Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

Regional Transit Authority

Overview
Locale	Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Transit type	Rapid transit Light rail Heavy rail Bus Bus rapid transit
Number of lines	1 rapid transit: Red line 2 interurban/light rail: Blue line and Green line 1 light rail: Waterfront 60 bus routes: 2 Bus rapid transits 4 Freeway-Flyer[1][2]
Number of stations	18 rapid transit 34 light rail/interurban 6,000 bus stops including 1,200 shelters[1]
Annual ridership	47 million[3]
Website	riderta.com
Operation
Began operation	September 5, 1975
Number of vehicles	60 rapid transit cars 48 light rail cars 426 buses 80 ParaTransit shuttles 70 contracted ParaTransit vehicles [1]
Technical
System length	37 miles (60 km) rail,[1] 1,606 miles (2,585 km) bus routes[4]
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (officially the GCRTA, but historically and locally referred to as the RTA) is the public transit agency for Cleveland, Ohio, United States and the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, providing over 44 million trips to residents and visitors of the Cleveland area in 2010. RTA owns and operates the RTA Rapid Transit rail system (called "The Rapid" by area residents), which consists of one heavy rail line (the Red Line) and two interurban light rail lines (the Blue, Green and light-rail Waterfront extension line). The bulk of RTA's service consists of buses, including regular routes, express or flyer buses, loop and paratransit buses. In December 2004, RTA adopted a revised master plan, Transit 2025, in which several rail extensions, bus line improvements and transit oriented developments are discussed.^[5]

RTA's major predecessor, the Cleveland Transit System, was the first transit system in the western hemisphere to provide direct rapid transit service from a city's downtown to its major airport.^[6]

In 2007, RTA was named the best public transit system in North America by the American Public Transportation Association, for "demonstrating achievement in efficiency and effectiveness."^[7]

History

Cleveland Rapid Transit, 1913-2015

The GCRTA was established December 30, 1974,^[8] and on September 5, 1975 assumed control of the Cleveland Transit System, which operated the heavy rail line from Windermere to Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the local bus systems, and Shaker Heights Rapid Transit (the descendant of a separate streetcar system formed by the Van Sweringen brothers to serve their Shaker Heights development), which operated the two interurban light rail lines from downtown to Shaker Heights. CTS had been formed when the city of Cleveland took over the old Cleveland Railway Company. However, with Cleveland's dwindling population over the previous two decades, its revenue dwindled significantly. The problem really manifested itself with a 17-day strike in July 1970. City and county leaders concluded that a regional approach was the only way to save it.^[6]

A month after its formation, RTA assumed control over the suburban bus systems operated by Maple Heights, North Olmsted, Brecksville, Garfield Heights and Euclid.^[6]

The RTA had to undertake a number of renovations to the rail system, as the Shaker Heights lines (renamed the Blue and Green lines) had not been significantly renovated since their creation in 1920. They were largely rebuilt by 1981 and the downtown station at Cleveland Union Terminal (now Tower City Center) was heavily rebuilt by 1987. In 1994, a walkway and skyway was added from the Tower City station to Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena and the Blue and Green lines were extended to the waterfront area by 1996.

Seventy-five Cleveland Transit System PCC streetcars were sold in 1952 to Toronto to be used by the Toronto Transit Commission. The last of the Cleveland models operated for 30 years in Toronto until 1982.

RTA has equipped all of its mainline buses with bicycle carriers. Each bus can carry two to three bicycles. Bicycles are also allowed on rapid transit trains (with a maximum limit of two per car) at all times, although operators have discretion to refuse bicycles if a train is overcrowded. Bicycles are not allowed access to/from the Public Square/Tower City Station through the shopping areas of Tower City Center. However, an elevator connection is permitted between the station lobby and street level, at Prospect Avenue via the south-side doors. Bicycles are also allowed to transfer between trains at Tower City Station. There is no additional charge for taking bicycles on RTA.

Euclid Corridor Project

A HealthLine bus rapid transit,a New Flyer DE60LFA, at Public Square

In 2005, RTA began building a bus rapid transit line along Euclid Avenue from Public Square to University Circle and then to East Cleveland. This was originally to be a subway line running under Euclid Avenue, but the high cost of such a project caused it to be reduced in scope, resulting in the current bus rapid transit project. Vehicles operate in an exclusive center median busway from Public Square to Stokes Blvd. and transition to curbside running through University Circle to the Windermere Rapid Transit Station in East Cleveland. The vehicles are low-floor, articulated 63 feet (19 m) buses.

Naming rights for the line were purchased by the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals for twenty-five years. The BRT route, originally named the "Silver Line", which serves the two major health industry employers in Cleveland, is named the HealthLine.^[9]

As sections were completed, they were opened to traffic; the entire stretch within the project area was open by October 24, 2008^[10] as part of its grand opening October 24–26, 2008.^[11]

Cleveland State Line Project

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Agency's new bus-rapid transit Cleveland State Line opened December 8, 2014. It comprises a fleet of 16 articulated, 60-foot buses that run along the 4.1-mile, upgraded route from West Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood to Lake Avenue in Cleveland and then into downtown, replacing the existing Clifton bus service.

The $20 million beautification and bus-efficiency rebuild of the Clifton corridor was intended to make the avenue more appealing to walkers, transit riders and car drivers. It also is designed to spark transit-oriented commercial and residential growth, much like RTA's flagship BRT HealthLine along Euclid Avenue. It incorporates many of the features of the HealthLine, including consolidated bus stops, new stations, bus-only lanes, a new traffic signal system, and landscaping.^[12]

Funding

When RTA was formed, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 1% county-wide sales tax, which constitutes about 70% of its operating revenue. This funding source has helped RTA maintain a higher level of service than other transit agencies in comparable cities and it also helps RTA retain some degree of political autonomy. However, it also makes RTA unusually susceptible to economic downturns.

In recent years, RTA has undertaken great efforts to improve efficiency and eliminate unnecessary costs. These efforts have included mergers with the two remaining autonomous transit agencies in Cuyahoga County, the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line and Maple Heights Transit, and the redesigning of its routes in the suburban areas southeast, west, and south of Cuyahoga County.

Fares

A Shaker Rapid car at the Warrensville Center Road Loop in 1936

These Tokyu cars, first put in service in 1985, serve the Red Line

Since 14 August 2016 (no fare for up to three children under 5 years old accompanying a fare-paying rider):^[13]

RTA buses

Current Fleet Roster

Order Year	Fleet Series (Quantity)	Manufacturer Model	Image	Powertrain (Engine/Transmission)	Fuel or Propulsion	Notes
2001	1001-1023 (23)	MCI D4000		DDS-60 Allison WB-500	Diesel
2002	2201-2320 (120)	NABI 40-LFW		DDS-50EGR Allison WB-400R	Diesel	2209 was totaled on December 17, 2012 Currently housed at Hayden and Triskett Garages. Vehicles with 500,000 miles or 12 or more years old are being retired.
2003	1051-1065 (15)	MCI D4500		DDS-60 Allison WB-500	Diesel
2003	2401-2505 (105)	NABI 40-LFW		DDS-50EGR Allison WB-400R	Diesel	Currently housed at Hayden and Triskett Garages. Vehicles with 500,000 miles or 12 or more years old are being retired.
2005	2601-2648 (48)	NABI 40-LFW		Caterpillar C-9 Allison WB-400R	Diesel	2016 Update- Vehicles are going thru a strategic 100,000 miles maintenance.
2006	2801-2845 (45)	NABI 40-LFW		Caterpillar C-9 Allison WB-400R	Diesel	2016 Update- Vehicles are going thru a strategic 100,000 miles maintenance.
2006	2701-2711 (11)	Optima American Heritage Streetcar		Cummins ISB Allison WB-300R	Diesel	Streetcar configuration. 2016 Update- Vehicles are RETIRED.
2008/2009	2900-2920, 2951-2953 (24)	NFI DE63LFA		Caterpillar C-9 Allison ep-50 HybriDrive system	Hybrid	First New Flyer bus order. First Hybrids in system. Except 2951-53, which are Cummins Clean Diesels Operates the HealthLine BRT service on Euclid Avenue. 2016 Update 210,000 miles / midlife service maintenance on all 2900 series.
2009	3001-3017 (16)	NFI D60LFR		Cummins ISM Allison WB-500R	Diesel
2014	3201-3226, 3251-3257 (33)	NFI Xcelsior XD60		Cummins ISL9 Allison WB-500R	Diesel	Used for Cleveland State Line Routes 55, 55A, 55B, 55C. 3251-3257 Used on routes 22 and 26
2015	3301-3390 (90)	GILLIG BRTPlusCNG		Cummins EPA 2013 ISL-G Allison WB400R-6 Gen IV/4000 series	Compressed Natural Gas	First GILLIG order. Housed out of Hayden Garage
2015	8501-8516 (15)	Setra S407		Mercedes Benz Engine 450 HP 12.8	Diesel	First Setra order.First Transit Agency for Setra First order to replace the 2003 MCI's
2015	3701-3714 (14)	GILLIG Low Floor Trolley 37'		Cummins ISL9 Allison WB-500R	Diesel	Based out of Triskett Garage Replacement for Optima Opus-229s and Thomas SLF-229s

CTS fleet

• 1946 Pullman PCC A11 (49) and 1946 St. Louis Car Company A12 (24) - all sold to Toronto in 1952
• Marmon-Herrington TC48-T5 and TC44-T7 trolleybus - ordered 49 in 1951 and 1952 and retired in 1960s (sold to Mexico City)^[14]

See also

• Cleveland railroad history
• Great American Streetcar Scandal
• Laketran (Lake County)
• Lorain County Transit
• Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cleveland RTA.

• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
• Euclid Corridor Transportation Project
• RTA HealthLine website