Large red Xs on Cleveland RTA buses make bold statement

CLEVELAND - Some Greater Cleveland RTA buses are getting a fresh coat of paint.

"Sometimes you need to show a picture of things to say, hey we don't want this to happen," said William Nix President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 268.

Nix and RTA General Manager and CEO Joe Calabrese painted large red Xs on several buses Monday.

"That red X signifies that bus may not be here tomorrow," said RTA spokeswoman Mary McCahon.

The Greater Cleveland RTA is joining a national campaign, called "Don't X Out Public Transit" to warn riders what they said could happen if Congress approves a 30 percent cut to transportation funding.

The Xs show if the cuts are approved, than that bus, and the service it provides, could be gone.

"That will mean layoffs, service cuts, job cuts. Things that we really don't think are going to be in the best interest in the country going forward," Calabrese said.

We want the constituents to talk to their representatives and say hey, I'm a rider I take RTA, I take the train, I take the trolleys and I want it to stay," McCahon said.

The paint is washable, but the Xs will stay up for a while. Congress won't vote on the cuts for another six months.

A protest on the cuts is scheduled for Tuesday on Public Square by the Ohio Contractors Association.

The rally is part of the "Don't X Out Transit" events going on around the country.