While the agency has yet to be asked by any of the organizers specifically it will be used, Laketran has begun preparing internally. Like the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the agency is not permitting vacations during the week of the convention. Laketran is also delaying the sale of its 1998 MCI Coach buses by two months so that they’ll be available for use during convention time.

Laketran Deputy Manager Andy Altenweg said they’re anticipating running their regular routes with more times and more buses.

The agency has had some recent experience providing transportation for larger-scale events in the Greater Cleveland area.

“We did assist when the Gay Games came to Cleveland in 2014, which we provided service between Cleveland and Game of Wickliffe for the bowling competitions,” Director of Communications & Marketing Julia Schick said. “These services are paid for by the event organizers, and not at tax payer’s expense. The same will happen for the RNC.”

Altenweg said he anticipates seeing many riders who work in Downtown Cleveland but don’t currently take Laketran to get to work who are looking to avoid traffic congestion and parking problems in the area.

“I think they’ll be some people who take the service just because they’re interested in seeing what’s going on downtown,” Altenweg added. “They might not have gone downtown in three years, but they’re going to go see what’s going on with the RNC. And then of course we’ll have some people living out here for that week for the convention, they’ll probably use it throughout the week.

There’s a huge demand for local volunteers, Schick said. She’s already had people ask her if Laketran’s going to be operating. 

Laketran has been involved with the Lake County 2016 Organizing Committee. One of the committee’s goals is to attract groups staying outside of the county to spend a day visiting places like the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, the historic Mormon sites in Kirtland, parks and fishing opportunities. With that, Laketran could see an increase in the number of people reverse-commuting.

Altenweg expects that they’ll have a better idea of their role around April.

“Many times transportation’s an afterthought when really we should be on the priority list because transportation is a key player in any convention, so at some point, we’ll be at the top of that list,” he said.

Holiday services restored

The passage of Laketran’s 2016 budget restored services on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day and Columbus Day for the first time since they were cut in 2009.

On a snowy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Laketran retained about 40 percent of its average daily ridership, a higher number than expected.

Between the weather and it being the first year with the service restored, Schick said they’re happy with the number.

“Seniors centers, government office in both Cleveland and Lake County, as well as Lakeland Community College are all closed – keeping a lot of employees, students and seniors at home, plus K-12 school is out keeping parents home,” Schick said. “During winter storms most folks stay home, however the ridership that must get to work or medical appointments are grateful we’re operating that day.”

Lakeland will be in session on Presidents Day, so Schick is anticipating Laketran will retain a higher number of riders for its second restored holiday of the year.