Rail shutdown will allow time for needed upgrades
Parts of the East Side rail system will be shut down, starting June 7, giving RTA and ODOT crews much-needed time to work on a host of projects, including the Innerbelt, track upgrades and work at two stations -- Cedar-University and Little Italy-University Circle.
- June 7, ODOT work begins.
- June 8, Summer service changes take effect.
- June 8-30, Mayfield Road closed at East 119th Street. The posted detour for cars provides access to Little Italy.
Saturday-Sunday, June 7-8 and 14-15
Buses replace trains for ALL rail service east of Tower City, as ODOT crews remove steel bridge beams across RTA tracks. During these weekends:
- Use a separate Red Line timetable, dated June 7, 2014. There is no separate timetable for the Blue, Green and Waterfront lines.
- Waterfront Line trains will operate every 30 minutes.
- All buses to East Side Rapid stations will pick up at the trolley stop near the Public Square entrance of the Horseshoe Casino.
- Red Line buses will follow a shorter route, described below. Riders who normally use the Blue and Green rail lines must use the Blue and Green line buses.
- At the Rapid Stations, look for bus stop signs 66R for the Red Line buses, and 67R for the light-rail bus.
Monday-Friday, June 9-13, and Monday-Saturday, June 16-21
During these two weeks:
- Use the Red Line timetable dated June 7, 2014. The Red Line will operate between Hopkins Airport and Tower City ONLY.
- Rush-hour frequency will be 10 minutes.
- Blue, Green and Waterfront line trains will operate a normal schedule.
- Buses labeled Red Line (66R) will replace Red Line trains east of Tower City. Because the Blue and Green line trains also serve several Red Line stations, Red Line buses will follow a shorter, faster path, thus greatly reducing your commute time.
- The Red Line bus (66R) will serve East 105-Quincy, Cedar-University, East 120, Superior and the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere.
- To reach the East 34th Street Station, ride a Blue or Green line train.
- To reach the East 55th Street Station, ride a Blue or Green line train. The Red Line bus (66R) will stop at East 55th Street and Woodland Avenue, about one-half mile from the station.
- To reach the East 79th Street Red Line Station, ride to the East 79 Street Station on the Blue-Green line, or ride the Red Line bus (66R), which will stop at East 79th Street and Woodland Avenue about two-tenths of a mile walk from the Red Line Station.
Sunday, June 22, on-going construction begins
During this period:
- Begin using the Red Line timetable dated June 22, 2014.
- Red Line trains will operate between Hopkins Airport and the Cedar-University Station ONLY.
- Rush-hour frequency will return to normal.
- Red Line buses (66R) will serve Cedar-University, East 120, Superior and the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere.
- Blue, Green and Waterfront Line trains will operate a normal schedule.
- The completion date has not yet been set.
Timetables change June 8
A number of routes change on Sunday, June 8. You need to pick up new timetables for these routes.
- NineTwelve Trolley
- 2, 15, 16, 21, 35, 37, 45-45A, 48-48A, 51, 251, 451.
- Red Line (dated June 7), Red Line (dated June 22).
- Three timetables are suspended until fall -- 751, 752 and 761.
Some changes deserve special mention.
- 35, The 6:25 p.m. southbound weekday trip will go to the Garfield Mall, instead of Broadview Heights.
- 51, Trip times have been adjusted for all days. Weekend service will start earlier. Sunday service will end later.
- NineTwelve Trolley, evening service is being discontinued. The last trip will arrive at the Muny Lot at 6:30 p.m. If you are using RTA's automated attendant, this is route 60.
Be alert for changes to bus stops on Superior Avenue, between Public Square and the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Where to obtain new timetables
- New timetables have been posted.
- Data on RTA's trip planner -- Google Transit -- will be updated before the changes take effect.
- Stop by RTA's Main Office, 1240 W. Sixth St.
- Visit RTA's Customer Service Center at the Tower City Station, 50 Public Square.
- To order a timetable by mail, call the RTAnswerline, 216-621-9500.
June 21: RTA offers discounted Blue Line rides to two major events
RTA is a sponsor of this year's Shaker Heights Arts & Music Festival, which runs from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, June 21, and 11 a.m-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 22.
That weekend, RTA crews are working on a major upgrade to two track crossings on Shaker Square. Replacement buses (67R) will serve all stations east of Shaker Square on the Green and Blue lines, during the same hours.
On Saturday, June 21, from 8 a.m.-noon, buy a $1 wrist band at the Shaker Square North Union Farmers Market. Look for the Larchmere PorchFest booth. This wrist band will allow you to ride the Blue Line buses (marked 67R-Blue Line) between Shaker's Arts and Music Festival AND the Larchmere PorchFest from 1 p.m. until the last bus on Saturday only. Larchmere PorchFest is a one-day free music festival that includes 30 bands on 30 porches. Wristbands will also be sold at both events.
PorchFest is close to the Shaker Square Station, which remains open all weekend. The two-day Arts & Music Festival is close to two stations -- Farnsleigh and Warrensville-Van Aken. Look for bus stop signs marked 67R, and board the replacement buses there.
Last year, more than 100 people took advantage of the Blue Line discount.
The Shaker Heights Arts & Music Festival is co-sponsored by the City of Shaker Heights, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen, and the Shaker Arts Council, and is supported by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The 2014 presenting sponsor is RMS Corporations, which is the lead developer of the vibrant mixed-use Van Aken district, near the Festival site. The district redevelopment will be designed to attract residents seeking housing with easy access to public transportation. RTA supports that effort.
June 27-28: Ride RTA to free JazzFest events
Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland celebrates its 35th anniversary June 26-28 with 12 ticketed concerts in three theaters at PlayhouseSquare. The festival also includes free music outside on Star Plaza beginning at 3 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 27-28. The outdoor concerts are generously supported by the Cleveland Foundation as one of its centennial birthday gifts to the community. RTA offers convenient transportation to the events.
Convenient RTA service
- On Friday, ride the HealthLine 24/7 to the PlayhouseSquare Station at East 14th Street.
- Before 7 p.m., ride the free E-Line trolley.
- From 7-11 p.m., ride the free C-Line trolley.
- On Saturday, ride the HealthLine or the free C-Line trolley.
Work begins at Lee-Van Aken Blue Line Station
The Lee-Van Aken Station -- one of the busiest on the Blue Line -- is slated for reconstruction by RTA.
Schirmer Construction LLC of North Olmsted was awarded a $5.4 million contract, with 80 paid by federal funds. Work will start this spring and be completed in 18 months. A ground-breaking ceremony is set for June 25.
The station was built as part of the original construction of the Shaker Rapid System, which was completed in the 1920s. The entire system was rebuilt in 1980-81. No other significant improvements have been made since then. Now, the station needs to be reconstructed to meet ADA access requirements.
The new station will continue to function as a major destination and grow with the planned development for the area.
Join RTA at Rally Alley before Tribe home games
Pre-game fun all summer long – that’s Rally Alley.
Join RTA and the Indians for Rally Alley, a street festival that starts 2 hours before each Friday and Saturday home game through Aug, 23, on Larry Doby Way (Eagle Avenue), just north of Progressive Field.
Friday games start at 7:05 p.m., so Rally Alley gives you the perfect opportunity to come directly from your downtown office.
Rally Alley includes food, drinks, games and live music. RTA staff will be on hand with the community bus. Stop by, test your knowledge of sports trivia, and win some great prizes. Rally Alley dates are:
- May 30-31 vs. Colorado Rockies
- June 20-21 vs. Detroit Tigers
- July 4-5 vs. Kansas City Royals
- July 11-12 vs, Chicago White Sox
- Aug. 1-2 vs. Texas Rangers
- Aug. 15-16 vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Aug. 22-23 vs. Houston Astros
Parade the Circle with RTA
From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 14, University Circle offers its signature summer event -- Parade the Circle at Wade Oval. The parade begins at noon.
Buses replace trains at all East Side Rapid Stations that weekend, so just look for a bus marked "Red Line." On this day only, it will stop at the Adelbert Station on the HealthLine, botheastbound and westbound.
From there, it is short walk to Wade Oval. You can also ride the HealthLine to the same station.