Rider's Digest -- April 2017

 Rider's Digest -- April 2017

April 11: Play ball! Tribe opens season

The Cleveland Indians play 81 home games in 2017, and RTA offers the most convenient, comfortable and direct transportation to each of them. No traffic accidents, no rush-hour congestion, no construction zones, no $20 parking fees.

The sold-out home opener vs. the Chicago White Sox begins at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11. Because of Opening Day festivities, fans are asked to be at Progressive Field an hour before the game begins.

Game-day service

Your recipe for a great day:

  • Park for free at a Rapid Station. Be sure to park legally, or you may be ticketed and towed.
  • Buy a $5.50 All-Day Pass for maximum convenience and value. Use the RTA CLE mobile ticketing app to purchase your ticket on your mobile device.
  • Or $5 cash will buy you a round-trip pass at the Brookpark, Puritas or Triskett stations, or at the Tower City Light Rail platform.
  • Ride the Rapid to the Tower City Station, and stroll down the 1,000 foot Walkway to Quicken Loans Arena. From there, it is a short walk outside to Progressive Field.

You can also ride the HealthLine down Euclid Avenue to Public Square. If you work Downtown, hop on a free trolley to reach Tower City.

Remember, Waterfront Line service ends at 7 p.m., and Green Line service ends at 9 p.m. If the game goes into extra innings, that could affect your ride home. Red Line and Blue Line rail service is guaranteed to operate for 60 minutes after the game ends. For this special game, even the Green Line is guaranteed to operate for 60 minutes after the game ends.

Mark these dates

RTA service will be especially important on four dates this month – April 12. 13, 14 and 28 -- when there are events at both Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field. Parking may be scarce. Mark your calendars now and plan to leave early.

Two weekend rail shutdowns set

On April 22-23 and May 6-7, the 67R buses will replace trains on the Blue Line and Green Line east of the Tower City Station.

Look for the special 67R bus stop signs

These buses will follow a faster alignment, bypassing the East 34th Street, East 55th Street and East 79th Street Stations. Here are your options, if you use these stations:

At Tower City, riders may board the 67R on Public Square in front of the JACK Casino.

Through April 9: Ride RTA to the Film Festival at Tower City

The Cleveland International Film Festival continues to show films through April 9.

All Rapid lines provide direct service to the Tower City Station, so you can ride RTA directly to the Film Festival at the Tower City Cinemas.

More than 102,700 people attended last year’s event, and an estimated 1/3 of them rode RTA. RTA is a sponsor of the event.

Red Line and Blue Line Rapids operate seven days a week until around midnight, while the Green Line operates until 9 p.m. If you plan on attending a late-evening movie, please park at a Red Line or Blue Line Station.

Tower City Cinemas are also served by these routes.

  • The HealthLine operates 24/7 on Euclid Avenue.
  • The free B-Line and E-Line trolleys operate from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays.
  • The free C-Line trolley operates 7-11 p.m. weekdays, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on weekends.

The complete film lineup is posted here. Use the code “RTA” to receive $2 off each ticket purchased on-line.

The Q, a hopping site for sports all month long

There’s plenty of sports events at Quicken Loans Arena in April, and RTA serves every one of them.

The Cavaliers and Monsters, both defending champions in their respective leagues, end their regular season games and begin post-season play.

The Gladiators play 3 home games in the Arena Football League.

And on four nights -- April 12,13, 14 and 28 -- there are events at both the Q and Progressive Field. Parking will be scarce.

RTA service

All Rapid lines provide direct service to the Tower City Station. A 1,000-foot Walkway connects Tower City to the Q, so there is no traffic to contend with. The Walkway opens 2 hours before each event, and service home on the Red Line and Blue Line is guaranteed to operate for at least 60 minutes after a major event ends.

Red Line and Blue Line trains operate seven days a week until around midnight, while the Green Line operates until 9 p.m. If you think your event may end late, park at a Red Line or Blue Line Station.

Quicken Loans Arena is also served by:

  • • The HealthLine, which operates 24/7 on nearby Euclid Avenue.
  • • Free Downtown trolleys that operate until 11 p.m. seven days a week.
  • • Both the HealthLine and trolleys serve the Public Square side of the Tower City Station.

Most Rapid Stations offer free parking. Please park legally, or you may be towed. Buy a $5.50 Adult All-Day Pass, and head for the game.

Let’s hear from you! Brief on-line survey ready April 24-May 21

RTA asks all bus customers to take a brief on-line survey April 24-May 21, to help the system continue to improve. "Bus" includes trolley and HealthLine customers.

This is the fifth year that RTA is participating in a nationwide research program with the American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG). RTA and 19 other like-sized transit systems measure customer satisfaction with bus service.

This opportunity provides RTA with a measure of customer service, identifies areas in need of improvement, and allows it to be compared to the performance of other agencies.

Customer satisfaction is key to RTA’s mission: To provide safe, reliable, clean and courteous public transportation. Past surveys have given RTA valuable information.

RTA appreciates your cooperation. A large number of responses, from all segments of the ridership base, will make the survey even more valuable. Please take the survey.

April 22: Celebrate EarthFest with RTA at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds

Ride the RTA Red Line to EarthFest, Ohio’s largest environmental education event. It will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.

Respect the environment. Park for free, pay regular fare, and ride the Red Line to the Brookpark Station. Transfer to the free shuttle – provided by EarthFest -- for the short trip to the Fairgrounds. Bus route 86 also serves the Fairgrounds, and connect with the Red Line at the Brookpark Station and the West Park Station.

RTA’s new CNG bus will be on display at EarthFest. This year’s theme is Vibrant Green Space. EarthFest offers more than 270 exhibits, eco-activities and music, and is the longest running Earth Day event in the nation.

Admission is $4 for ages 2-11 and $8 for persons age 12 and older.

Admission is free if you bike to the event, or ride the Red Line to the Brookpark Station. For more information, call 216-281-6468.

FOR YOUR SAFETY: April is here – It’s time for biking again

Transit and bicycles – two environmentally friendly modes of transportation – make a beautiful marriage in RTA’s Rack-N-Roll program. In an average year, more than 50,000 persons combine the two modes for commuting and recreation.

RTA is pleased to support the Cleveland biking community.

  • In 2008, when the HealthLine opened, RTA also opened a bike lane on either side of Euclid Avenue, from Cleveland State University to University Circle.
  • In 2014, RTA spent $250,000 to add three-unit bike racks to 430 buses. Now, every new bus -- except Park-N-Ride buses and trolleys -- comes with a three-unit bike rack.
  • RTA is a regular supporter of Bike to Work Day.

RTA wants every bicyclist – and transit customer -- to ride safely. A Web page combines safety tips with how to use Rack-N-Roll. Different modes of transit and different venues have varied rules. Learn about your bike and:

The page also has information on area bike paths.

2016 annual report ready

2016 was a great year for RTA, and now, you can read all about it in the 2016 annual reporty. Just go to:

www.rideRTA.com/annual