View source for RTA Rapid Transit

{{Short description|Public transit network in Cleveland, Ohio}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox Public transit
|name = RTA Rapid Transit
|image = GCRTA wordmark logo.svg
|imagesize = 150px
|image2 = {{Photomontage
|photo1a=Cleveland Skyline 2015.png
|photo2a=Cleveland August 2015 01 (RTA Red Line).jpg
|photo2b=Cleveland August 2015 26 (RTA Blue Line).jpg
|size=300
|position=center
|color= #FFFFFF
|border=0
}}
|locale          = [[Cuyahoga County, Ohio]]
|transit_type    = [[Rapid transit]]<br />[[Light rail]]
|began_operation = {{start date and age|1859|10|25}}<br />(first [[streetcar]] line);<br />'''{{start date and age|1913|12|17}}<br />([[Coventry station (GCRTA)#History|current lines]])''';<br />{{start date and age|1955|03|15}}<br />(rapid transit);<br />{{start date and age|1980|10|11}}<br />(light rail)
|ended_operation   = <!-- January 24, 1954 (third-last streetcar line)<br /> -->{{end date and age|1981|10|30}}<br />(last streetcar use)<!-- Although historic streetcars can still operate on the new rails -->
|system_length     = {{Cvt|19|mi|km}} rapid transit<br />{{Cvt|18|mi|km}} light rail<ref name="GCRTA-facts">{{Cite web |date=29 November 2014 |title=Overview: Facts about the Greater Cleveland RTA |url=http://www.riderta.com/overview |access-date=2018-01-03 |publisher=[[Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]]}}</ref>
|lines             = 1 rapid transit: [[Red Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Red]]<br />3 light rail: [[Blue Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Blue]], [[Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Green]], [[Waterfront Line|Waterfront]]<ref name="GCRTA-facts" />
|vehicles          = 40 rapid transit cars<br />34 light rail cars<ref name="GCRTA-facts" />
|stations          = 18 rapid transit<br />34 light rail<ref name="GCRTA-facts" />
|ridership         = {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland HR daily}} (rapid transit, {{American transit ridership|dailydate}})<br />{{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland LR daily}} (light rail, {{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
|annual_ridership  = {{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland HR annual}} (rapid transit, {{American transit ridership|annualdate}})<br />{{American transit ridership|OH Cleveland LR annual}} (light rail, {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
|track_gauge       = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
|owner             = [[Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]]
|map= {{switcher
| {{maplink-road
  |from1=Red Line (RTA Rapid Transit) no stations.map
  |from2=Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit).map
  |from3=Blue Line (RTA Rapid Transit).map
  |from4=Waterfront Line.map
  }}
| Show interactive map
| [[File:Cleveland RTA Map.png|300px]] 
| Show static map
| {{RTA Rapid Transit|inline=true}}
| Show diagram map
}}
|map_state=
}}
'''RTA Rapid Transit''' (generally known as '''The Rapid''') is a [[rapid transit]] and [[light rail]] system owned and operated by the [[Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]] (GCRTA). The system serves [[Cleveland]] and surrounding areas in [[Cuyahoga County, Ohio|Cuyahoga County]]. The system currently consists of four total service lines: one rapid transit rail line and three light rail lines.

== Rail lines ==
The four rail lines join at [[Tower City Center]] in [[downtown Cleveland]], on the platform level of the former [[Cleveland Union Terminal]].

Three rail lines share their tracks at [[Tri-C–Campus District station|Tri-C–Campus District]] and [[East 55th station|East 55th]] stations. This sharing of one route by light and heavy rail trains is quite unusual. The shared stations have connected [[railway platform|platforms]] of two heights to accommodate the two kinds of trains. And the two types of trains both use the same maintenance facility since they both use the same track gauge and same source of power (overhead [[overhead lines|catenary]]).

=== Red Line ===
{{Main|Red Line (RTA Rapid Transit)}}
The Red Line, a heavy-rail route, runs in both directions on fully grade-separated [[Right-of-way (railroad)|rights-of-way]] built from 1955 to 1968. It serves Cleveland's southwest suburbs, with its southwestern terminus at [[Cleveland Hopkins International Airport]]. Heading northeast, the Red Line serves [[University Circle]] before heading to its northeastern terminus at the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in [[East Cleveland, Ohio|East Cleveland]].

=== Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines ===
{{Main|Blue Line (RTA Rapid Transit)|Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit)}}
The Blue and Green light-rail lines (alternatively known as the '''RTA Shaker Rapid''') were built from 1913 to 1936 as grade-separated lines closer to downtown and surface lines along street [[median (road)|medians]] in the [[streetcar suburb]] of [[Shaker Heights, Ohio|Shaker Heights]].

The two lines diverge at [[Shaker Square]], a historic mixed-use community in Cleveland proper, just west of the Shaker Heights border.
The Blue Line veers southeast along Van Aken Boulevard until reaching [[Warrensville–Van Aken station|its terminus]] near the intersection of Warrensville Center Road and Chagrin Boulevard ([[U.S. Route 422]] and [[Ohio State Route 8|State Route 8]]). The Green Line continues due east along Shaker Boulevard ([[State Route 87 (Ohio)|State Route 87]]) until reaching [[Green Road station|its terminus]] at the intersection of Green Road.

[[File:RTA Green Line train.png|right|thumb|[[Light rail vehicle]] on the [[Waterfront Line]]]]

{{Main|Waterfront Line}}
The Waterfront Line, opened in 1996, extends the Blue and Green Lines from Tower City north through The Flats. It then travels northeast along the shoreline of [[Lake Erie]], servicing the local [[Cleveland Lakefront Station|Amtrak station]] and terminates at the [[South Harbor station|Lakefront Municipal lot]]. The Waterfront light rail line provides access from Tower City Center to [[the Flats]], [[Cleveland Browns Stadium]], the [[Great Lakes Science Center]], the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], and [[Burke Lakefront Airport]].

== Stations ==
[[File:GCRTA 1913-2015.gif|thumb|right|Cleveland Rapid Transit, 1913–present|350px]]

The RTA Rapid Transit system consists of a total of 47 stations.<ref>[http://www.riderta.com/pdf/maps/System_Map_Main.pdf RTA system maps]</ref> The stations are fully or partially within the city limits of [[Cleveland]], [[Shaker Heights]], [[East Cleveland, Ohio|East Cleveland]], and [[Brook Park, Ohio|Brook Park]].

[[File:Cleveland Public Square Fountain (27441802124).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Tower City on the Red, Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines]]
[[File:Coventry station.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Coventry on the Green Line]]
[[File:West 25th - Ohio City platform.jpg|thumb|200px|right|West 25th on the Red Line]]
[[File:Lee-Van Aken station (6).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Lee-Van Aken on the Blue Line]]
[[File:Settlers Landing station.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Settlers Landing on the Waterfront Line]]
[[File:Cleveland August 2015 03 (Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Station).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Airport on the Red Line]]
[[File:Belvoir Rapid Station October 2015.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Belvoir on the Green Line]]
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| style="background-color:#DDDDFF" |†*
| Terminus and transfer stations
|-
| style="background-color:#ddffdd" |†
| [[Train station#Terminus|Terminal stations]]
|-
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |*
| [[Interchange station|Transfer stations]]
|-
| style="background-color:silver" |
| Closed stations
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Station
!Rapid Transit lines
!Jurisdiction
!Opened
!Rebuilt
![[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|ADA access]]
|-
|style="background-color:#ddffdd"|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Airport}}† || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1968 || 1994 || 1994
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Amtrak}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1997 || ||
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Ashby}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Attleboro}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1913 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Avalon}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stn|Belvoir}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1936 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stn|Brookpark}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland / Brook Park || 1969 || 2017 || 2003
|-
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{stn|Buckeye–Woodhill}}* ||{{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1920 || 1981, 2012 || 2012
|-
|{{stn|Cedar–University}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || 2014 || 2002
|-
|{{stn|Courtland}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1915 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Coventry}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Cleveland / Shaker Heights || 1913 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stn|Drexmore}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1948 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stn|East 9th–North Coast}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1996 || || 1996
|-
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{stn|East 55th}}* || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1920 || 2011 || 2011
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|East 79th|Red}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 ||2021
|2021
|-
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|East 79th|Blue}}* ||{{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1920 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stn|East 105th–Quincy}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || 2005 || 2005
|-
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{stn|East 116th–St. Luke's}}* ||{{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1920 || 1981, 2019 ||2019
|-
|{{stn|Eaton}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1915 || 1980 ||
|-
| style="background-color:silver"|{{stn|Euclid–East 120th}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || ||
|-
|{{stn|Farnsleigh}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1930 || 1981, 2019 ||2019
|-
|{{stn|Flats East Bank}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1996 || || 1996
|-
|style="background-color:#ddffdd"|{{stn|Green Road}}† || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1936 || 1980, 1988 || 2001
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Kenmore}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stn|Lee–Shaker}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1913 || 1980, 2017 || 2017
|-
|{{stn|Lee–Van Aken}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1981, 2015 || 2015
|-
|{{stn|Little Italy–University Circle}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 2015 || || 2015
|-
|{{stn|Lynnfield}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stn|Onaway}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stn|Puritas–West 150th}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1968 || 2011 || 2011
|-
|{{stn|Settlers Landing}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1996 || || 1996
|-
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{stn|Shaker Square}}* ||{{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1920 || 1986 || 2006
|-
| style="background-color:#ddffdd" |{{stn|South Harbor}}† || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1996 || || 1996
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|South Park}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1913 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stn|South Woodland}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Cleveland / Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Southington|Blue}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1920 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Southington|Green}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1913 || 1981 ||
|-
|{{stn|Superior}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || East Cleveland || 1955 || 1996 || 1996
|-
|style="background-color:#DDDDFF"|{{stn|Tower City}}†* || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1930 || 1990 || 1990
|-
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |{{stn|Tri-C–Campus District}}* ||{{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}}|| Cleveland || 1930 || 2003, 2018 ||2018
|-
|{{stn|Triskett}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1958 || 2000 || 2000
|-
|{{stn|Warrensville–Shaker}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}}|| Shaker Heights || 1928 || 1980, 2016 || 2016
|-
|style="background-color:#ddffdd"|{{stn|Warrensville–Van Aken}}† || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Blue|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1930 || 1981, 1999 || 1999
|-
|{{stn|West 3rd}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Waterfront|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1999 || || 1999
|-
|{{stn|West 25th–Ohio City}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || 1992 || 1992
|-
|{{stn|West 65th–Lorain}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || 2004 || 2004
|-
|{{stn|West 117th–Madison}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || 2007 || 2007
|-
|{{stn|West Boulevard–Cudell}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1955 || 1999 || 1999
|-
|{{stn|West Green}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Green|inline=route}} || Shaker Heights || 1936 || 1980 ||
|-
|{{stn|West Park}} || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || Cleveland || 1958 || 1996 || 1996
|-
|style="background-color:#DDDDFF"|{{stl|RTA Rapid Transit|Windermere}}†* || {{rcb|RTA Rapid Transit|Red|inline=route}} || East Cleveland || 1955 || 1997 || 1997
|-
|}
''Note: Euclid–East 120th Street station closed in 2015 and was replaced by Little Italy–University Circle station.''

== See also ==
* [[List of metro systems]]
* [[List of light rail transit systems]]
* [[List of rail transit systems in the United States]]
* [[List of Ohio train stations]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cleveland RTA}}
*[http://www.gcrta.org/maps-schedules.asp Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority – Maps and Schedules]
*{{HAER |survey=OH-4 |id=oh0092 |title=Shaker Heights Rapid Transit Line, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH |photos=18 |data=15 |cap=2}}
*[http://www.jtbell.net/transit/Cleveland/ Jon Bell – Cleveland, Ohio: Transit Links]
*[http://www.urbanrail.net/am/clev/cleveland.htm Cleveland, Ohio – Rapid Transit (RTA)]
*[https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Cleveland,_Ohio nycsubway.org – Cleveland, Ohio]
*[http://www.riderta.com/pd_rapidtransit.asp RTA Rapid Transit Locations]
*[[Northern Ohio Railway Museum]]

{{Cleveland Rapid}}
{{USSubway}}
{{USLightRail}}

[[Category:RTA Rapid Transit| ]]
[[Category:Rapid transit in Ohio]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Ohio]]
[[Category:Light rail in Ohio]]
[[Category:Lists of metro stations]]
[[Category:RTA Rapid Transit lines|*]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Ohio]]
[[Category:Lists of Ohio railway stations]]