CLEVELAND – The HealthLine, a state-of-the-art
bus rapid transit (BRT) service operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit
Authority (RTA), is celebrating its first anniversary this month. The
service began on Oct. 24, 2008.
But please, no gifts. What can you get for a
service that has everything?
The HealthLine
has met or exceeded all of RTA’s expectations, says Michael J. Schipper, Deputy
General Manager, Engineering and Project Management.
Ridership:
More than 3.1 million people have boarded the
HealthLine’s Rapid Transit Vehicles (RTVs) since the service began. This
is an increase of almost 50 percent for January-August 2009, when compared
to the same months in 2008. In March, for example, HealthLine ridership
topped 335,000 – a 75 percent increase over the 228,000 riders on the #6
bus the previous year.
Economic
development: Despite a weak national and local economy,
Euclid Avenue is still growing. Most of the major new construction in the
City of Cleveland is either on, or within a few blocks of, HealthLine
service.
Smoother
operations: Schipper says the HealthLine has realized the reduced travel times that the design
team envisioned. That, and other factors, are allowing RTA to operate the
HealthLine for less than traditional bus service would cost.
Customer
satisfaction: RTA conducted a ridership
survey last summer, and for the first six months of operation, the
HealthLine had an approval rating of more than 90 percent. Riders said the
travel times are reasonable, and the service is reliable and on-time.
