Tri-C–Campus District station

Tri-C–Campus District[1] is station on the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, serving the Red, Blue, and Green Lines. It is located just east of East 34th Street near the intersection of East 34th and Broadway, on the north side of the CSX railway tracks, and below the bridge that carries East 34th Street over the railway tracks. Tri-C refers to Cuyahoga Community College.

Tri-C – Campus District
rapid transit and light rail station
Tri-C–Campus station in December 2018
Location	2733 East 34th Street, Cleveland, Ohio
Coordinates	41°29′11″N 81°39′57″W
Owned by	Greater Cleveland RTA
Line(s)	Lake Erie District (Norfolk Southern)
Platforms	Low-level island platform for Blue and Green Lines and collinear high-level island platform for Red Line
Tracks	2
Connections	RTA: 15, 19, 76
Construction
Structure type	At grade
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Website	Tri-C - Campus District Rapid Station
History
Opened	July 20, 1930 (Blue and Green Lines) March 1, 1971 (Red Line)
Rebuilt	August 18, 2003 September 24, 2018
Previous names	East 34th–Campus
Original company	Cleveland Interurban Railroad
Services
Preceding station Rapid Transit Following station Tower City toward Airport Red Line East 55th toward Louis Stokes–Windermere Tower City Terminus Blue Line East 55th toward Warrensville–Van Aken Green Line East 55th toward Green Road

The station is somewhat unusual in that it combines a high-level platform rapid transit station with a low-level platform light rail station. The low-level island platform is located on the northwestern end of the station adjacent to East 34th Street, and the high-level island platform extends southeastward from it. Both the light rail and the heavy rail subway cars share the station. East 34th and East 55th are the only stations on the Blue/Green Line, other than downtown's Tower City station, to utilize an island platform. Therefore, due to the fare collection procedure used on the Blue/Green Line, disembarking Blue/Green Line westbound passengers must walk to the front of the train and pay their fare or swipe/dip their farecard at the farebox before walking back through the train to exit one of the car's side left doors. Likewise, passengers departing East 34th station on the Blue/Green Line going eastbound must board the train through one of the train's left side doors and then immediately walk to the front of the train to pay their fare or swipe/dip their farecard at the farebox.

Although the station bears the name "Campus District", it is something of a misnomer as the Cuyahoga Community College campus is not a convenient walk from the station. The station does offer bus connections to that campus as well as to Cleveland State University. It also provides convenient service for those working at the Main Post Office.

The station is ADA accessible as of September 24, 2018. [2]

History

Original notice for the opening of Campus station in 1971, now on display at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum

The station opened on July 20, 1930 as "East 34th Street Station" serving only the Shaker Rapid Transit Lines (today's Green and Blue Lines) when the lines were extended using private right-of-way from East 34th Street to the newly opened Cleveland Union Terminal.[3] When the CTS Rapid Transit (today's Red Line) opened in 1955 it used the same tracks but did not stop at East 34th; the station continued to exclusively serve the Shaker Rapid Transit until 1971. A high-level platform was added to the eastern end of the existing low-level platform to serve the CTS Rapid Transit, and this portion of the station opened on March 1, 1971.[4] The CTS station was designated "Campus Station." In 1975, with the formation of RTA both rapid transit lines came under common operation, and free transfers were provided between the lines.

The wooden stairway from East 34th Street was replaced in the early 1980s with a concrete stairway covered with a metal and tinted acrylic glass canopies. Beginning on October 16, 2000,[5] Red Line service to the station was discontinued as the high-level platform was torn out and replaced. The station was completely reopened on August 18, 2003.[6]

A major reconstruction of the station started in June 2017 and is currently expected to be completed in October 2018. This project will make the station fully accessible by the installation of ramps on the hillside to the north of the station. Additionally, this project will completely replace both platforms, install new canopies, and improve landscaping at the station. The Red Line stopped serving this station in October 2017 and was expected to continue bypassing the station until October 2018. The station opened ahead of schedule on September 24th, with the RTA dubbing the new station name as "Tri-C–Campus District".

Station layout

G	Street level	Exit/entrance, buses
P Platform level	Westbound	←      Red Line toward Airport (Tower City) ←      Blue Line toward Tower City (Terminus) ←      Green Line toward Tower City (Terminus)
	Island platform
	Eastbound	←      Red Line toward Louis Stokes–Windermere (East 55th) → ←      Blue Line toward Warrensville–Van Aken (East 55th) → ←      Green Line toward Green Road (East 55th) →
	Trackbed	← Former service
	Lake Erie District	← Norfolk Southern Railway
		← Norfolk Southern Railway →

Notable places nearby

• St. Joseph's Church and Friary
• Jane Addams Business Careers Center
• Cuyahoga Community College
• Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center

Gallery

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References

1. "RTA Safety Dept". Twitter. Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
2. "Red Line rail service to E. 34 station has been restored. Enjoy the new station!". Twitter. Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
3. Toman, James (1990). Glendale, Cal.: Interurban Press. ISBN 0-916374-95-5. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. "About RTA: History of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland". RTA Website. Archived from the original on 2007-06-23. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
5. "Rapid platform closing for repairs". The Plain Dealer. October 14, 2000. p. 3B. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
6. "Rider's Alert" (PDF). RTA Website. August 15, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-06.

External links