Greater Cleveland RTA gets $800,000 for bus stop upgrades, improved microtransit links

Ideastream Public Media | By Zaria Johnson

Published November 18, 2024

 

The agency was awarded $800,000 from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Workforce Mobility Partnership Program.

 

The agency will use $500,000 of the grant to make improvements at as many as 50 bus stops across Cuyahoga County, said GCRTA Deputy General Manager for Engineering and Project Management Mike Schipper.

 

...

 

The remaining portion of the grant will fund a feasibility study identify opportunities for microtransit between Cuyahoga and Lorain counties akin to the Solon Workforce Connector Program and the ConnectWorks program in Cleveland.

 

https://www.ideastream.org/environment-energy/2024-11-18/greater-cleveland-rta-gets-800-000-for-bus-stop-upgrades-improved-microtransit-links

GCRTA Board just authorized staff to order another 18 railcars. This will re-equip the Blue and Green lines and allow service frequency to increase from every 30 minutes on the branches (every 15 mins west of Shaker Square) to every 20 mins (every 10 mins west of SS) and increase top speeds from 35 mph to 45 mph.

9 minutes ago, KJP said:

GCRTA Board just authorized staff to order another 18 railcars. This will re-equip the Blue and Green lines and allow service frequency to increase from every 30 minutes on the branches (every 15 mins west of Shaker Square) to every 20 mins (every 10 mins west of SS) and increase top speeds from 35 mph to 45 mph.

With this order, will GCRTA be able to completely replace its fleet?  Or will more be needed still?

10 minutes ago, KJP said:

GCRTA Board just authorized staff to order another 18 railcars. This will re-equip the Blue and Green lines and allow service frequency to increase from every 30 minutes on the branches (every 15 mins west of Shaker Square) to every 20 mins (every 10 mins west of SS) and increase top speeds from 35 mph to 45 mph.

So how many total rail cars would that be? Would the rail cars be built at the same time as the previous cars we ordered? Also with extra rail cars can we at least use some of the older rail cars that would be replaced to reactivate the WFL Full time?

I was being a transit nerd and came across something. One of the newest buses we have, the Gillig's are called BRT Plus. Why? I went on the website and couldn't find anything that makes it BRT anything let alone PLUS. 

2 hours ago, KJP said:

GCRTA Board just authorized staff to order another 18 railcars. This will re-equip the Blue and Green lines and allow service frequency to increase from every 30 minutes on the branches (every 15 mins west of Shaker Square) to every 20 mins (every 10 mins west of SS) and increase top speeds from 35 mph to 45 mph.

All it takes cut frequency in half is more cars? Let’s GoFundMe some more cars or coerce Saint Jimmy to purchase some cars for the system among the $ charity indulgences he’s sprinkling around down in his nonstop PR campaign.

5 hours ago, Foraker said:

With this order, will GCRTA be able to completely replace its fleet?  Or will more be needed still?

From what I can tell RTA's RCRP website says that the fleet  of 40 HRV and 34 LRV would be replaced with 60 LRV. However, if that doesn't factor in this additional 18 cars, that would be a new total of 78 LRV, an increase of 4 cars from the current fleet. Just a guess.

53 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

From what I can tell RTA's RCRP website says that the fleet  of 40 HRV and 34 LRV would be replaced with 60 LRV. However, if that doesn't factor in this additional 18 cars, that would be a new total of 78 LRV, an increase of 4 cars from the current fleet. Just a guess.

The original order was 60 cars? Idk why I thought it was 40.

27 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

The original order was 60 cars? Idk why I thought it was 40.

I think it might be that their first order was less and their target goal was 60 total over some period of time, but I could be mistaken

GCRTA is allowed to order up to 60 railcars. Their first option was for 24 cars with a second option for six more railcars. Those are for the Red Line. Today's 18-car option will bring the total to 48 cars. If they can turn more financial commitments into received funds, they will be able to exercise more railcars options to give them a reserve for emergencies, huge special events, etc.

55 minutes ago, KJP said:

GCRTA is allowed to order up to 60 railcars. Their first option was for 24 cars with a second option for six more railcars. Those are for the Red Line. Today's 18-car option will bring the total to 48 cars. If they can turn more financial commitments into received funds, they will be able to exercise more railcars options to give them a reserve for emergencies, huge special events, etc.

Okay so the Red Line has 30 cars and the Blue/Green has 18 for its lines, got it. 

OK this is awesome

 

 

On 11/19/2024 at 11:59 AM, MyPhoneDead said:

I was being a transit nerd and came across something. One of the newest buses we have, the Gillig's are called BRT Plus. Why? I went on the website and couldn't find anything that makes it BRT anything let alone PLUS. 

 

Maybe it stands for Bus:  Roomy Turns.

1 hour ago, E Rocc said:

 

Maybe it stands for Bus:  Roomy Turns.

Buses Really Tardy

2 hours ago, Willo said:

Buses Really Tardy

 

Yeah, that.

I never liked the new railcar design. I'd be thrilled to see one of these alternate designs though (via @AllAboardOhio on Threads):

 

 

https://www.threads.net/@allaboardohio/post/DCudorxyTUQ?xmt=AQGzyms61wD9uuAfgbMS3J12feYrElzsA18aPRwg1wlgZA

Annnnnnnd the Waterfront Line is down again

Waterfront Line rail service is temporarily suspended until further notice due to track circuit issues.

https://www.riderta.com/riders-alerts/waterfront-line-down-until-further-notice

boo

Well it might be back already. I was walking along Columbus and saw a Blue Line train going back up into Tower City. 

 

Honestly, I figured this was their moment to close the line until May lol

Does anyone know when the W117 rapid station plans on reopening? Can be frustrating as I feel like I haven’t seen any workers there in weeks.

I saw a train at South Harbor at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, so apparently the line wasn't down for more than a few hours.

 

8 hours ago, Clefan14 said:

Does anyone know when the W117 rapid station plans on reopening? Can be frustrating as I feel like I haven’t seen any workers there in weeks.

 

I've been seeing them working late into the evenings, sometimes after 7, 8, 9 p.m. They had some freshly poured concrete across the bridge deck and possibly including the station platform covered in recent days.

But if they really wanted to, they could do it a lot faster 

 

 

14 hours ago, KJP said:

But if they really wanted to, they could do it a lot faster 

 

 

Impressive and should be the norm here too. But as we know construction is a bit more complex here than in Japan.

"At the same time, those who were wondering if a new Red Line rapid transit station would be built next to the Brook Park stadium site to connect it to downtown, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority CEO and General Manager India Birdsong said last week there are no such plans.

"The Browns said there are no plans to provide a direct pedestrian path to the planned stadium from one of the existing Rapid stations — at Brookpark Road or a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The latter is actually closer to the center of the stadium site as the crow flies. Apparently the Browns want to collect as much parking revenue as they can."

 

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/12/15/a-browns-stadium-quid-pro-quo/

I can understand not having a closer station but not even a path? That seems very short sighted and an obvious minor investment if this fantasy has a chance of taking off.

1 hour ago, TBideon said:

I can understand not having a closer station but not even a path? That seems very short sighted and an obvious minor investment if this fantasy has a chance of taking off.

 

Remember the rapid being touted as a selling point for Brookpark site? Its like some people never learn.

 

Nothing involving the Haslam’s should ever be assumed to coincide with smart decision making or common sense. 

On 12/15/2024 at 12:55 PM, TBideon said:

I can understand not having a closer station but not even a path? That seems very short sighted and an obvious minor investment if this fantasy has a chance of taking off.

Short sighted? The only thing in their sites is millions of dollars in parking revenue. And the fans attending these games will certainly pay and park in his lots. 

Maybe RTA can recruit this guy from neighboring Laketran or recruit him on how to fix the really slow Healthline BRT.  At least we have a local rising star on the bench for a future RTA opening.

 

https://www.news-herald.com/2024/12/27/laketran-director-of-operations-honored-with-under-40-rising-star-award/?utm_email=55F674C1F42E940D24C5D553CD&lctg=55F674C1F42E940D24C5D553CD&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.news-herald.com%2f2024%2f12%2f27%2flaketran-director-of-operations-honored-with-under-40-rising-star-award%2f&utm_campaign=ohio-lake-nl-your-morning-headlines&utm_content=curated

 

Unitl the BRT can operate at a faster and reliable basis, just shut it down and turn it into a dedicated speedwalking track.  It may become a thing here, especially with the young downtowners and the eds to meds crowd at the east end. Just kidding but...

nice car free article from 2016 —

 

 

Car-free in Cleveland: Letting go of the wheel of the personal vehicle 

 

Updated: Nov. 27, 2016

By Ginger Christ, The Plain Dealer

 

…

In the Cleveland metropolitan area, 5.8 percent of people bike, walk or take public transit to work, according to census data. Likewise, 3.9 percent of Cleveland households do not own a car, while another 22.7 percent only have one car.

 

USA Today this year ranked Cleveland as the best U.S. city in which to be car-free. The ranking, which was presented as a top 10 list, was designed as a guide for visitors looking to forgo renting cars while traveling.

However, being car-free in Cleveland as a resident is a different experience than that of a tourist.

 

 

more:

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2016/11/car-free_in_cleveland_letting.html

Moving this here from the airport thread

1 hour ago, Willo said:

We agree and also with the PD for once on their editorial this week that we need a regional approach for the airport and our coveted sports franchises (and please throw in social services and transit).  Let's hold our noses and find a way for a regional sales tax increase to settle these needs. 

 

C-bus region just launched an $8 Billion transit plan (and other items) via their half percent cent sale tax increase.  We need to be just as bold soon as we fall further behind our current peers, otherwise we will quickly fall to the next lower tier (where we will again be outdone by others in the that peer group like Grand Rapids).

 

After voters approved a half-percent sales tax increase in November to fund the $8 billion LinkUS initiative, 2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for the Central Ohio Transit Authority. 

 

https://columbusunderground.com/2025-to-bring-new-sales-tax-new-bus-service-work-on-brt-line-bw1/

 

RTA already is (somewhat) regionalized in that it covers the whole county. Keep in mind that the recent Columbus transit half percent sales tax increase (to 1%) was advocated for in comparison to the full one percent sales tax in Cuyahoga that funds RTA and has existed for 50 years. I’m fairly convinced a Cuyahoga countywide transit levy sales tax increase would fail. Instead, I think we need to create TIFs around high frequency routes as a supplemental funding stream. 

9 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Moving this here from the airport thread

RTA already is (somewhat) regionalized in that it covers the whole county. Keep in mind that the recent Columbus transit half percent sales tax increase (to 1%) was advocated for in comparison to the full one percent sales tax in Cuyahoga that funds RTA and has existed for 50 years. I’m fairly convinced a Cuyahoga countywide transit levy sales tax increase would fail. Instead, I think we need to create TIFs around high frequency routes as a supplemental funding stream. 

True a county-wide stand-alone transit tax increase would die given recent RTA stewardship, but my intent to highlight Central Ohio's $8 Billion long-term plan was a wake-up everyone up of how we need to think big as the Plain Dealer Opinion piece indicated in terms such as via regional sale tax to address airport needs and sport infrastructure long term (and why not throw in homeless/social services and transit to help people swallow it).  Central Ohio did us a favor meeting us a 8.0% now we can lead in one area at least and lead the State in increasing it to as high as 8.50%.

Edited January 10Jan 10 by Willo

I previously made some spreadsheets for a .125% to .5% sales tax increases meant to fund new build transit projects over 25 years, and how I would spend it.  Here is the estimated $$ amounts starting in 2028 for just Cuyahoga, and a 7 county grouping for a regional network, with some limited matching from the fed and state(one can hope) governments over those 25 years as well.  What I would spend the money on and those maps belong in the future transit ideas thread.

 

But I agree with @Boomerang_Brian, this just get Columbus up to our level, and I don't know that the appetite is there right now for a sales tax increase for a few more BRT lines in Cuyahoga County.  Unless it ballot issue is funding rail expansion, which most people seem to think is a good idea, I don't think it would have any chance at passing.

 

 

GCRTA to upgrade 22 Shaker Hts rail stations
By Ken Prendergast / January 12, 2025

 

When the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) new trains enter service in the next few years, they will be picking up and dropping off riders at more attractive and user-friendly stations in Shaker Heights. That’s due to a $2 million program to enhance station amenities at all 22 stations in this eastern suburb that was built around its two light-rail lines, the Blue and Green lines.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2025/01/12/gcrta-to-upgrade-22-shaker-hts-rail-stations/

Any chance CLE can get some of that federal money being thrown around so we can complete the downtown loop?

 

 

34 minutes ago, NR said:

Any chance CLE can get some of that federal money being thrown around so we can complete the downtown loop?

 

 

Especially since we could use Downtown some Downtown TIF money to cover RTA's portion of the costs.  

 

My first thought after reading that went to our red line.

 

After a quick check, the $6 billion Chicago Red line extension will add about 25-30k residents within .5 miles of a station.

 

A Cleveland Red line spur/extension through Lakewood out to the Columbia Rd Park n Ride would add around 45k within .5 miles of a station. Even with buying the NS track to build elevated rail through Lakewood to avoid those 30-40 grade crossings and funding to eliminate the 3 or 4 grade crossings after going over to Rocky River, I can't imagine it costing $6 billion...

 

Obviously Chicago is has a much larger budget than we do and wayyyyyyy more state support, but the Downtown loop and Lakewood extension would be huge for RTA and ridership growth.

7 minutes ago, PlanCleveland said:

Especially since we could use Downtown some Downtown TIF money to cover RTA's portion of the costs.  

 

My first thought after reading that went to our red line.

 

After a quick check, the $6 billion Chicago Red line extension will add about 25-30k residents within .5 miles of a station.

 

A Cleveland Red line spur/extension through Lakewood out to the Columbia Rd Park n Ride would add around 45k within .5 miles of a station. Even with buying the NS track to build elevated rail through Lakewood to avoid those 30-40 grade crossings and funding to eliminate the 3 or 4 grade crossings after going over to Rocky River, I can't imagine it costing $6 billion...

 

Obviously Chicago is has a much larger budget than we do and wayyyyyyy more state support, but the Downtown loop and Lakewood extension would be huge for RTA and ridership growth.

 

Does anyone know if the State's Transportation Improvement District could be used for public transit? It just says roadways, so I'd imagine BRT, LRT, and bike/ped infrastructure wouldn't be an issue.

 

Why hasn't Cuyahoga County used this before? I wonder if I'm missing something on the eligibility because it seems so obvious. A quick look at the scoring criteria seems like it would be a slam dunk for the city.

 

Edited January 13Jan 13 by Zagapi
Added image

land bridge & transit hub —

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEuroSnOUCS/?igsh=ZTZkMTJzaGFoYWpp

15 hours ago, mrnyc said:

land bridge & transit hub —

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEuroSnOUCS/?igsh=ZTZkMTJzaGFoYWpp

I know it's expensive and impractical, but it is hard to embrace open air train platforms near the windy lakefront when CLE has a building built for the purpose of being a train station! I just can't get on board with that.

On 1/12/2025 at 1:46 AM, KJP said:

 

GCRTA to upgrade 22 Shaker Hts rail stations
By Ken Prendergast / January 12, 2025

 

When the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) new trains enter service in the next few years, they will be picking up and dropping off riders at more attractive and user-friendly stations in Shaker Heights. That’s due to a $2 million program to enhance station amenities at all 22 stations in this eastern suburb that was built around its two light-rail lines, the Blue and Green lines.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2025/01/12/gcrta-to-upgrade-22-shaker-hts-rail-stations/

Shelter-wise, is that really the best they could do?  They don't appear to offer even as much protection as the BRT shelters on Clifton and Euclid Avenues.

1 hour ago, urb-a-saurus said:

Shelter-wise, is that really the best they could do?  They don't appear to offer even as much protection as the BRT shelters on Clifton and Euclid Avenues.

I'm more concerned about the Child about to board the train by themselves, bad parenting. 

6 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said:

I'm more concerned about the Child about to board the train by themselves, bad parenting. 

 

Nah, teaching your kid to ride the train alone builds independence. Plus, shouldn't RTA at least act like transit security is good enough to prevent child kidnappings? (caution: renderings are aspirational)

 

If it makes you more comfortable, the parents are just out of frame to the left ;) Or maybe, the kid's height is just below-average for his age.

Edited January 16Jan 16 by sonisharri

10 hours ago, sonisharri said:

 

Nah, teaching your kid to ride the train alone builds independence. Plus, shouldn't RTA at least act like transit security is good enough to prevent child kidnappings? (caution: renderings are aspirational)

 

If it makes you more comfortable, the parents are just out of frame to the left ;) Or maybe, the kid's height is just below-average for his age.

I agree but they aren't even tall enough to reach the fare box yet lol

A few super niche questions I had about RTA I was wondering if anyone knew the answers to:

 

1) Once the new railcars are delivered, will they continue to run single cars on the Blue/Green/Waterfront Lines and two attached cars on the Red Line as they currently do? A single car would be the entire unit pictured below:

 

2) Is there any way through open-source map data to show all of the Blue/Green/Waterfront Lines on Google Maps as separate lines? Currently all the light rail lines are shown as the same blueish color and can be confusing. On the Transit app though they are all shown as different lines so I'm curious why Google maps is "incorrect". If not, would they update this once all the lines are technically light-rail lines in the future?

3) Building off of that, will RTA's rail system no longer be considered a true "metro system" by international standards once the heavy rail cars are removed, or how does that work exactly? It would be unfortunate if we lost our status as one of the few US cities with a metro system.

 

1. Nothing's been decided. RTA's rail ridership is so low they could run single cars everywhere, including for new services like running the Green Line as a Hopkins-Green Road service. 

2. Unknown 

3. The Red Line would be like a hybrid light-rail metro. But I don't think it really matters. Greater Cleveland is lucky to have any rail left after decades of sprawl and urban abandonment. Unless we start developing the rail station properties more aggressively, all we're going to be doing is running a very expensive train layout just to watch $390 million worth of shiny new trains around nearly empty.

8 hours ago, KJP said:

1. Nothing's been decided. RTA's rail ridership is so low they could run single cars everywhere, including for new services like running the Green Line as a Hopkins-Green Road service. 

2. Unknown 

3. The Red Line would be like a hybrid light-rail metro. But I don't think it really matters. Greater Cleveland is lucky to have any rail left after decades of sprawl and urban abandonment. Unless we start developing the rail station properties more aggressively, all we're going to be doing is running a very expensive train layout just to watch $390 million worth of shiny new trains around nearly empty.

This is why I pitched the idea on here to offer a week of free rides on the rapid to showcase the new trains as well as the (hopefully) more reliable system. It won't create a boom but it would instill confidence in people who at one point wouldn't consider it. 

 

But combined with the lack of trying on the Healthline and the laziness on improving rail ridership I'm convinced the RTA is satisfied with treading water. 

1 minute ago, MyPhoneDead said:

But combined with the lack of trying on the Healthline and the laziness on improving rail ridership I'm convinced the RTA is satisfied with treading water. 

 

Not a slight, genuinely curious - is there a lack of trying? Between all the station upgrades just announced and the new railcar program fully underway, I find it hard to believe they're simply "treading water" out of their own design. Although the cosmetic/ridability upgrades are certainly the bare minimum they can do to grow and make the system competitive, they're clearly trying to make the experience better - I'd like to think the city itself shares some of the load in incentivizing developers to build TOD which is the other factor to increased ridership. Hopefully the new code means the rail lines will finally start becoming dense again 🤞

15 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

 

Not a slight, genuinely curious - is there a lack of trying? Between all the station upgrades just announced and the new railcar program fully underway, I find it hard to believe they're simply "treading water" out of their own design. Although the cosmetic/ridability upgrades are certainly the bare minimum they can do to grow and make the system competitive, they're clearly trying to make the experience better - I'd like to think the city itself shares some of the load in incentivizing developers to build TOD which is the other factor to increased ridership. Hopefully the new code means the rail lines will finally start becoming dense again 🤞

I get the impression that the city and county planning commissions would absolutely be on board with TOD. What RTA needs to do is invest in real estate a la PlayhouseSquare. But I don’t think they have the stomach for that.

 

Would love to be proved wrong, but I have never heard one person that works for RTA say anything I would consider visionary.

1 hour ago, Geowizical said:

 

Not a slight, genuinely curious - is there a lack of trying? Between all the station upgrades just announced and the new railcar program fully underway, I find it hard to believe they're simply "treading water" out of their own design. Although the cosmetic/ridability upgrades are certainly the bare minimum they can do to grow and make the system competitive, they're clearly trying to make the experience better - I'd like to think the city itself shares some of the load in incentivizing developers to build TOD which is the other factor to increased ridership. Hopefully the new code means the rail lines will finally start becoming dense again 🤞

They haven't improved the riding experience on the Healthline, they haven't returned to all door boarding, it is one of the slowest BRT systems, and they have no interest in activating the signal prioritization systems 17 years later. 

 

The station upgrades were done in order to be in a state of good repair to qualify for certain funding to get the new trains. Getting new rail cars to replace cars that are on their last legs does not get you Kudos, especially when you only replaced it because it's less of a headache that shutting the system down.

 

Replacing cars without no real signs of intent to GROW the network is indeed treading water. Majority of the lots that are ripe for true TOD because of their proximity to the stations are owned by RTA. The city has done a lot to improve density and walkability, especially on the west side and even updated their zoning, but without useful rail expansion to areas that people want to go outside of downtown won't increase ridership. You have to have TOD as well as a system that is useful to people for them to actually ride it.

 

Prime example, the WFL would be a boom if the RTA consistently ran it until 2AM at least on weekends, due to how crowded the Flats East Bank has remained since its opening. It genuinely is a traffic nightmare, instead they stopped running it at 7PM and now they only run it for special events. Actions like that shows that you don't want to grow the system and you're just checking boxes. 

Edited January 24Jan 24 by MyPhoneDead

1 hour ago, Enginerd said:

I get the impression that the city and county planning commissions would absolutely be on board with TOD. What RTA needs to do is invest in real estate a la PlayhouseSquare. But I don’t think they have the stomach for that.

 

Would love to be proved wrong, but I have never heard one person that works for RTA say anything I would consider visionary.

 

Retrenchment has been a way of life at GCRTA since the mergers, along with bureausclerosis.

Edited January 24Jan 24 by E Rocc