The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's Waterfront rail line carries 400 riders a day. As the authority struggles to fill a $7 million budgetary gap, is it time to finally bury the unused line?

Tim Kovach explores the implications of a recent decision to raise fares on the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) system in light of a $7 million budget shortfall. The GCRTA Board of Trustees recently "approved a series of stepwise fare increases that will take effect on August 16, which should increase annual operating revenues by $3.5 million. Single-ride fares will increase to $2.50 from $2.25 currently and, ultimately, rise again to $2.75 in August 2018. All day passes will increase from $5 to $5.50 and ultimately $6, while monthly passes will jump from $85 to $95 and then $105."
Not only do those fare increases mean "Cleveland’s fares are now on par with, or even higher than, some of the most extensive transit systems in the country," writes Kovach, they also won't cover the extent of the deficit.
Which brings Kovach to the debate over what to do with the GCRTA's "Ghost Line"—officially known as the Waterfront rail line, "which ferries customers from the Tower City transit hub along the Cuyahoga River and lakefront to the South Harbor," carrying 400 passengers a day and an average of two riders per off-peak train.
The main theme of the article is what exactly to do about the Ghost Train, in light of development expectations along the line as well as sunk cost (the line cost $50 million to construct and opened in 1996). Kovach recommends a few steps planners and local officials should take to determine the future of the line.
FULL STORY: Asking some lingering questions about cutting service on the Waterfront Line

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

How Project Connect Would Change ‘The Drag’
A popular — and sometimes deadly — Austin road will exchange car lanes for light rail.

Milwaukee Road to Get Complete Streets Upgrades
The city will reduce vehicle lanes and build a protected multi-use trail including bioswales and other water retention features on its ‘secret highway.’

Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions
Los Angeles County residents and experts are turning to nature-based methods like bioremediation to address long-standing and fire-exacerbated soil contamination without resorting to costly and disruptive removal.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service