CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – On Sunday, RTA launched Next Gen RTA, a new transportation system that the company said will be better for all drivers, but is just the opposite for hundreds of commuters.
Many drivers rely on the 38 bus route, a route that no longer exists.
“At 62, I can’t run that well,” said Gail Drake. “All the way up every day to serve my customers and walk back? I can not do that.”
Caregiver Gail Drake has problems because she had to rely on the 38 bus stop to get to work.
Drake said the nearest bus stop was a 15 block walk for her which she thought was not safe and she was not alone.
Cleveland City Council Kevin Conwell said hundreds of drivers had signed a petition to bring the route back.
“It’s frustrating and they haven’t reached out to residents, so we, City Councilor Anthony Harriston and I, received the letters and the petition went to the city council,” Conwell said. “If they had developed a relationship with the residents, I would never have received hundreds and hundreds of complaints.”
RTA said they reached out to the community to help shape their plan.
RTA also sent 19 News the following statement: “The planners deliberately considered a number of variables during the redesign, traffic fairness was one variable. The drivers behind the redesign of the system were connectivity to employment, healthcare and schools. “
RTA admitted the changes will cause some drivers inconvenience, but claims the redesign of the system will be better for all drivers.
Conwell said if something isn’t done, the next step will be a protest outside RTA headquarters downtown.
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