Aug. 27: Board and Committee Meetings, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Covered by Documenters Mildred Seward (notes) and Stésià Swain (live-tweets)
RTA paratransit riders speak out
Some residents who rely on paratransit – a separate ride program for people with disabilities who are unable to independently use public transit – shared their frustration with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board last week.
“On paratransit, the driver is the first person for safety,” said one resident, who uses a wheelchair. He told the board that some drivers don’t want to use the wheelchair straps correctly and that led to the driver asking him to get off the bus. He said he has filed multiple complaints with RTA and has been waiting more than a year for a resolution.
“That’s my safety,” he told the board.
RTA General Manager and CEO India Birdsong Terry said that she would connect him to the director of paratransit – who also attended the meeting – to get him an answer.
The next speaker, Dontez Taylor, asked the board about getting more paratransit dispatchers and drivers.
“They’re being late to come pick us up when we have appointments and other things, too,” he said.
Terry also took down Taylor’s comments and contact information to follow up. The public comments came after the RTA reviewed mostly positive survey results regarding paratransit. For example, 80% of paratransit customers said they would recommend it, according to an RTA customer satisfaction survey.
RTA’s transit police force increases, ambassador program grows
RTA has hired nearly 400 new employees in 2024, according to a presentation by Ida Ford Marshall, RTA’s senior manager for talent acquisition. Of those employees, 15 are new transit police officers. RTA also made additions to its transit ambassador program.
RTA also recently hosted its first open house event for transit police, Marshall said. There are still 17 job candidates undergoing background checks to become RTA transit officers. There are also 65 job candidates in the hiring process to join the ambassador program.
Riders rated “personal safety and security” as a high priority, according to a recent RTA customer satisfaction survey. RTA rail riders rated it the second most important issue and RTA’s paratransit riders rated it as the most important issue. Rail riders rated “cleanliness” just above safety.
RTA Board Vice President Lauren Welch said that the RTA should use a survey to see how students and children feel about safety when riding public transportation. Welch is also the assistant director of communications for Say Yes Cleveland, an organization that works with CMSD students. Welch said she wants to look into how safe children feel while riding the RTA compared to adults.
Left wondering
After the meeting, Documenter Mildred Seward wanted to know: How can RTA make sure our most vulnerable riders are given the proper care by drivers?
Read the notes from Documenter Mildred Seward:
Read the live-tweets from Documenter Stésià Swain:
