papers and napkins on the floor than U will in the waste baskets. Most people don't care about themselves, so why would they care about this place.2 Mill for that prperty, who are they kidding ? I hauled quite a bit of Concrete into that site, and I'm tellin ya, 2mill for that land is waaay over the top...
cool treehouse, oh
Posted 10:54 AM, 01/19/2009
The city would really be doing a service if they'd build living quarters there for the homeless.
Posted 11:11 AM, 01/19/2009
Ahh, love the typical negativity of NE Ohio people and the ABJ readers/commenters.
cool treehouse, oh
Posted 11:28 AM, 01/19/2009
Fine Steve. How many times have you rode the bus in the last year?
Akron, OH
Posted 11:43 AM, 01/19/2009
Amtrak should come in there too. And a bus should go directly to Akron-Canton Airport.
Fairlawn, OH
Posted 11:46 AM, 01/19/2009
I'm glad they moved the main terminal off main street. I can't tell you how many fights I saw break out in front of Main Place, not to mention the two times I saw a gun pulled.
akron, oh
Posted 12:04 PM, 01/19/2009
Don't be such neysayers. It will take TWO months to trash the place.
Posted 12:32 PM, 01/19/2009
Not sure what's left in Akron to take the bus to. As a kid I rememeber taking the bus to Oneil's and Polsky's from North Hill. I have not been on a city bus since.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:53 PM, 01/19/2009
I doubt you will see a bus to the airport since flights come and go all day. It would cost a lot of money to run routes back and forth all day.
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:25 PM, 01/19/2009
I rode the bus recently for the first time since the 1980's. I was surprised by the 1.25 fare and no transfers. I had to pay another fare or buy an all day ticket at 3.00. Of course I bought the all day ticket. I struck up a couple conversations with passengers and the bus driver of the UA Loop Bus. I would have loved if the bus terminal was open because it was really cold. Downtown on my way back home i could understand how some scary white people would be terrified of the people waiting on buses. Not all the black people were smiling and if a black person isnt smiling they are scary looking. lol but then again white peopel who are not smiling are scary too. I think it's up to common sense who you approach for conversation or not. More people need to have common sense. Time for me to listen to Howie.
cool treehouse, oh
Posted 01:35 PM, 01/19/2009
Happy birthday Mr King!
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:46 PM, 01/19/2009
Don't look now Steve, but you're being negative too.
Now that the new bus station is opened perhaps we can actually read in peace and quiet at the main library.
Posted 02:06 PM, 01/19/2009
nothing wrong with riding the bus.
And there is a reason why there are so many security cameras.
Yes it will be trashed in 2 months. The bathrooms will be disgusting in 1 week. Wouldnt catch me dead in the place.
People need to respect other people... But hah that went out in the 80's, so much for change
Posted 02:07 PM, 01/19/2009
17 million also? Which politician got a couple mill kickback on that pig. Way overpriced
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:54 PM, 01/19/2009
well i ride the bus so i'm not unhappy with the new shelter even though i haven't tried it yet
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 03:30 PM, 01/19/2009
Finally...welcome to the next century, Akron.
This is an extremely important element in the restructuring and designing of our cities and transportational services nationwide; the Pittsburgh station was the regional forerunner, and it is spectacular. Greyhound and Akron's bus system should be proud.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:32 PM, 01/19/2009
I was in Europe two years ago and I was amazed by how many people use public transportation. It was very cheap and clean. Maybe someday it can become more popular here.
Posted 05:06 PM, 01/19/2009
Fartz,
I haven't used public transportation regularly since I lived in Cleveland and was going to college at Cleveland State University.
That is not my point. Every article in the ABJ lately has comments posted by a group of people that seem so negative they border on suicidal. I've been living in NE Ohio for over 25 years, and I tell you that I've never experienced so much negativity anywhere else.
Posted 05:09 PM, 01/19/2009
Jake,
How was I being negative, I said I love the typical negativity. But thanks for your insiteful response.
Barberton, oh
Posted 05:39 PM, 01/19/2009
I ride the bus everyday to work downtown. Today was my first trip that took me to the new Terminal and I have to say it wasn't a pleasant experience.The doors to the terminal were lock and the police had to let the passengers form the bus I was on in.The bus I was on I usually rode into downtown but today it changed into and entirely different bus. Even though a woman had the new schedule on her an showed the driver that it was supposed to the the regular bus.Everybody had to get off the bus and pay another fare to ride another " regular ", unless of course the had and all day pass.
Some of the drivers seemed to be entirely confused about what they were supposed to do.At least one bus was in the wrong slot for where the buses park, in addition it has the wrong destination list on the front. Two buses were setting side by side with the same destination. Then the bus that was supposed to be in the slot came and didn't know what to do.
I certainly hope this all quickly works it's self out.
Posted 06:36 PM, 01/19/2009
I think the new Bus station is a great idea.
Rode by the greyhound bus station on grant street yesterday and saw a sign in the window that they are also moving to the new bus station.
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 06:39 PM, 01/19/2009
Um...I thought the "powers-that-be" just recently hired some "safety ambassadors" that are tasked to keep an eye on the new Bus Station in lieu of the Akron PD? Anyone want a minimum wage job cleaning up the bio-hazards in those restrooms?
In any case, one or two bus runs a day to Akron-Canton Airport would be reasonable, wouldn't it? They could use the small busses, you know, like the U. of A. purchased to chauffeur the rich kids from the Quaker Hilton onto Campus? Of course, the common folk seeking such transportation to and from the airport would have to coordinate their departure/arrival times with same.
Barberton, OH
Posted 09:41 PM, 01/19/2009
After reading some very negative comments about the this article, I can't keep quiet any longer and need to set some things straight to those who've made these negative comments.
I've been forced to use and/or depend on the Metro system for nearly 2 years now since my insurance carrier refuses to process my uninsured claim, leaving me w/o a vehicle.
Anyway. Being a regular rider for nearly 2 years now, I have to say that I've "NEVER" had any trouble from a driver, person of color while waiting and for that matter, from any other person while waiting for the bus and/or while on the bus.
Every bus driver is very helpful and very courteous and the same goes for other riders.
There's an unspoken rule between regular riders.
We all look out for each other and further more since we're the majority of riders, the reason there hasn't been any incidents it's due to the majority make sure that sure incidents, if any, are nipped in the bud so that no one gets hurt, mugged and/or abused.
Lastly, I utilize Cleveland's RTA system just as frequently (due to it being accessible via Metro) and "NO ONE" has ever damaged the Cleveland's RTA waiting areas. They are in the same condition as when they were installed/built many years ago.
Believe it or not, most riders like myself are very appreciative that the public transportation system is available to us, otherwise we would not be able to get to our appointments and/or be employed.
Therefore, we DO NOT vandalize the buses and/or terminals nor do we abuse people walking by or riding w/us and since we depend on the system we make sure that others do the same.
Barberton, oh
Posted 10:22 PM, 01/19/2009
Ms Anderson is entirely correct
APO, AE
Posted 06:37 AM, 01/20/2009
I'm originally from Akron, born and raised and i rember riding the bus when i was a kid to the mall and downtown and never had a problem. I even took the bus to the airport to ship out for basic training for the Marines and also for the Army as well. I live in Germany now and here like most Europe use public transportation be it buses, trams, and or trains the cost is that much and you can go practicaly anywhere. It's a convient mode of transportation day or nite.
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:25 PM, 01/20/2009
the only problems i've had downtown were from aggressive panhandlers and that was easily solved...but after the city passed the beggars law i've not had a single issue or been asked more than a couple times for money
Barberton, OH
Posted 03:14 PM, 01/20/2009
I've got nothing against the bus, as I rode it to school at U. of A. for two years before I got an apartment on campus.
BUT, there really is for the most part, some really strange and sometimes smelly people on the bus. I would just walk somedays because you never knew what kind of odd person would be sitting next to you staring like some drugged out raver.
Akron, OH
Posted 06:41 PM, 01/20/2009
rupert54, you you flown much out of Akron? For most flight you are given a single option for the time you fly out or in. So are you expecting a person to sit the most of the day at the airport waiting for their flight to leave or when they return for the bus arrive as that would be the result of 1 or 2 bus routes a day to and from the airport?
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:07 AM, 01/21/2009
Steve, If you truly "love negativity", that makes you negative too. If, however you are being sarcastic when you say you "love negativity", you are still being negative (sarcasm is negative). And, if in your second post you are trying to convince us that your first post wasn't sarcastic, then you are also being dishonest which is also another form of negativity. Need anymore keen insight? ...just let me. know.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:13 AM, 01/21/2009
sounds like Ms. Anderson belongs to a sub-culture. I didn't know Metro riders had their own code of ethics. Are there hand signals that go along with your group? I certainly don't want to commit a social gaff in your mutual admiration society.
