[PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List

[John Swindler]

Won't disagree with you.  That's why I hung around the office for almost an 
hour after word received of closing to allow traffic to evaporate.  Figured 
my biggest threat was other drivers who would be more distracted then 
normal.

Saw another message that Amtrak never shut down, dispite what TV reported.  
Any confirmation??

Likewise, has anyone heard any mention of the PATH station and tunnels 
beneath the World Trade Center????  Does anyone realize they exist??

John


>From: "John F Bromley" <johnfbromley at home.com>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List
>Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 20:33:26 -0400
>
>
>Sounds like a wee bit of over-reaction.  No insult intended but I doubt
>off-shore terrorists have ever heard of Cleveland (or Toronto for that
>matter) never mind find it.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <HRBran99 at aol.com>
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 8:06 PM
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List
>
>
> > In a message dated 9/12/01 1:12:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > bobrathke at home.com writes:
> >
> >
> > > Yesterday (Tuesday) in downtown Chicago, the tall, major, public and
> > > government  buildings were evacuated and closed.  By Noon, most 
>workers
> > > downtown had left to go home.  CTA and Metra trains were running on
>schedule
> > > to get the people out of downtown, but the CTA Blue Line terminated at
> > > Rosemont, and still does not go into O'Hare Airport.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Thanks for all the replies to my post. This, of course, is not PRCo
>material,
> > however, the reason I wanted to know is because of how strange the past
>two
> > days have been here in Cleveland. This is a long explanation, so read on
>if
> > you really want to.
> >
> > The post by Bob in Chicago is almost what happened here in Cleveland
> > yesterday. While watching the events unfold on live TV I was telephoned 
>by
> > Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and told to report 
>to
> > work immediately. This was at 11:00 AM. My normal report time is 12:34 
>PM.
>I
> > had been watching a news briefing from Cleveland City Hall by Mayor
>Michael
> > White and just after GCRTA called the mayor indicated that he had 
>ordered
>the
> > evacuation of downtown Cleveland, closing of all educational facilities,
>all
> > public buildings, all museums and the entire Tower City Center complex,
>and
> > had ordered implementation of the city emergency plan. Note that this 
>plan
>is
> > put into effect only when a dire situation exists. The mayor then went 
>on
>to
> > say that he had ordered the GCRTA (and the two intercity transit
>authorities,
> > Akron Metro and Laketran) to begin rush hour bus and rail service at 
>11:00
>AM
> > and the recall of ALL bus and rail operators and supervisors. Also a
>parking
> > ban on all downtown streets was in effect and police and tow trucks were
> > standing by to remove any vehicle not in compliance.
> >
> > When I began my run on the 81-Scranton/Dennison/West Blvd. Rapid Stn 
>route
> > and entered downtown to find it looked like martial law had been 
>declared.
> > City police, Federal police, FBI and even suburban police were 
>everywhere.
> > Unmarked trucks (such as Pensky, Ryder, etc.) were being pulled over and
> > searched. Even buses could only dwell for a short period at each bus 
>stop.
>I
> > stopped mid-block, not at a bus stop, to wait for a customer signaling
>that
> > she wanted the bus and within 30 seconds two police cars and four guys 
>in
> > suits and sunglasses in a plain car were at the side of the bus wanting 
>to
> > know why I had stopped. This was in the Justice Center/Civic Center 
>area.
> > Downtown was empty by 1:30 PM.
> >
> > The west end of the Red Line heavy rail service was operating from
>Brookpark
> > Stn (one station short of the Airport station) eastbound to W. 25/Lorain
>Stn
> > and shuttled back and forth between these points. The east end of the 
>Red
> > Line and the Green and Blue Lines (light rail) operated from E. 55 Stn 
>to
> > their outer ends. The Waterfront light rail line was suspended. There 
>was
>no
> > through rail service or Airport service. The shut down section operates 
>in
> > what appears to be a subway through the downtown, however, one is merely
> > riding through the basement of the Tower City Center complex.
> >
> > Today, educational facilities (all schools, universities, etc.) remain
>closed
> > and many downtown buildings are still closed. The parking ban remains in
> > effect. The city fire department, according to the evening news, 
>responded
>to
> > thirty bomb threats in the downtown today. I saw three incidents where
>trucks
> > were stopped in the downtown, surrounded by police, drivers handcuffed,
>and
> > the trucks being searched.
> >
> > Another news conference by Mayor White today where it stated that the
> > closings will remain in effect at least until Sunday. Reporters twice
>asked
> > the mayor why Cleveland had taken such major actions and twice the mayor
> > replied that, "Security concerns will not allow me answer that 
>question."
> >
> > Also of note is that gasoline prices rose from $1.85.9 (average for
>premium
> > grade) to anywhere from $3.50.9 to $5.00.9 overnight. They mayor then
>placed
> > an emergency ordinance into effect which prohibits excessive prices on
>needed
> > items, gasoline being one of the needed items.
> >
> > I am still mystified and concerned as to why Cleveland is still in
> > "emergency" mode and have not a clue.
> >
> > HrB
> >
> >
> >
>
>


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