Warrensville–Van Aken station

Warrensville–Van Aken is a station stop on the RTA light rail Blue Line in Shaker Heights, Ohio. It is the eastern terminus of the Blue Line.

For the station on the RTA Green Line, see Warrensville–Shaker station.

Warrensville
light rail station
Location	3470 Warrensville Center Road, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Coordinates	41°27′57″N 81°32′16″W
Owned by	Greater Cleveland RTA
Line(s)	Van Aken Boulevard
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	3
Connections	RTA: 5, 14, 41, 41F
Construction
Structure type	At grade
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Website	Warrensville–Van Aken Rapid Station
History
Opened	July 30, 1930
Rebuilt	October 30, 1981 1999
Original company	Cleveland Interurban Railroad
Services
Preceding station Rapid Transit Following station Farnsleigh toward Tower City Blue Line Terminus

The station is located at the median of Van Aken Boulevard near the intersection of Warrensville Center Road, Chagrin Boulevard (U.S. Route 422), Van Aken Boulevard, and Northfield Road (Ohio State Route 8).

History

The station opened when the Van Aken line was extended east from Lynnfield Road. The extension opened on July 30, 1930 at the same time that trains began using Cleveland Union Terminal.[1] The station originally included a car yard with a reverse U for turning the trains around. A passenger station building was constructed within the radius of reverse loop in 1932. However, because of the need to generate income, the building was never used as a passenger station but was leased for use as a Texaco service station.[2] In 1948, the reverse U was replaced by a regular turnaround loop.[3]

In 1980 and 1981, the Green and Blue Lines were completely renovated with new track, ballast, poles and wiring, and new stations were built along the line. The Warrensville station was rebuilt with a new platforms, a new car yard and a new power substation. The renovated line along Van Aken Boulevard opened on October 30, 1981.[4]

The car yard was not needed after RTA opened its Central Rail Maintenance Facility on April 29, 1984 at East 55th Street.[5] The loop was closed after RTA ended its use of PCC cars and relied completely upon the LRVs that comprise the current fleet.

There have been several proposals to extend the Blue Line beyond Warrensville station.

The proposal most recently considered would be a 2-mile (3-km) extension into and around the 600-acre (2.4-km²) Chagrin Highlands development near Harvard Road and I-271. The proposed route would travel along Northfield Road south, and then turns east along Mill Creek Pond Dr., traveling parallel to Harvard Road. The line would terminate somewhere between Richmond and Green Roads.[6][7]

Station layout

Station sign

The station has two side platforms, with an additional storage track south of the platform.

Side platform
Westbound	←      Blue Line toward Tower City (Farnsleigh)
Eastbound	→      Blue Line termination track →
Side platform
Storage track	→ No service

Wheelchair ramp

Notable places nearby

• The Van Aken District (retail, restaurant, offices)
• Tower East
• Canterbury Golf Club

References

1. Toman, James (1990). The Shaker Heights Rapid Transit. Glendale, Calif.: Interurban Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-916374-95-5.
2. Toman (1990). p. 59.
3. Toman (1990). p. 76.
4. Toman (1990). p. 111.
5. "About RTA: History of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland". RTA Website. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
6. "Transit 2025 Plan" (PDF). Cleveland, Ohio: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. March 2006. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. "Greater Cleveland RTA rail planning updates". Transportation Choices. EcoCity Cleveland. Retrieved 2007-06-20.

External links

Media related to Warrensville–Van Aken station at Wikimedia Commons