Public Transit in Cleveland (Euclid, Warren: university, live in, bus)

[nickw252]

Recently there has been a big push for better public transportation and in particular light-rail throughout the nation. Many cities are spending billions of dollars for starter lines and many more investigating the idea, and in general, they have been big hits - Phoenix, Denver, Portland, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, &c.

I know Cleveland has rail/subway but I rarely hear people talking about it on fora, and when I do, it's usually bad stuff. Is there a reason for this? Is it really that bad? Is it maybe that the infrastructure is old and it just doesn't excite Clevelanders any more?

Anyway, what are peoples opinions of Cleveland's public transit and in particular rail transit.

Next time I go to an Indians game I want to use a park-and-ride lot and take the train so I can save on parking and not get stuck in traffic, do people do this often?

[1watertiger]

RTA Facts - About RTA | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. here you go.

[nickw252]

Thanks for the info but I was more looking for personal input from people use it every day or choose not to use it for one reason or another.

[BelieveInCleve]

People talk pretty positive about it on here.

From the RTA light rail and heavy rail lines to the bus routes, its a pretty good system.

[jam40jeff]

I live near a rapid stop and use it a lot to get downtown or to the airport. It's efficient and cheap. I love it. There are also many bus lines, and the headways are pretty good. The new Silver Line BRT is a new addition to the system and runs every 5 minutes down Euclid Avenue. Some bus lines are 24 hours. Overall, Cleveland RTA is a very good public transit system. I have used it quite a bit and have no complaints, other than that I wish the rapid transit ran a little later (the last train is around 12:30 am).

[Samir_Abdul]

i stay in east cleveland right near the windemere rapid station..its not the best, in the world..but its pretty good to me...i can get where ever i need on it in the city, and as far as my area it runs basically all night..they safe enough as far as im concerned..half the people who got a big problem with are transit system dont even live in cleveland, and are on the outside looking in....

[KKoots16]

I find the RTA to be reliable. However, I live in Rocky River and work in Beachwood so unfortunately that means I take a bus downtown, then a train to University Circle station and then a bus to work. It takes 2 1/2 hours. So while reliable and clean and safe, it is certainly not convenient at all.

[Boffo]

I like the RTA a lot. It's a good system for a city of our size and is usually pretty reliable. I would definitely recommend it if you go to an indians game. Like you, I hate waiting in traffic after the games so now I ride the RTA downtown from a park and ride lot. Also, the downtown station (Tower City) is nearby Progressive Field. There is even a walkway from Tower City to the stadium.

[jam40jeff]

Originally Posted by KKoots16

I find the RTA to be reliable. However, I live in Rocky River and work in Beachwood so unfortunately that means I take a bus downtown, then a train to University Circle station and then a bus to work. It takes 2 1/2 hours. So while reliable and clean and safe, it is certainly not convenient at all.

That is a tough one. A crosstown commute, and Beachwood is not a place built for transit.

I don't know where exactly you work, but a lot of Beachwood businesses are on Chagrin. Have you ever considered taking the blue line to Chagrin/Warrensville, and then walking or taking the 5 from there? That should save you a lot of time. Or you could take the green line to Green/Shaker and taking the 94 if you work by Richmond/Cedar. I would think either of those would have to be a lot faster than the 32 all the way down Cedar.

[Beavercreek33]

One thing a lot of people forget about, there are many cities twice the size of Cleveland, and do not have as extensive of a system as Cleveland, let alone even have rapid transit at all.