Company Profile
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Company Overview
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) provides transportation services for 150,000-200,000 customers on a typical weekday, or about 45 million rides annually, through a variety of services. In 2016, RTA provided 18.1 million vehicle-miles of service on all modes -- HealthLine, bus, Paratransit, light rail, heavy rail, and vanpools.
Local and Park-N-Ride Bus Services – 55 bus routes provide about 4,028 daily trips, with 406 full-size (40, 45 & 60-foot) buses serving 6,000 bus stops, including 1,100 bus shelters. Major Park-N-Ride lots in Euclid, Westlake, Strongsville and North Olmsted host rush-hour service. RTA also serves municipal Park-N-Ride lots in Bay Village and Brecksville, as well as transit centers in Parma, Fairview Park, Maple Heights and Cleveland State University.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – The HealthLine on Euclid Avenue provides service and operational characteristics associated with rail, with a rubber-tired Rapid Transit Vehicle (RTVs). There are 24 RTVs, including 21 hybrid-electric. Each is 63 feet long, serving nearly 20,000 daily customers at 36 stations along the Corridor. The HealthLine operates 24/7, with a rush-hour frequency of every 8 minutes. The HealthLine, which began in 2008, serves 10 percent of RTA's customers. In December 2014, RTA added a second BRT service, the Cleveland State Line, which connects the West Shore communities with Downtown, via Clifton Boulevard, with 15 articulated vehicles and 19 special bus stations branded for CSU. In its first year of operation, ridership grew more than 31 percent. In December 2017, the MetroHealth Line began serving the West 25th Street Corridor, and five facilities, including the Main Campus. It replaces the 51 family of routes -- the second-highest ridership route at RTA. Service is 24/7, with approximately 200 trips daily.
The Red Line, heavy-rail service with 40 train cars (each 75 feet long), serves 18 rail stations on 38 miles of one-way track from the Hopkins International Airport Station, through the Tower City Station, to the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. The Red Line operates 7 days a week, with a frequency of 7-15 minutes for 20 hours a day. It serves 12 percent of RTA customers. This service began in the 1950s, with a later extension to Hopkins International Airport in 1968. It was the first rail system in the Northern Hemisphere to connect downtown to an airport with Rapid Transit.
The Blue Line, Green Line and Waterfront Line, light-rail service with 34 cars (each 90 feet long). They serve 34 stations on 31 miles of one-way track, from the Eastern Suburbs to the Tower City Station. The initial phase of operation began in 1913. The Waterfront Line began operation in 1996, connecting the Tower City Station with the Flats East Bank, FirstEnergy Stadium -- home of the Cleveland Browns -- Great Lakes Science Center, Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame, Burke Lakefront Airport, and the Municipal Parking Lot on the Lakefront. This line serves 8 percent of RTA customers.
Downtown Trolley service. To connect major Downtown venues with each other, and with the Tower City Station, the B-Line Downtown Trolley began weekday operation in 2006. Daily ridership has grown from 800 to more than 6,000.
Paratransit services. Designed specifically to meet the needs of the disabled customers who are unable to use regular RTA buses and trains, Paratransit provides door-to-door service, with 80 vehicles owned and operated by RTA, as well as an additional 80 vehicles operated by three private subcontractors. Users must pre-register and pre-qualify. Reservations are taken by phone, e-mail or on-line from 1-7 days in advance.
Company History
Cleveland was the last major city in the nation to operate a transit system largely based on farebox revenues. Because of this, service improvements and maintenance of facilities and equipment suffered. To continue effective service, officials sought to create a regional tax base and apply for federal funds.
1970, The Ohio General Assembly passed legislation permitting communities to set up regional transit authorities.
1972-1974, Five Greater Cleveland counties participated in a $750,000 mass transit study. The study proposed $1 billion in transit improvements, and was a prerequisite for receiving federal mass transit funds.
June 12, 1974, The Ohio Senate passed SB 544, which provided for regional transit authorities to be created with a dedicated tax base.
Nov. 26, 1974, President Ford signed the National Mass Transportation Act, with $11.8 billion in transit improvements over six years. This increased the importance of creating a regional transit authority supported by tax funds.
Dec. 30, 1974, Legislation adopted by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners and Cleveland City Council established the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, more commonly known as RTA..
January 1975, The first RTA Board was appointed.
May 21, 1975, A “Memorandum of Understanding” was signed by the City, the County and suburban mayors to transfer CTS assets to RTA, and guarantee fares and service improvements for five years.
July 22, 1975, Voters overwhelmingly approved a one-percent countywide sales tax increase to fund RTA. The 71 percent plurality was the largest ever in this nation for a transit issue.
Sept. 5, 1975, The Cleveland and Shaker services merged when RTA assumed control of all Cleveland Transit System (CTS) bus routes, and both the CTS and Shaker Rapid transit lines. Leonard Ronis was named the first General Manager. Offices were at 1404 E. Ninth St.
Oct. 5, 1975, Full operations began when buses from suburban lines in Maple Heights, North Olmsted, Brecksville, Garfield Heights and Euclid joined RTA through service agreements.
Oct. 5, 1975, Ridership surged 19 percent in the first month, with 378,000 average weekday riders. Ridership by seniors increased 157 percent.
The first fares were:
25 cents Local
35 cents Express
13 cents for seniors/handicapped during rush hours and free during non-rush hours
13 cents for students
10 cents for the Downtown loop.
Transfers, students and children under age 6 were free.
Summary of RTA improvements
Since its formation, RTA has greatly expanded the number of buses it operates, made numerous improvements to Rapid Stations and support facilities, created the Transit Police, and expanded its Paratransit services for senior citizens and disabled persons.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Launched two new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services -- the HealthLine in 2008 and the Cleveland State Line in 2014.
Completed six consecutive years of increasing ridership, 2002-2008, something that has never been achieved in the history of RTA. Ridership also increased over the last three consecutive years in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Implemented RTA’s Ride Happy or Ride Free guarantee.
Consolidated 4 bus facilities to 2 facilities, saving more than $7.2 million annually.
Consolidated North Olmsted and Maple Heights municipal bus services into RTA, saving more than $2.8 million annually.
Consolidated several other RTA functions into RTA-owned facilities, such as the Customer Service Center, Sign Shop, Shelter Shop and Transit Police Headquarters, saving significant dollars annually.
Restructured and improved bus routes and services in all corridors of Cuyahoga County.
Undertook an aggressive bus replacement program to go from one of the oldest, to one of the newest, fleets in the nation.
Launched a track upgrade program, and a mid-life upgrade of the light-rail fleet.
Upgraded the communication system to include GPS tracking and real-time customer information.
Upgraded the Web site and telephone system to include bi-lingual operations and Web-based trip planning.
Received a Full Funding Grant Agreement from the FTA for the $200 million Euclid Corridor Transportation Project, which was completed on-time and on budget.
Initiated, branded and deployed new downtown Trolley routes that increased ridership three-fold within the first 90 days.
Expanded Commuter Advantage membership from 100 to more than 700 employers.
Installed bike racks on all buses.
Instituted on-line trip scheduling for Paratransit.
Balanced the budget in each of the last 10 years. RTA’s budgeting and financial reporting have been recognized for their excellence for the last 26 years by the Government Finance Officers Association.
Moved into the social media generation with a strong presence on Twitter, Facebook and Linked In.
Added seven bomb-sniffing dogs to the Transit Police canine unit.
Moving to improve the regional air quality by shifting to a CNG-fueled big bus fleet.
Added service levels (and related personnel) in 2012, 2013, and 2014 to address increases in ridership.
Provided more than 5 million Paratransit trip requests without a denial.
Placed video cameras on all buses and trains.
Added mobile ticketing capability, a major customer convenience.