Ohio Public Health Advisory 

On October 15, 2020, Cuyahoga County was moved to a level 3 (red) Public Emergency status.  We are at risk for exposure and spread of COVID-19 and must remain dilligent about wearing face coverings/mask.  As a result, GCRTA strongly encourage all riders to wear a face covering when waiting for or riding our services to protect themselves and others. We consider this a shared responsibility, with our customers.  To protect yourself and others in public, please wear a face covering.

Returning to Transit?  Here is what you can do to stay healthy while riding. 

• Utilize the RTA CLE app (available on Android and iPhone) for contactless payment of your fare.  This will reduce the need to purchase passes from a Ticket Vending Machine or Customer Service.
• Wear face covering (covers your nose and mouth) when waiting or riding our service.  A face covering is a sign of respect for your fellow riders, and the operator.  By wearing it, you protect yourself in the event someone is sick and does not realize it. Additionally, if you are asymptomatic, you are aiding in the prevention of spreading to others.  
• Do not touch your mask/face, and cover your coughs and/or sneezes with a tissue, or your sleeve. This will keep droplets from spreading in the air to others around you. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer when unable to use soap and water.  
• Practice physical distancing, when possible, to reduce your risk of coming into contact with the virus. 

Let's protect one another; with your help, and by following the above guidelines, we can all enjoy transit and all the Greater Cleveland area has to offer.

Our commitment is to operate a safe, reliable, clean, and courteous public transportation system.  Now more than ever, we want to show you that our system is safe and clean.  Here is how we are doing just that: 

Cleaning

• High touch surfaces, such as seats, fare boxes, doors, hand rails, etc.  on buses and trains, are cleaned every 24 hours with CDC recommended products. 
• Service and Transit Police vehicles are cleaned between users, and again every 24 hours, with CDC recommended projects.
• Our facilities undergo enhanced cleaning and sanitizing several times a day. 
• The MoonBeam3 (UV-C light) is used to disinfect sensitive equipment and K-9 vehicles reguarly.  It is also utilized in response to any vehicle that is removed from service and requires immediate disinfecting.
• Use of electrostatic machines to clean high touch areas 

Mask, Face Covering, Shields, and Barriers  

• All employees are required to wear a mask or face covering when operating any vehicle, in a common area within a facility, or when interacting with riders or fellow co-workers. 
• Plexiglass has been installed at the information desk at Tower City, around booth attendents, and the reception desk at our Main Office.
• Vinyl protective barriers or curtains that enclose the drivers have been installed on all buses. 

Temperature Taking

• Employees are encouraged to take their temperatrues daily, and not report to work if they have a temperature of 100.4 or higher. 
• Upon arrival at all GCRTA facilities, employees and visitors have their temperture taken. If an employees has a temperature fo 100.4 or higher, they are sent home and instructed to follow our protocol.  If a vendor or other visitor tests higher than 100.4, they are not permited into the facility.

Need a Mask, Take a Mask Distribution 

For riders who need a mask,  they can obtain one from our Tower City Rotunda or from the Supersviror's Office at the Windermere Rapid Station.  Mask are available one per person.  

The cloth masks Greater Cleveland RTA will be distributing were provided to us from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and FEMA. They have been working to outfit essential workers across the United States by donating 15.5 million cloth masks. Of that 15.5 million, 4.8 were allocated to public transit agencies. We thank DOT and FEMA for supplying us with masks to not only protect our employees, but our riders, as well. 

Benefits of Wearing a Mask

Per the CDC, "masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. This is called source control. This recommendation is based on what the CDC knows about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that shows masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of masks is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain. CDC’s recommendations for masks will be updated as new scientific evidence becomes available."

Properly Wearing a Mask 

We at Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) understand that this is an uncertain time and are working to maintain public transit to thousands of people who rely on us each day. Our commitment is to operate a safe, reliable, clean and courteous public transit system. We are monitoring all COVID-19 developments while providing bus, rail and paratransit services to riders who need to take essential trips.

CARES Act Grant

August 31, 2020
Total draw-downs on the CARES Act grant amount to $91.1 million leaving approximately $20.8 million in additional funding that can be drawn down. These funds are to mitigate the effect of the lost fare revenue, declines in sales tax revenue and increased costs incurred to fight the Corona virus. Additionally, the funds are being used to purchase materials to keep our staff and riders safe during this pandemic such as tablets that monitor employees' temperatures at each building, cleaning equipment that speeds up the cleaning process on all vehicles, and the purchase of thermometers for staff so they can self-monitor prior to coming to work.

These funds will help us in maintaining service and providing labor stability in these extremely uncertain times. The funds will also assist us to a certain extent in giving back to the community by implementing some of the recommendations of the concluded Service Redesign and the Fare Equity Studies

August 7, 2020
Total draw-downs on the CARES Act grant amount to $73.7 million leaving approximately $38 million in additional funding that can be drawn down. These funds are to mitigate the effect of the lost fare revenue, declines in Sales Tax revenue and increased costs incurred to fight the Corona virus.

We are now seeing the full effects of the lost sales tax revenue from March, April and May. Additionally, the funds are being used to purchase additional materials to keep our staff and riders safe during this pandemic. For example, tablets that will take employees temperatures at each building, cleaning equipment that speeds up the cleaning process on all vehicles, and the purchase of thermometers for staff so they can self-monitor prior to coming to work.

These funds will help us in maintaining service and providing labor stability in these extremely uncertain times that we foresee in the near future. The funds will also assist us to a certain extent in giving back to the community by implementing some of the recommendations of the concluded Service Redesign and the Fare Equity Studies.

Join GCRTA in the Fight to Stop the Spread of Infectious Diseases

GCRTA has taking the Coronavirus situation very seriously. We are working with state and local public health officials and we are closely following the CDC’s guidance to reduce the spread of Coronavirus as well as Governor DeWine's orders.  In the Governor's daily press conferences, he continuously recommends wearing a face covering (covers mouth and nose) when out in public.  GCRTA strongly encourages riders to wear a face covering when riding to protect themselves, our operators and other passengers. 

The CDC, Ohio Health Department recommend the use of cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the Coronavirus/COVID-19.  You will also find guidance for making your own face covering (bottom of the page).

What GCRTA is doing to clean Bus, Rail, Stations and Paratransit

GCRTA has an enhanced cleaning protocol for all its buses, trains, paratransit and non-revenue vehicles that began on March 5. In response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, GCRTA staff has been cleaning all touchable surfaces on board its vehicles with a cleaning agent recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) every 24 hours. This also includes non-revenue and Transit Police vehicles, all Transit Centers and all GCRTA public facilities, bus districts and office buildings.

Additionally, bus and rail operators and other staff have been provided with disinfectant wipes to clean their work areas routinely throughout the day.

What you can do to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus

We can all do our part to prevent the spread of germs. GCRTA is following the guidelines issued by the CDC, Ohio Health and Cleveland Health Departments as well as Governor DeWine that are applicable to this region.  We applaud everyone who has adhered to the guidance of the CDC, Health Departments and our Governor.  We’re asking customers to follow the preventative measures to product themselves, our operators, and others. 

• Wear face covering (covers your nose and mouth) when out in public for your health and the health of others
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, and use hand sanitizer when available
• Practice physical distancing, when possible
• Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow or tissue
• Keep hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth
• If you have cold or flu symptoms, please stay at home to reduce the risk of spreading any illness

To adhere to the Governors orders, all GCRTA employees are required to wear a face covering while on GCRTA property or aboard any service vehicle.  We are also asking all contractors to require thier employees to wear face coverings while on GCRTA propery or aboard any service vehicles. 

Service Updates

RTA to temporarily reduce service on most routes beginning April 12
RTA Suspends Park-N-Ride and Trolley Service Until Further Notice

FAQs

We at Greater Cleveland RTA understand that this is an uncertain time and are working to address the community’s questions.  While we may not have all the answers at this time; however, we are working to answer questions as we receive them. 

We thank you for your patience and understanding while we navigate this ever changing pandemic.