RTA Rapid Transit

RTA Rapid Transit (generally known as The Rapid) is a rapid transit, light rail, and bus rapid transit system in Cleveland and surrounding areas in Cuyahoga County. The system is owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), and currently consists of 7 service lines.

RTA Rapid Transit
Overview
OwnerGreater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
LocaleCuyahoga County, Ohio
Transit typeRapid transit
Light rail
Bus rapid transit
Number of lines1 Rapid transit: Red Line
3 Light rail: Blue, Green, and Waterfront lines[1]
3 Bus rapid transit: Health, Cleveland State Line, MetroHealth Line
Number of stations18 Rapid transit
34 Light rail[1]
Daily ridership19,300 (Rapid transit)
10,800 (Light rail) (2006 figures)[2]
Operation
Began operationOctober 25, 1859 (first streetcar line)
December 17, 1913 (current lines)
March 15, 1955 (Rapid transit)
October 11, 1980 (Light rail)
Ended operationOctober 30, 1981 (last streetcar use)
Operator(s)Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Number of vehicles40 Rapid transit cars
34 Light rail cars[1]
Technical
System length19 miles (31 km) Rapid transit,
18 miles (29 km) Light rail[1]
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Lines

Four rail lines join at Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland, the former Cleveland Union Terminal. Three lines share their tracks at Tri-C–Campus District and East 55th stations. This sharing of one route between light and heavy rail is quite unusual, and the shared stations have connected platforms of two heights to accommodate the two kinds of trains. The two types of trains both use the same maintenance facility since they both use the same track gauge and same source of power (overhead catenary).

In addition to the four rail lines, RTA also operates three bus rapid transit lines. Although these lines consist of bus service, the RTA considers them as a part of the rapid transit system and includes them on its official rapid transit map.

Red Line
Main article: Red Line (RTA Rapid Transit)

The Red Line, a heavy-rail route, runs in both directions on fully grade-separated rights-of-way, built from 1955 to 1968. It serves Cleveland's southwest suburbs with its southwestern terminus at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Heading northeast, the Red Line serves University Circle before heading to its northeastern terminus at the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland.

Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines
Main articles: Blue Line (RTA Rapid Transit) and Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit)

The Blue and Green rail lines (alternatively known as the RTA Shaker Rapid) were built from 1913 to 1936 as grade-separated lines closer to downtown and surface lines along street medians in the streetcar suburb of Shaker Heights. The two lines part ways at Shaker Square, a historic mixed-use community in Cleveland proper, just west of the Shaker Heights border. The Blue Line veers southeast along Van Aken Boulevard until reaching its terminus near the intersection of Warrensville Center Road and Chagrin Boulevard (U.S. Route 422 and State Route 8). The Green line continues due east along Shaker Boulevard (State Route 87) until reaching its terminus at the intersection of Green Road.

Light rail vehicle on the Waterfront Line
Main article: Waterfront Line

The Waterfront Line, opened in 1996, extends the Blue and Green Lines from Tower City north through The Flats. It then travels northeast along the shoreline of Lake Erie, servicing the local Amtrak station, and terminates in the Muni lot. The Waterfront light rail line provides access from Tower City Center to the Flats, FirstEnergy Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Burke Lakefront Airport.

HealthLine
Main article: HealthLine

In October 2008, RTA opened its first bus rapid transit line, originally referred to as "Silver Line", running along Euclid Avenue, providing a direct route between Cleveland's primary tourist attractions from Downtown Cleveland through University Circle to East Cleveland. Naming rights for the BRT were bought by The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, and the line was named the HealthLine.[3] The system includes dedicated bus lanes between Public Square and East 105th Street close to the inner median where stations in that portion of the route are also located. All stations along the route feature off board fare collection and the vehicles include a GPS locator on board, which allow automated traffic signals to give the HealthLine buses priority at busy intersections. In addition, the HealthLine runs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

Cleveland State Line
A typical station along Clifton Boulevard on The Cleveland State Line Bus Rapid Transit

In December 2014, RTA opened a second bus rapid transit to serve the western suburbs of Cleveland as well as a larger portion of downtown including Cleveland State University, which purchased naming rights to the route. The line carries the "55" designation, the same route number used by the BRT's predecessor.[4] Only a portion of the line along Clifton Boulevard, from the western terminus of Cleveland Memorial Shoreway to Webb Road in Lakewood includes a dedicated bus only lane. However, the bus only designation only applies during rush hours with the eastbound lane active during the morning rush and the westbound lane active during the evening rush. In addition, there is no off board fare collection; all passengers must pay or swipe/dip their farecards on board the bus. All outbound trips originate from the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center near Cleveland State and travel through downtown to Public Square before entering the west shoreway. Shortly after reaching the Lakewood border, the line divides into four sub-routes:

  • 55: Travels down Clifton and continues to follow U.S. Route 20 to Detroit Road until reaching Wagar Road where it travels south before terminating at the Westgate Transit Center on Center Ridge Road in Fairview Park.[5]
  • 55A: Travels north on West 117th Street to Edgewater Drive returning briefly to Clifton before heading north on Belle Avenue to terminate at Lakewood Park.
  • 55B: Travels down Clifton and continues to follow Lake Road into Bay Village where it follows Wolf, West Oviatt, and Osborn Roads west to Bradley Road before returning to Lake Road to travel east to its terminus at Wolf and Cahoon Roads.[5]
  • 55C: Travels down Clifton and continues to follow U.S. Route 20 to Detroit Road until reaching Crocker Road in Westlake where it terminates at Crocker Park.[5]

The 55 base route runs Monday through Saturday from early A.M. though the evening. The 55A and 55B routes run Monday through Friday during the morning and evening rush hours only. The 55C route runs Monday through Friday twice during the morning rush and twice during the evening rush.[5]

MetroHealth Line

On Sept. 21, 2017, RTA announced a new partnership with the MetroHealth System to rebrand the number 51 family of routes.[6] On Dec. 3, 2017, the rebranded MetroHealth Line began service with 20 new vehicles, fully branded with the MetroHealth logo. More than 400 bus stop signs and 37 shelters also display the new logo along the routes. This service is essentially just a branding; other than new specially designed buses, there are no other BRT features present. All outbound trips originate at E 12th Street & Rockwell or Superior & W 3rd St, travel through Public Square and then south on W 25th St/Pearl Road until reaching Pearl Road & Broadview Road, located just south of the MetroHealth South Campus where the route splits into four branches:[7]

  • 51: Continues on Pearl Road, to the bus loop at Drake & Howe. Buses can terminate early at the Southland Shopping Center or the Strongsville Park & Ride.[8]
  • 51A: Continues onto State Road, Pleasant Valley Road & Ridge Road before ending at Parma Transit Center. Trips between 12:00am & 5:00am operate from the West 33Road Loop.[9]
  • 51B: Continues onto Broadview Road & Royalton Road to the MetroHealth Brecksville Health & Surgery Center. Trips between 12:00am & 5:00am operate to the West 33Road Loop[10]
  • 51C: Continues onto Broadview Road & Rockside Road to Garfield Commons.

All routes run seven days a week, except the 51C. The 51A & 51B run 24 hours a day between downtown and the West 33rd Loop, with the 51B operating outbound service and the 51A operating inbound service. Weekday frequency is every 30 minutes on the 51 & 51A and every 60 minutes on the 51B & 51C. Weekend frequency is every 60 minutes on the 51, 51A & 51B.

Fares
See also: RTA Fares

Since August 14, 2016, the one-way cash fare on the RTA Rapid Transit is $2.50. A five-ride fare card can be purchased for $12.50. An All-Day/Cleveland 1-Day pass, allowing unlimited riding on the rapid transit as well as on RTA buses is $5.50 ($2.75 for children 6-17, seniors at least 65, disabled & Paratransit riders). Weekly and monthly passes are also available, and there are discounted fares for seniors and disabled. No fare to children below 6 when accompanied by fare-paying rider; limit 3.

Stations
Cleveland Rapid Transit, 1913–present

The RTA Rapid Transit system consists of a total of 47 stations.[11] Most of the stations are located in Cleveland, with two of them based in nearby East Cleveland and the rest (mostly on the light rail lines) located in Shaker Heights.

Tower City on the Red, Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines
Coventry on the Green Line
West 25th on the Red Line
Lee-Van Aken on the Blue Line
Settlers Landing on the Waterfront Line
Airport on the Red Line
Belvoir on the Green Line
†* Terminus and transfer stations
† Terminal stations
* Transfer stations
Closed stations
Station Rapid Transit Lines BRT Lines Jurisdiction Opened Rebuilt ADA Access
Airport† Red Cleveland196819941994
Amtrak (on request only) Waterfront Cleveland1997
Ashby Blue Shaker Heights19201981
Attleboro Green Shaker Heights19131980
Avalon Blue Shaker Heights19201981
Belvoir Green Shaker Heights19361980
Brookpark Red Cleveland / Brook Park196920172003
Buckeye–Woodhill* Blue   Green Cleveland19201981, 2012
Cedar–University Red Cleveland195520142002
Courtland Green Shaker Heights19151980
Coventry Green Cleveland / Shaker Heights19131980
Drexmore Blue Cleveland19481981
East 9th–North Coast Waterfront Cleveland19961996
East 55th* Red   Blue   Green Cleveland192020112011
East 79th Red Cleveland19552021
East 79th* Blue   Green Cleveland19201981
East 105th–Quincy Red Cleveland195520052005
East 116th–St. Luke's* Blue   Green Cleveland19201981, 20192019
Eaton Green Shaker Heights19151980
Euclid–East 120th Red     Cleveland1955
Farnsleigh Blue Shaker Heights19301981, 20192019
Flats East Bank Waterfront Cleveland19961996
Green Road† Green Shaker Heights19361980, 19882001
Kenmore Blue Shaker Heights19201981
Lee–Shaker Green Shaker Heights19131980, 20172017
Lee–Van Aken Blue Shaker Heights19201981, 20152015
Little Italy–University Circle Red Cleveland20152015
Louis Stokes–Windermere†* Red     East Cleveland195519971997
Lynnfield Blue Shaker Heights19201981
Onaway Blue Shaker Heights19201980
Puritas–West 150th Red Cleveland196820112011
Settlers Landing Waterfront Cleveland19961996
Shaker Square* Blue   Green Cleveland192019862006
South Harbor† Waterfront Cleveland19961996
South Park Green Shaker Heights19131980
South Woodland Blue Cleveland / Shaker Heights19201981
Southington Blue Shaker Heights19201980
Southington Green Shaker Heights19131981
Superior Red East Cleveland195519961996
Tower City†* Red   Blue   Green   Waterfront               Cleveland193019901990
Tri-C–Campus District* Red   Blue   Green Cleveland19302003, 20182018
Triskett Red Cleveland195820002000
Warrensville–Shaker Green Shaker Heights19281980, 20162016
Warrensville–Van Aken† Blue Shaker Heights19301981, 19991999
West 3rd–Stadium Waterfront Cleveland19991999
West 25th–Ohio City Red     Cleveland195519921992
West 65th–Lorain Red Cleveland195520042004
West 117th–Madison Red Cleveland195520072007
West Boulevard–Cudell Red Cleveland195519991999
West Green Green Shaker Heights19361980
West Park Red Cleveland195819961996

Note: Euclid–East 120th Street station closed in 2015 and was replaced by Little Italy–University Circle station.

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See also

References
  1. "Overview: Facts about the Greater Cleveland RTA". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  2. APTA Quarterly Transit Ridership Report Archived 2007-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, 3rd Qtr 2006. p. 17.
  3. Hollander, Sarah (2008-02-28). "Clinic, UH pay to name Euclid Corridor buses". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  4. "Clifton project ready, Cleveland State Line opens" (Press release). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. December 8, 2014. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  5. "55-A-B-C: Cleveland State Line". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. May 24, 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  6. "51-A-B-C: MetroHealth Line". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  7. "MetroHealth Line 51ALL W.25" (PDF). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  8. "MetroHealth Line 51 W.25-Pearl" (PDF). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  9. "MetroHealth Line 51A W.25-State" (PDF). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  10. "MetroHealth Line 51B/C W.25-Broadview" (PDF). Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  11. RTA system maps
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