Waterfront Line | |||
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Overview | |||
Locale | Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio | ||
Termini | |||
Stations | 7 | ||
Service | |||
Type | Light rail/Tram | ||
System | RTA Rapid Transit | ||
History | |||
Opened | July 10, 1996 [1] | ||
Closed | October 26, 2020 [2] [3] | ||
Reopened | September 10, 2023 [4] | ||
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The Waterfront Line is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then north and northeast to South Harbor station, adjacent to the Cleveland Municipal Parking Lot. The Waterfront Line is the newest rail line in Cleveland, having opened in 1996. The 2.2 mile (3.5 km) line is unique in that it is an extension of the Blue and Green lines, but has its own naming designation. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power.
The line opened on July 10, 1996, coinciding with Cleveland's bicentennial celebration which took place later in the year. [5] The line had a total cost of $70.9 million and was funded by a combination of bonds, grant money from the Ohio Department of Transportation, and local RTA funding. [5] Service on the Waterfront Line was suspended indefinitely in 2021, after previously being suspended in October 2020. [6] [7] Plans called for opening in time for the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. [8] On September 10, 2023, rail service resumed on the Waterfront Line. [9]
From South Harbor, the lines extends generally west-southwest adjacent to the former New York Central Railroad tracks, now owned by Norfolk Southern. Notable destinations along the line include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium. Trains will stop at Amtrak's Cleveland Lakefront Station upon request.
The line continues along an elevated loop, allowing it to turn from west-southwest to south-southeast, cross over the Norfolk Southern tracks and travel along the east bank of The Flats. The route passes through three grade crossings.
The line then turns east and climbs up from The Flats in two cuts on either side of the Red Line. It merges onto the Red Line tracks and travels through Tower City. Through service between the Waterfront Line and the Blue and Green Lines is provided at Tower City.
From April 2010 through May 2013, RTA completely eliminated weekday regularly scheduled Waterfront Line service due to low ridership and trains ran on the line only on weekends and for special events. Though seven-day-a-week service on the line was restored, a number of trains continue to use Tower City as a western terminus.
Tower City is the major station on all RTA Rapid Transit lines. It is the main station serving downtown Cleveland and it provides a convenient transfer point between the Red Line and the Blue and Green Lines.
Blue and Green Line trains operate from approximately 3:40 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily. On weekdays, each line operates every 10 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes at other times. Service between Tower City and Shaker Square operates every 5 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes at other times. Service on the Waterfront Line is limited to approximately every three westbound trains from 6:35 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. and again from 3:35 p.m. through 7:20 p.m. Between 8:50 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. and again between 7:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m., all westbound trains travel along the Waterfront Line. No Waterfront Line service is provided between 10:45 p.m. and 6:35 a.m.
On weekends, each line operates every 30 minutes. Service between Tower City and Shaker Square operates every 15 minutes and all westbound trains from 9:20 a.m. through 10:20 p.m. operate on the Waterfront Line.
During rail shutdowns, RTA uses replacement buses signed as route 67R. These shuttle buses run between Tower City and South Harbor on surface streets.
All stations are located within Downtown Cleveland.
Station [10] [11] | Date opened | Date rebuilt | Connections / notes [10] [11] |
---|---|---|---|
South Harbor | July 10, 1996 [1] | ||
East 9th–North Coast | Laketran: 10, 11, 12 | ||
Amtrak | December 1997 | Amtrak: Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited | |
West 3rd–Stadium | August 12, 1999 [1] | ||
Flats East Bank | July 10, 1996 [1] | ||
Settlers Landing | |||
Tower City | July 20, 1930 | December 17, 1990 [1] | RTA Rapid Transit: Red Line, Blue Line, Green Line RTA BRT: HealthLine RTA Bus: 1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 14, 14A, 15, 19, 19A, 19B, 22, 25, 26, 26A, 39, 45, 51, 51A, 53, 53A, 55, 55B, 55C, 71, 77, 90, 251, B-Line Trolley Laketran: 10, 11, 12 METRO RTA: 61 PARTA: 100 SARTA: 4 |
RTA Rapid Transit is a rapid transit and light rail system owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA).
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is the public transit agency for Cleveland, Ohio, United States and the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, with a ridership of 19,104,900, or about 70,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.
Tower City Center is a large mixed-use facility in Downtown Cleveland, Ohio, on its Public Square. The facility is composed of a number of interconnected office buildings, including Terminal Tower, the Skylight Park mixed-use shopping center, Jack Cleveland Casino, Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Chase Financial Plaza, and Tower City station, the main hub of Cleveland's four RTA Rapid Transit lines.
The Blue Line is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then east and southeast to Warrensville Center Blvd near Chagrin Blvd. 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of track, including two stations, are shared with the rapid transit Red Line, the stations have low platforms for the Blue Line and high platforms for the Red Line. The Blue Line shares the right-of-way with the Green Line in Cleveland, and splits off after passing through Shaker Square. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power.
The Green Line is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then east to Green Road near Beachwood. 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of track, including two stations, are shared with the rapid transit Red Line; the stations have low platforms for the Green Line and high platforms for the Red Line. The Green Line shares the right-of-way with the Blue Line in Cleveland, and splits off after passing through Shaker Square. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power.
The Red Line is a rapid transit line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, running from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport northeast to Tower City in downtown Cleveland, then east and northeast to Windermere. 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of track, including two stations, are shared with the light rail Blue and Green Lines; the stations have high platforms for the Red Line and low platforms for the Blue and Green Lines. The whole Red Line is built next to former freight railroads. It follows former intercity passenger rail as well, using the pre-1930 right-of-way of the New York Central from Brookpark to West 117th, the Nickel Plate from West 98th to West 65th, and the post-1930 NYC right-of-way from West 25th to Windermere. The Red Line uses overhead lines and pantographs to draw power and trains operate using one-person operation. In 2022, the line had a ridership of 2,808,200, or about 9,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.
Tower City station, known alternatively as Tower City–Public Square and Tower City Center is a rapid transit station in Cleveland, Ohio, part of Tower City Center. It is the central station of the RTA Rapid Transit system, served by all lines: Blue, Green, Red and Waterfront. The station is located directly beneath Prospect Avenue in the middle of the Avenue shopping mall. The station is only accessible through the Tower City Center shopping complex, and, for this reason, the public concourse of the shopping mall is open at all times that the RTA Rapid Transit is in operation.
Shaker Square station is a station on the RTA Blue and Green Lines in Cleveland, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with Shaker Square, after which the station is named. It is the first station west of the junction of the Blue and Green Lines and serves as a transfer point between the two lines.
Flats East Bank station is a station on the RTA Waterfront Line in Cleveland, Ohio. The station is located along West 10th Street just southeast of its intersection with Main Avenue in The Flats district.
Tri-C–Campus District station is a station on the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, serving the Red, Blue, and Green Lines. It is located just east of East 34th Street near the intersection of East 34th and Broadway, on the north side of the CSX railway tracks, and below the bridge that carries East 34th Street over the railway tracks. Tri-C refers to Cuyahoga Community College.
Settlers Landing station is a station on the RTA Waterfront Line in Cleveland, Ohio. The station is located just south of the intersection of West Superior Avenue and Old River Road inside Settlers Landing Park, after which the station is named.
East 55th station is a station on the RTA Red, Blue, and Green Lines in Cleveland, Ohio. The station entrance is located on the east side of East 55th Street just north of the intersection with Bower Avenue and the eastern terminus of Interstate 490.
South Harbor station is a station on the RTA Waterfront Line in Cleveland, Ohio. It is the northern terminus of the Waterfront Line and the terminus of the Blue and Green Lines. The station is located in a rather isolated setting on the southeast side of the Lakefront Municipal Parking Lot, and is generally only useful to access the parking areas.
South Park station is a stop on the RTA Green Line in Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with South Park Boulevard, after which the station is named.
Avalon station is a stop on the RTA Blue Line in Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Van Aken Boulevard at its intersection with Avalon Road, after which the station is named.
Southington station is a stop on the RTA light rail Green Line in Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with Southington Road, after which the station is named.
Attleboro station is a stop on the RTA light rail Green Line in Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with Attleboro Road, after which the station is named.
Coventry station is a stop on the RTA light rail Green Line on the border between Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with Coventry Road, after which the station is named.
Eaton station is a stop on the RTA light rail Green Line in Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with Eaton Road, after which the station is named.
The HealthLine is a bus rapid transit (BRT) line run by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority in Cleveland and East Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The line runs along Euclid Avenue from Public Square in downtown Cleveland to the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. It began operation on October 24, 2008. Its current name was the result of a naming rights deal with the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland. The HealthLine is denoted with a silver color and abbreviated simply as HL on most RTA publications.