View source for Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

{{Short description|Public transit agency for the Cleveland, Ohio, area}}
{{Other uses|RTA (disambiguation){{!}}RTA}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name            = Regional Transit Authority
| logo            = Cleveland RTA logo.svg
| logo_size       = 100
| image           = {{photo montage
|photo1a=Cocoa with Santa Claus (51728473259).jpg
|photo1b=Cleveland August 2015 28 (RTA Green Line).jpg
|photo2a=GCRTA New Flyer DE60LF-BRT.jpg
|photo2b=RTA_Red_Line_2023.jpg
| spacing = 1
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
| image_size      = 250
| image_caption   = RTA services, top left to bottom right: local bus, Blue & Green Line light rail, bus rapid transit, and Red Line subway
| founded         = December 30, 1974
| headquarters    = 1240 West 6th Street, [[Downtown Cleveland|Downtown]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| locale          = Cleveland, Ohio
| service_type    = Bus and Rapid Transit
| routes          = Bus: 37,  Rail: 4, Trolley: 1, BRT: 3
| fleet           = Bus: 391, Rail: 92, Trolley: 12, BRT: 40
| ridership = {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| ceo             = India Birdsong Terry<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.riderta.com/emt|title=Executive Management Team (EMT)|first=Greater Cleveland|last=RTA|date=November 18, 2012|website=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority}}</ref>
| website         = {{URL|riderta.com}}
}}

The '''Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority''' (officially the '''GCRTA''', but historically and locally referred to as the '''RTA''') is the [[public transport|public transit]] agency for [[Cleveland]] and the surrounding suburbs of [[Cuyahoga County, Ohio|Cuyahoga County]] in [[Ohio]], United States. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, with a ridership of {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

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 (RTA Rapid Transit)|Red Line]]) and three [[light rail]] lines ([[Blue Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Blue]], [[Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Green]], [[Waterfront Line|Waterfront]]). The bulk of RTA's service consists of [[bus]]es, including regular routes, [[express bus service|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 development]]s are discussed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riderta.com/transit2025/ |title=Planning & Development – Transit 2025 Plan |publisher=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority |access-date=2009-11-16}}</ref>

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.<ref name="rtahistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.riderta.com/ar_RTAhistory.asp |title=About RTA: History of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland |publisher=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority |access-date=2009-11-16}}</ref>

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."<ref>Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (October 1, 2007). [http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1096 ''Greater Cleveland: Best Location for Public Transportation in the Nation'']. [[News release|Press release]]. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.</ref>

== History ==
{{See also|RTA Rapid Transit}}
The GCRTA was established on December 30, 1974,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=GCRTA |title=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History |publisher=[[Case Western Reserve University]] |date=1997-06-16 |access-date=2009-11-26}}</ref> and on September 5, 1975 assumed control of the Cleveland Transit System, which operated the heavy rail line from [[Louis Stokes Station at Windermere|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 Cleveland|downtown]] to Shaker Heights.  CTS had been formed in 1942, when the city of Cleveland took over the old [[Cleveland Railway (Ohio)|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.<ref name="rtahistory" />

A month after its formation, RTA assumed control over the suburban bus systems operated by [[Maple Heights]], [[North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line|North Olmsted]], [[Brecksville]], [[Garfield Heights]] and [[Euclid, Ohio|Euclid]].<ref name="rtahistory" />

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 [[Tower City (RTA Rapid Transit station)|downtown station]] at Cleveland Union Terminal, later renamed [[Tower City Center]], was heavily rebuilt by 1987. In 1994, a walkway and [[skyway]] was added from the Tower City station to the [[Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex]] and the Blue and Green lines were [[Waterfront Line|extended]] to the [[North Coast Harbor]] area by 1996.

Seventy-five Cleveland Transit System [[PCC streetcar]]s were sold in 1952 to [[Toronto]] to be used by the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] (TTC). The last of the Cleveland PCC models operated for 30 years in Toronto, until 1982. Cleveland Transit also sold eight [[Marmon-Herrington]] TC44 trolleybuses in 1963 to the TTC.[[File:HealthLine at Public Square.jpg|thumb|right|A [[HealthLine]] [[bus rapid transit|rapid transit bus]], a New Flyer DE60LFA, at [[Public Square, Cleveland|Public Square]] ]]
In 2005, RTA began building a [[bus rapid transit]] line along [[Euclid Avenue (Cleveland, Ohio)|Euclid Avenue]] from [[Public Square, Cleveland|Public Square]] to [[University Circle]] and then to [[East Cleveland, Ohio|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 [[Louis Stokes Station at Windermere|Windermere Rapid Transit Station]] in East Cleveland. The vehicles are low-floor, [[articulated bus|articulated]] {{convert|63|ft|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]].<ref>[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=NewsBank&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%2011F1F1181530ED40%20)&p_docid=11F1F1181530ED40&p_theme=aggregated5&p_queryname=11F1F1181530ED40&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=V5BO5AAWMTIwNDY2MjQ3NC40NjE2Nzc6MToxMjoxOTguMzAuMjI4LjA&&p_multi=CPDB Clinic, UH pay to name Euclid Corridor buses.] ''The Plain Dealer.''  Retrieved on March 4, 2008.</ref>

As sections were completed, they were opened to traffic; the entire stretch within the project area was open by October 24, 2008<ref>{{cite news |title=RTA's HealthLine Officially Opens Along Euclid Corridor |url=http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/RTA%27s-HealthLine-Officially-Opens-Along-Euclid-Corridor |publisher=[[WEWS-TV]] |date=2008-10-23 |access-date=2010-09-29}}</ref> as part of its grand opening October 24–26, 2008.<ref>[http://shop.cleveland.com/SS/Page.aspx?&secid=54839 Cleveland RTA Healthline Special Section], ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'', 2008-10-19</ref>

In January 2023, the GCRTA announced the acquisition of sixty [[Siemens S200]] light rail vehicles to replace the system's entire existing rail fleet. Twenty-four such cars will replace the [[Tokyu Corporation|Tokyu]] heavy rail trains used on the [[Red Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Red Line]], with an option to acquire 36 additional units to replace the [[Società Italiana Ernesto Breda|Breda]] light rail vehicles used on the [[Blue Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Blue]], [[Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Green]], and [[Waterfront Line|Waterfront]] lines.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-24 |title=Cleveland plans to standardise rail transit fleet |url=http://www.tautonline.com/cleveland-plans-standardise-rail-transit-fleet/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=The International Light Rail Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> GCRTA's S200s will include steps at the front right door for boarding at street-level stations on the Blue, Green, and Waterfront. Once the acquisition is approved by the GCRTA's board, S200s are expected to begin service in Cleveland in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prendergast |first=Ken |date=2023-04-04 |title=Cleveland RTA reveals its new trains |url=https://neo-trans.blog/2023/04/04/cleveland-rta-reveals-its-new-trains/ |access-date= |website=NEOtrans |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-04 |title=Committee Meetings - 2023-04-04 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRP-oaqA28 |publisher=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority |type=Video |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

=== Active Bus Fleet ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
{|class="wikitable sortable
|-
!Image
! Manufacturer
! Model
!Length
! Year
! Fleet numbers
|-
| rowspan="2" |
|[[Motor Coach Industries|MCI]]
|[[MCI D4500CT|D4500CT]]
|{{Convert|45|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|2020
|1901-1909
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[New Flyer]]
| rowspan="3" |[[XD60]]
| rowspan="3" |{{Convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|2012
|3201-3208
|-
|[[File:Cleveland State Line 10-2015.jpg|frameless|150x150px]]
|2013
|3209-3216
|-
|
|2014
|3251-3257
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Cocoa with Santa Claus (51728068238).jpg|frameless|150x150px]]
| rowspan="14" |Gillig
| rowspan="9" |BRT Plus CNG
| rowspan="14" |{{Convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|2013
|3301-3322
|-
|2014
|3323-3345
|-
| rowspan="7" |[[File:Cleveland RTA Gillig BRTPlus bus 3866 parked.jpg|frameless|150x150px]]
|2015
|3346-3390
|-
|2016
|3401-3416
|-
|2017
|3601-3633
|-
|2019
|3801-3806
|-
|2020
|3851-3869
|-
|2021
|3901-3920
|-
|2023
|4101-4120
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Cocoa with Santa Claus (51728067753).jpg|frameless|150x150px]]
| rowspan="3" |BRT Plus Diesel
|2017
|3501-3520
|-
|2018
|3551-3559
|-
|2022
|4001-4020
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Cleveland RTA Gillig Trolley (32350528974).jpg|frameless|150x150px]]
| rowspan="2" |Low Floor Trolley Replica
|2015
|3701-3703
|-
|2016
|3704-3712
|-
|[[File:Cleveland RTA New Flyer XN60 (51981936057).jpg|frameless|150x150px]]
|New Flyer
|XN60
|{{Convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|2021
|6001-6016
|}

== List of bus routes ==
In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the GCRTA bus system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland MB annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland MB daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

{{color box|#DA413C}} = 15-minute midday frequency<br />
{{color box|#007DB6}} = 30-minute midday frequency<br />
{{color box|#8DC63F}} = 45-minute midday frequency<br />
{{color box|#7A8A9A}} = 60-minute or less midday frequency<br />
Other colors denote special routes

{|  class="wikitable sortable"
!Route Name
!Terminal 1
!Terminal 2
!via
!notes
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |1 St. Clair
|'''[[Downtown Cleveland|Downtown]]'''<br/>Superior Avenue and West 6th Street
|'''[[Collinwood|South Collinwood]]'''<br/>East 153rd Street Loop
|Saint Clair Avenue
|24-hour service
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |2 East 79
|'''[[Glenville, Cleveland|Glenville]]'''<br/>Maud Loop
|'''[[Tremont, Cleveland|Tremont]]'''<br/>[[Steelyard Commons]]
|Harvard Avenue, East 79th Street
|Weekdays only
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;"|3 Superior
|'''Downtown'''<br/>Superior Avenue & West 6th Street
|rowspan="2"|'''[[East Cleveland, Ohio|East Cleveland]]'''<br/>[[Louis Stokes at Windermere station|Stokes-Windermere Station]]
|Superior Avenue (US-6)
|24-hour service
|-
|style="background:#747474; color:black;"|[[HealthLine]]
|'''Downtown'''<br/>[[Public Square, Cleveland|Public Square]]
|Euclid Avenue (US-20)
|24-hour service
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |7 Monticello
|rowspan="2"|'''East Cleveland'''<br/>Stokes-Windermere Station
|'''[[Richmond Heights, Ohio|Richmond Heights]]'''<br/>Richmond Park Drive North 
|Monticello Boulevard
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |7A Monticello
|'''[[Mayfield Heights, Ohio|Mayfield Heights]]'''<br/>SOM Center Road and Mayfield Road
|Monticello Boulevard/Wilson Mills Road
|Weekdays only
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |8 Cedar-Buckeye
|'''Downtown'''<br/>East 6th Street and Lakeside Avenue
|'''[[Buckeye-Shaker]]'''<br/>[[Shaker Square station|Shaker Square]]
|Cedar Avenue, Buckeye Road
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |9 Mayfield-Hough
|'''Downtown'''<br/>West Prospect Avenue and West 3rd Street
|'''Mayfield Heights'''<br/>SOM Center Road and Mayfield Road
|Payne Avenue, Hough Avenue, Mayfield Road, Severance Town Center
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" rowspan="2"|10 East 105-Lakeshore
|rowspan="2"|'''South Broadway'''<br/>Turney-Ella Loop
|'''[[Willowick]]'''<br/>Shoregate Town Center
|rowspan="2"|East 93rd Street, East 105th Street, [[Ohio State Route 283|Lake Shore Boulevard]]
|
|-
|'''[[Euclid, Ohio|Euclid]]'''<br/>Euclid Hospital (East 189th Street)
|Overnight and alternate daytime trips
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |11 Quincy-Cedar
|'''Downtown'''<br/>West Prospect Avenue and West 3rd Street
|'''[[Beachwood, Ohio|Beachwood]]'''<br/>Montifiore Hospital
|Community College Avenue (Quincy Avenue), Cedar Road
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" rowspan="2"|14 Kinsman
|rowspan="4"|'''Downtown'''<br/>West 6th Street and West Prospect Avenue
|'''[[Pepper Pike, Ohio|Pepper Pike]]'''<br/>Lander Circle
|rowspan="2"|Chagrin Boulevard/Kinsman Road
|
|-
|'''[[Shaker Heights, Ohio|Shaker Heights]]'''<br/>[[Warrensville-Van Aken station]]
|Overnight trips
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |14A Kinsman
|'''[[Warrensville Heights, Ohio|Warrensville Heights]]'''<br/>Country Lane
|Emery Road, Chagrin Boulevard/Kinsman Road 
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |15 Union-Harvard
|'''[[Highland Hills, Ohio|Highland Hills]]'''<br/>[[Cuyahoga Community College|Tri-C Eastern Campus]]
|Broadway, Union Avenue, Harvard Avenue
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |16 East 55
|'''Tremont'''<br/>Steelyard Commons
|'''Saint Clair-Superior'''<br/>Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
|East 55th Street
|Weekdays only
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |18 West 98-Garfield
|'''Edgewater'''<br/>[[West Boulevard-Cudell station]]
|'''[[Garfield Heights, Ohio|Garfield Heights]]'''<br/>[[Marymount Hospital]]
|Garfield Boulevard, Harvard Avenue, West 98th Street
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" rowspan="2"|19 Broadway
|rowspan="4"|'''Downtown'''<br/>East 6th Street and Lakeside Avenue
|'''Highland Hills'''<br/>Tri-C Eastern Campus
|rowspan="4"|'''All trips:''' Broadway Avenue, then:
*'''19, 19B''': Miles Road
*'''19A''': Turney Road
|
|-
|'''Corlett'''<br/>Caine-East 131st Loop
|Overnight trips
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |19A Broadway
|'''[[Maple Heights, Ohio|Maple Heights]]'''<br/>Southgate Transit Center (19A)
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |19B Broadway
|'''[[Bedford Heights, Ohio|Bedford Heights]]'''<br/>Fargo Avenue (19B)
|Rush hour trips
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |22 Lorain
|rowspan="8"|'''Downtown'''<br/>Rockwell Avenue and East 3rd Street
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Fairview Park, Ohio|Fairview Park]]'''<br/>Westgate Transit Center
|Lorain Avenue
|24-hour service<br/>Alternate weekend trips run east of West Park station
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" rowspan="2"|25 Madison-Clark
|rowspan="2"|Clark Avenue, Madison Avenue
|Serves Lakeview Terrace weekday daytime
|-
|'''[[Edgewater, Cleveland|Edgewater]]'''<br/>[[West 117th-Madison station]]
|Overnight trips
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" rowspan="3"|26 Detroit
|'''Fairview Park'''<br/>Westgate Transit Center
|Detroit Avenue
|Overnight trips
|-
|'''[[Westlake, Ohio|Westlake]]'''<br/>[[Crocker Park]]
|rowspan="2"|Detroit Avenue, Center Ridge Road
|Weekend and other weekday trips
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Westlake'''<br/>Tri-C Westshore Campus
|Every 3rd weekday trip
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" rowspan="2"|26A Detroit
|rowspan="2"|Detroit Avenue, Detroit Road
|Weekday trips
|-
|'''Westlake'''<br/>Crocker Park
|Weekend and late weekday evening trips
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |28 Euclid
|rowspan="3"|'''East Cleveland'''<br/>Stokes-Windermere Station
|'''Euclid'''<br/>Tungsten
|Euclid Avenue
|24-hour service
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |28A Euclid
|rowspan="2"|'''Euclid'''<br/>Shore Center Plaza 
|Euclid Avenue, East 222nd Street
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |31 St. Clair-Babbitt
|Hayden Avenue, Saint Clair Avenue, Babbitt Road
|Limited trips serve Euclid Amazon Center
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |34 East 200-Green
|'''Euclid'''<br/>Shore Center Plaza
|'''Highland Hills'''<br/>Tri-C Eastern Campus
|East 200th Street, Green Road, Richmond Road
|Weekdays only
|-
|style="background:#8DC63F; color:black;" |35 Lee Blvd-East 123
|'''East Cleveland'''<br/>East 129th Street Loop
|'''Cleveland Heights'''<br/>Severance Town Center
|East 123rd Street, Euclid Avenue, Lee Boulevard, Mayfield Road
|Weekdays only
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |37 Hayden-East 185
|'''East Cleveland'''<br/>Stokes-Windermere Station
|'''Euclid'''<br/>Shore Center Plaza
|Hayden Avenue, East 152nd Street, East 185th Street, Lake Shore Boulevard
|
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |39 Lakeshore
|'''Downtown'''<br/>West Prospect Avenue and West 3rd Street
|'''Willowick'''<br/>Shoregate Town Center
|Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Lake Shore Boulevard
|Rush hour trips
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |40 Lakeview-Lee
|'''Forest Hills'''<br/>Taft Avenue and Eddy Road
|rowspan="2"|'''Maple Heights'''<br/>Southgate Transit Center
|Lakeview Road, Superior Road, Lee Road
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" rowspan="2"|41 Warrensville
|rowspan="3"|'''East Cleveland'''<br/>Stokes-Windermere Station
|Noble Road/Warrensville Center Road
|Overnight and select or alternate trips
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Glenwillow, Ohio|Glenwillow]]'''<br/>Diamond Parkway
|Noble Road/Warrensville Center Road, Columbus Road, Aurora Road, Cochran Road
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |41F Warrensville
|Noble Road/Warrensville Center Road, Harvard Road, US-422, Cochran Road
|Reverse rush hour peak direction trips
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |45 Ridge-Fulton
|'''Downtown'''<br/>Rockwell Avenue and East 3rd Street
|'''[[Parma, Ohio|Parma]]'''<br/>Parma Transit Center
|Fulton Road, Ridge Road
|{{convert|10.7|mi|km}}
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |48 East 131
|rowspan="2"|'''[[University Circle]]'''<br/>East 93rd Street and Chester Avenue
|'''Garfield Heights'''<br/>Marymount Hospital
|East 131st Street
|24-hour service
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |50 East 116
|'''[[Lee-Miles]]'''<br/>East 177th Street and South Miles Road
|East 116th Street
|
|-
|style="background:#19226D; color:black;" |51 MetroHealth Line-West 25th 
|rowspan="3"|'''Downtown'''<br/>Rockwell Avenue and East 3rd Street
|rowspan="2"|'''Parma'''<br/>Parma Transit Center
|West 25th Street, Pearl Road
|Weekday daytime trips serve Tri-C Western Campus
|-
|style="background:#19226D; color:black;" rowspan="2"|51A MetroHealth Line-West 25th
|rowspan="2"|West 25th Street, State Road
|
|-
|'''[[Old Brooklyn]]'''<br/>West 33rd Loop
|Overnight trips
|-
|style="background:#19226D; color:black;" |53 MetroHealth Line-Broadview
|rowspan="2"|'''Downtown'''<br/>Public Square
|'''Brecksville'''<br/>Brecksville MetroHealth Center
|rowspan="2"| I-90/71, Broadview Road, Royalton Road
|
|-
|style="background:#19226D; color:black;" |53A MetroHealth Line-Broadview
|'''[[North Royalton, Ohio|North Royalton]]'''<br/> North Royalton Loop
|Weekday rush hour trips
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |54 Brookpark-Rockside
|'''Garfield Heights'''<br/>Garfield Commons
|'''[[Brook Park, Ohio|Brook Park]]'''<br/>[[Brookpark station|Brookpark Station]]
|Rockside Road, Brookpark Road
|
|-
|style="background:#006A4D; color:black;" rowspan="2"|55 Cleveland State Line
|'''Downtown'''<br/>Public Square
|rowspan="2"|'''[[North Olmsted, Ohio|North Olmsted]]'''<br/>Industrial Parkway Loop
|rowspan="4"|'''All trips:''' Clifton Boulevard, [[Cleveland Memorial Shoreway]], then:
*'''55''': Lorain Road
*'''55B''': Lake Road
*'''55C''': Detroit Road
|Weekend trips that also bypass Edgewater Park
|-
|rowspan="3"|'''Downtown'''<br/>Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center
|Weekday trips (Rush hour trips serve North Olmsted Park and Ride)
|-
|style="background:#006A4D; color:black;" |55B Cleveland State Line
|'''[[Bay Village, Ohio|Bay Village]]'''<br/>Cahoon Park 
|Weekday rush hour peak direction trips
|-
|style="background:#006A4D; color:black;" |55C Cleveland State Line
|'''Westlake'''<br/>Crocker Park 
|Weekday rush hour peak direction trips
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |71 Pearl-Tiedeman
|'''Downtown'''<br/>East 3rd Street and Rockwell Avenue
|'''[[Strongsville, Ohio|Strongsville]]'''<br/>Howe Road and Drake Road
|West 65th Street, Tiedeman Road, Pearl Road
|
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" |77 Brecksville
|'''Downtown'''<br/>West 3rd Street and Frankfort Avenue
|'''[[Brecksville, Ohio|Brecksville]]'''<br/>Katherine Boulevard
|[[Willow Freeway]] (I-77), Brecksville Road
|
|-
|style="background:#DA413C; color:black;" |78 West 117-Puritas
|'''Gold Coast'''<br/>Winton Place
|'''Brook Park'''<br/>Brookpark Station
|Grayton Road, Puritas Avenue (Bellaire Road), West 117th Street
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |83 Warren-West 130
|'''[[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]]'''<br/>Lakewood Park
|'''Parma'''<br/>Parma Transit Center
|Warren Road, West 140th Street, West 130th Street
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |86 Rocky River Dr-Bagley
|'''[[Jefferson, Cleveland|Jefferson]]'''<br/>[[West Park station]]
|'''Parma'''<br/>Tri-C Western Campus
|Lorain Avenue, Rocky River Drive, Bagley Road
|
|-
|style="background:#007DB6; color:black;" |90 Broadway-Libby
|'''Downtown'''<br/>West 3rd Street and Frankfort Avenue
|'''[[Oakwood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio|Oakwood]]'''<br/> Summit County Line Loop
|Willow Freeway (I-77), Granger Road (Libby Road), Northfield Road, Broadway Avenue
|Alternate reverse rush hour peak direction trips run via Alexander Road
|-
|style="background:#7A8A9A; color:black;" rowspan="2" |94 East 260-Richmond
|rowspan="2"|'''Euclid'''<br/>Shore Center Plaza
|'''Highland Hills'''<br/>Tri-C Eastern Campus
|rowspan="2"|East 260th Street, Richmond Road
|Weekday trips
|-
|'''Shaker Heights'''<br/>[[Green Road station]]
|Weekend trips
|-
|style="background:#00468C; color:black;" |251 Strongsville Park-n-Ride
|'''Downtown'''<br/>Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center
|'''Strongsville'''<br/>Strongsville Park-n-Ride
|[[Interstate 71 in Ohio|Medina Freeway]] (I-71)
|Weekday rush hour peak direction trips
|-
|
• 66R Red Line (during Red Line train shutdowns)

• 67R Blue/Green Line (during Blue and Green Line train shutdowns)
|-
|}

=== Cleveland State Line ===
[[File:RTA_Cleveland_State_Line_Station2.jpg|right|thumb|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]]. Cleveland State purchased naming rights to the route.  The line carries a "55" designation, the same bus route number used by the BRT's predecessor.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Clifton project ready, Cleveland State Line opens |date=December 8, 2014 |publisher=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority |url=http://www.riderta.com/news/csu-line-opens |access-date=2015-09-25}}</ref>

All passengers must pay or swipe/dip their farecards on board the bus.

Only a portion of the line along Clifton Boulevard–from the western terminus of [[Cleveland Memorial Shoreway]] to Webb Road in [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]]– includes a dedicated bus-only lane.  However, the bus-only designation only applies during rush hours: with the eastbound bus-only lane active during the morning rush, and with the westbound bus-only lane active during the evening rush.

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 three sub-routes:

* '''55:''' Travels down Clifton and continues to follow [[U.S. Route 20 in Ohio|U.S. Route 20]] to Detroit Road until reaching Wagar Road where it travels south to Lorain Rd in [[Fairview Park, Ohio|Fairview Park]], continues to North Olmsted via [[Great Northern Mall (Ohio)|Great Northern Mall]] before terminating near the Lorain County line. Rush hour trips travel into the North Olmsted park-n-ride.<ref name="csu line">{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2015 |title=55-A-B-C: Cleveland State Line |url=http://www.riderta.com/routes/clevelandstateline |access-date=2015-09-25 |publisher=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority}}</ref>
* '''55B:''' Travels down Clifton and continues to follow [[U.S. Route 6 in Ohio|Lake Road]] into [[Bay Village, Ohio|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.<ref name="csu line" />
* '''55C:''' Travels down Clifton and continues to follow U.S. Route 20 to Detroit Road until reaching Crocker Road in [[Westlake, Ohio|Westlake]] where it terminates at [[Crocker Park]].<ref name="csu line" />

The 55 base route runs 7 days a week from early A.M. though the evening.  The 55B and 55C routes run Monday through Friday during the morning and evening rush hours only. B and C also travel to the Westlake Park-n-Ride.

=== MetroHealth Line ===
On September 21, 2017, RTA announced a partnership with [[MetroHealth]] to sponsor routes 51, 51A, 53 and 53A under the brand MetroHealth Line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=51-A-B-C: MetroHealth Line |url=http://www.riderta.com/routes/metrohealthline |access-date=May 29, 2018 |website=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority}}</ref> On December 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. Unlike the other named lines, it features no BRT features.

== Bicycles ==
RTA has equipped all of its mainline buses with [[bicycle carrier]]s. Each bus can carry two to three [[bicycle]]s. 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.

== 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.

[[File:Shaker Rapid Warrensville Loop.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Shaker Rapid car at the [[Warrensville (RTA Green Line Rapid Transit station)|Warrensville Center Road Loop]] in 1936]]

== CTS fleet ==
* 1946 Pullman PCC A11 (50) and 1946 St. Louis Car Company A12 (25) – all sold to [[Toronto Transit Commission|Toronto]] in 1952 and all retired by TTC.
* [[Marmon-Herrington]] TC48-T5 and TC44-T7 trolleybus – ordered 49 in 1951 and 1952 and retired in 1960s (sold to Mexico City's [[Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos]] and since retired)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sYEn7PAG8d4C&q=Cleveland+trolleybuses&pg=PA18|title=Cleveland's Transit Vehicles: Equipment and Technology|first1=James A.|last1=Toman|first2=Jim|last2=Toman|first3=Blaine S.|last3=Hays|date=November 25, 1996|publisher=Kent State University Press|isbn=978-0-87338-548-0|via=Google Books}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Cleveland railroad history]]
*[[Great American Streetcar Scandal]]
*[[Laketran]] (Lake County)
*[[Lorain County Transit]]
*[[Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cleveland RTA}}
* [http://www.riderta.com/ Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]
* [http://www.euclidtransit.org/ Euclid Corridor Transportation Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615231348/http://euclidtransit.org/ |date=2017-06-15 }}
* [http://www.rtahealthline.com/ RTA HealthLine website]

{{Cleveland Rapid}}
{{Cleveland}}
{{USSubway}}
{{USLightRail}}
{{Ohio public transit}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority| ]]
[[Category:Transportation in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Transportation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Ohio]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1974]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Ohio]]
[[Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Ohio]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Ohio]]