Questions and answers about RTA snow policy

As  a rider of the RTA, I am asking if an RTA representative could answer my questions about your policy regarding picking up riders at the bus stop when there is lots of snow. At some shelters, the snow is so high I cannot even walk to the shelter, or get off the bus at the shelter. Sometimes the bus driver lets me off a little way past the shelter at the corner.  And one bus driver told me to wait at the corner.  But, another bus driver told me that the RTA policy is to only pick up people at the bus shelter. 

Please tell me what the RTA policy is, about picking up, and letting riders off when there is lots of snow?  I have a disability, and trouble walking in the snow, especially when it is piled high and icy at the bus shelter. 

And let all bus drivers know the answer, too. Because some drivers let passengers off at places where the street is cleared. And some drivers do not.

I am sure other riders would like to know,  also.

Thank you.

3/1:  Pasted below is the official response from RTA emailed by

2-25-11 – From RTA

Letter to Collinwood Observer in response to letter from Jeanne Coppola:

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Ms. Coppola’s questions. 

Because RTA has more than 9,800 bus stops and bus shelters within the Greater Cleveland area, we ask bus operators to use their own judgment on where it is safest to pick up and drop off passengers. One day a snowplow may push snow into one bus stop, while push it away from another, and drivers have to do their best to judge the situation, again to find the best way to safely carry customers.

RTA has many crews that are dedicated to snow removal in the winter and travel all around Cuyahoga County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to areas we serve to maintain bus shelters, rail stations, parking lots at rail stations and the Park N’ Ride facilities. We request the help of property owners, in both business and residential areas, to clear bus stops in their area, just like they clear sidewalks and entrances for their customers and employees.

We also know that when snowplows clear streets, a lot of that snow may end up in front of bus stops or shelters, just like street plows that inadvertently push snow into driveways. Clearing snow and ice is an ongoing battle.

RTA tries to find the safest ways to bring bus, rail and paratransit passengers to their destinations, even when Mother Nature takes over. We appreciate our customers and are working hard with partners throughout the county to provide a safe riding experience.

RTA

Jeanne Coppola is an artist, and a lifelong resident of the Collinwood neighborhood.