GCRTA provides Bus, Rail and Paratransit Operators with various types of training each year to improve customer service and safety of our passengers. Recently, our Paratransit Training Instructors and Operators visited the Cleveland Sight Center to learn how best to interact with customers who may have vision loss or blindness.
Phase II of our Need a Mask, Take a Mask campaign began in early September. This phase focuses on community engagement and leveraging partnerships to provide free face masks to those in Cuyahoga County. On Thursday, September 17, staff from GCRTA’s Marketing Department joined volunteers from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank for their weekly food distribution. Along with the food boxes, we passed out mask kits to those in need, serving 2,662 households- which is an estimated 7,986 individuals!
For the past few years, the GCRTA rail district has hosted a local rodeo to determine the best of the best when it comes to Operators, Track personnel and Equipment maintainers. Winners from this competition have the opportunity to travel to the American Public Transit Association (APTA) International Rail Rodeo to show off their skills. In addition, local bragging rights.
Our local rodeo for 2020 is being held on Saturday, September 19, 2020. GCRTA rail staff will compete in the following categories: Transportation, Mechanics and Power & Way.
GCRTA is continuing to make strides to protect our essential workers as we continue to work hard every day to provide an essential service to our customers and community. As a part of that mission, GCRTA has worked to ensure that employees are healthy, safe and ready to preform essential job functions.
Congratulations to Electronic Repair Manager, Chris Weil, who was selected as a recipient of the 2020 Mass Transit 40 under 40 award.
Since the inception of the Park-n-Ride, GCRTA has provided express service to our riders for the better part of the last 20 years. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, the GCRTA system experienced decreases in ridership, not only to the Park-n-Ride but to bus, train and trolley services. March 24, 2020 marks the day that the Park N’ Ride service to Westlake, North Olmsted and Strongsville were suspended until further notice. This was in accordance with Governor’s “Stay at Home” order.
GCRTA has a commitment to maintaining a state of good repair for infrastructure and assets. Part of this effort includes upgrades to our rail tracks. Over the past six weeks, the GCRTA Engineering team, along with our track department and Delta Railroad Construction, rehabbed the light rail “trunk line” between Kinsman and Buckeye-Woodhill. Based on the placement of this work, the Blue and Green Lines needed to be completely shut down to rail service east of Tower City.
After a temporary suspension of service due to COVID-19, Park-N-Ride service on all three routes (246, 251 and 263) will be restored on Monday, August 10. The original Park-N-Ride service frequency was approximately every 15 to 30 minutes. Service on these routes will be restored at a 30 minute frequency.
April 2020 brought many things to Greater Cleveland: a worldwide pandemic, words like quarantine and social distancing, and the start of annual construction season.
Have your riding habits on transit changed since COVID-19?
What would make you feel more comfortable on transit?
What if everyone was wearing a mask or face covering, would you ride?
