Major Projects

The former University Circle Station is now the Cedar - University Station.

Major transit projects can sometimes spend years in the planning stages, before funding is set and construction begins. This section will help you keep up-to-date, as project ideas are conceived, planned, funded and built.

Major Projects
Waterfront Line Bridge The Waterfront Line opened on July 10, 1996, as a legacy project for the City’s Bicentennial Celebration. In 2018, an extensive inspection of the bridge was completed. In 2019, RTA began to monitor stress cracks flagged by the inspection, RTA began to limit stress on the bridge by restricting traffic to one car crossing at a time. October 2020, Waterfront Line service was suspended due to Tower City track rehabilitation project.

In Progress
Light Rail Track Reconstruction Program This is a multi-year $70 million program to reconstruct approximately 10 miles of the Light Rail Track constructed in 1980 from Kinsman Road east through Shaker Square and to the eastern ends of the Blue and Green Lines.
Rail Car Replacement GCRTA’s heavy and light rail cars are 39 and 42 years old, and have exceeded their useful life. They require an increasing amount of time and money to be properly maintained and ready for service. Due to their age, replacement parts are difficult to obtain and the technology and components within the cars are obsolete.

Completed
25Connects 25Connects is a project funded by the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Transit-oriented Development Pilot Program, is a strategic study to break down barriers along the corridor to build transit-oriented development as well as a guidebook for future bus rapid transit (BRT) implementation.
Airport Tunnel CLEVELAND -- On July 17, 2012, the Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) approved resolution #2012-63. It awarded a $10.1 million contract to the Kokosing Construction Co, Inc. of Westerville, OH, to restore and improve the drainage, track, structure and safety systems of a Red Line rail tunnel tunnel under Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Blue Line Corridor Extension Study CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has been working with 10 communities in Southeast Cuyahoga County to analyze alternatives for an extension of the light rail Blue Line. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires an Alternatives Analysis for any major transportation improvement.
Brookpark Rapid Station CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is building a new station on the Cleveland-Brook Park border, near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. This is RTA's highest ridership rail station west of Tower City. A ground-breaking ceremony was held April 9, 2015. East side: The station's main entrance and large parking area opened on April 10, 2017. All bus transfers serve the east side, and an elevator connects the lobby to the platform. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 23, 2017.
Cedar - University Rapid StationProject background CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) broke ground on Sept. 19, 2012, for the reconstruction of the Cedar-University Rapid Station, formerly known as the University Circle Rapid Station. The station and bus terminal remained open during construction. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2014. A nearby Rapid Station on Mayfield Road, now under construction, will be known as Little Italy-University Circle.
Clifton Boulevard Transportation Enhancement Project CLEVELAND -- This fully funded project of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), in partnership with the cities of Lakewood and Cleveland, will upgrade the roadway and amenities on Clifton Boulevard, from West Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood to Lake Avenue in Cleveland -- a distance of 4 miles.
E 34th St. Campus / E. 79th Stations Transit Services Alternatives Analysis
E. 79th St. Red LineAbout the Project Total cost: $10.0 Million, awarded to Panzica Construction
East 116th-St. Luke's light-rail station CLEVELAND -- RTA is planning to rebuild the East 116th-St. Luke's light-rail station, 2780 East 116th St. at Shaker Boulevard, just west of Shaker Square. The station is used by Blue and Green line trains.
Farnsleigh Rapid Station CLEVELAND --In 2018, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will seek bids on a $1.6 million project to make the Farnsleigh Rapid Station on the Blue Line ADA-accessible. When the work is completed, the station will comply with ADA guidelines. This page will be updated as more details become available. Page created Jan. 1, 2018.
Hydrogen fuel cell busProject history and background CLEVELAND -- Several years ago, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) asked for proposals for a "National Fuel Cell Bus Program." The program gave an award to the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium, a non-profit corporation, to conduct research.
Lee - Van Aken Rapid Station CLEVELAND -- The Lee - Van Aken Station -- one of the busiest on the Blue Line -- has been reconstructed by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). The dedication ceremony was held Dec. 22, 2015.
Little Italy - University Circle Rapid Station CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) operates a Red Line rail station on Euclid Avenue at East 120th Street. That functionally obsolete station will be moved several blocks south, to Mayfield Road at East 119th Street. Because the new station will be close to the vibrant neighborhood of Little Italy, it will be called the Little Italy - University Circle Rapid Station. Informally, it is sometimes referred to as the Mayfield Road Station, or the Little Italy Station.
Public Square re-designNov. 15, 2016, Project Update CLEVELAND -- Officials of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the City of Cleveland have been working for several months to develop a plan that is in the best interests of Greater Clevelanders. They have determined that Superior Avenue in Public Square will remain closed, and that both parties will work cooperatively to mitigate -- outside of Public Square -- any operational impacts of that decision.
Red Line S-curve CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has completed a $7 million restoration and improvement of the "S-Curve" Red Line rail track. Work began April 21, 2013, and was finished on May 25, 2013. During construction, this area of track was closed. RTA operated bus service between two stations -- West 117th and West Boulevard. Buses replaced rail in both directions with a 5-minute trip between the two stations. RTA operated 3-car Red Line trains every 15 minutes during the work.
Red Line/HealthLine Extension Study
Shaker-Lee Station, on the Green Line CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) built a new Green Line station on Shaker Boulevard at Lee Road, in Shaker Heights for $1.7 million. The current station is close to the Shaker Heights Historical Society.
Tri-C-Campus District Station on the Red, Blue and Green lines CLEVELAND -- The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is planning to build a new station on the site of the current station at 2820 East 34th Street.
Warrensville-Shaker Station, Green Line Cost: $1.8 million Construction begun: March 2016 Ribbon cutting: November 22, 2016