Rider's Digest -- October 2017

 Rider's Digest -- October 2017

This fall, 51 family of routes to become new MetroHealth Line

RTA has formed a partnership with The MetroHealth System to rebrand the number 51 family of routes.

Beginning this fall, the route will offer commuters an upgraded ride on 20 new, specially designed vehicles fully branded with the MetroHealth logo. More than 400 bus stop signs and 37 shelters will also display the new logo along the routes.

The 51, 51-A, 51-B and 51-C operate more than 200 bus trips per day. They link the MetroHealth campus with both Downtown Cleveland to the north and the neighborhoods and suburbs to the south.

MetroHealth has five health-care facilities along the route.

  • MetroHealth Medical Center
  • Old Brooklyn Health Center
  • Middleburg Heights November Family Health Center
  • Parma Health Center
  • Brecksville Health and Surgery Center

The routes carry more than 2.1 million customers a year in the West 25th Street Corridor and Broadview Heights, Garfield Heights, Independence, Parma, Parma Heights, Middleburg Heights, Seven Hills, Strongsville and Valley View.

It has the second highest bus ridership in the RTA system, second only to the HealthLine.

Revenue from the sponsorship will be used to upgrade landscaping and bus stations along the route. RTA is also working with the funders, the City and the neighborhoods to add some exclusive rush hour bus lanes and traffic signal prioritization, to make the MetroHealth Line faster and more reliable.

In 2008, RTA became the first transit system in the nation to sell naming rights sponsorships to its assets, for what became the HealthLine. Since then, the Cleveland State Line launched in 2014, serving Downtown and several West Side communities. Both routes have enjoyed great success.

Ride the Rapid to see the Tribe in playoff action this month

For two lucky baseball teams, the season will last another month. Playoff games begin Oct. 5, and the World Series ends Nov. 1.

RTA will provide service to all Indians home post-season games.

  • Oct. 5-11: American League Division Series, best-of-5.
  • Oct. 13-21: American League Championship Series, best-of-7.
  • Oct. 24-Nov. 1: World Series, best-of-7.

Downtown will be hopping

Depending on the game times and teams involved, it is conceivable that on a maximum of 10 days in October, there will be two major events Downtown, such as a Tribe game, plus a Browns game, Cavaliers game, Monsters game or concert at Quicken Loans Arena. Possible doubleheader days are Oct. 6, 8, 17, 20-21, 27-29, and Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

If you are planning to come Downtown on a day when two events are scheduled, RTA encourages you to take the Rapid. Construction work on Downtown streets could cause congestion.

Tips for you:

  • Parking is free at all RTA Rapid stations, but park legally, or you could be ticketed and towed.
  • Download the RTA CLE app for mobile ticketing. Your phone becomes your farecard – just show your cell phone screen to the attendant.
  • The Walkway opens at least 2 hours before every game.
  • If the game goes into extra innings, RTA guarantees rail service for 60 minutes after the game ends.
  • Celebrating a big win? Great, but remember, your All-Day Pass expires at 3 a.m. the next day.

When does the last train leave Tower City?

Now that Green Line service has been extended to midnight, it should make late-evening travel easier for customers.

Keep these times in mind, for the last trains leaving the Tower City Station.

Extra innings? Rail service will operate for 60 minutes after the game ends.

Cavaliers, Monsters open seasons at Quicken Loans Arena

There’s lots of action this month at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavaliers and LeBron James play 3 pre-season games before opening their season on Oct. 17. Then, three more home games are on the calendar.

The Monsters open their season on Oct. 7, and play four more games on home ice.

All this, while the Indians are knocking on the door of another World Series bid next door at Progressive Field.

Whether you like hoops or hockey pucks, RTA is your best traveling option. The Red Line, Blue Line and Green Line offer free parking, and all trains stop at the Tower City Station. The Walkway to the Q opens two hours before every event there, so you won’t experience Downtown congestion or bad weather.

The Q also hosts concerts on Oct. 20 and Oct. 26, as well as super-heroes from Marvel Live Oct 12-15.

Several rail shutdowns set

Keeping a rail system in a state of good repair sometimes means that service must be interrupted. Here is an update on improvements that are being made this fall.

Oct. 14-15: Buses will replace Red Line trains east of the Tower City Station. The 66R buses will operate between Tower City Station and the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere via the shorter, faster route that bypasses the East 34th and East 55th stations. This shutdown will allow work to continue on the Opportunity Corridor. The bridge at East 105th and Quincy is being replaced, and the Red Line platform is being extended.

Nov. 5-Dec. 2: Buses replace Red Line trains between the West 117th and Tower City stations. The 66R buses will operate via a special more direct alignment and only serve the West 117th, West Boulevard and Tower City stations. The Tower City stop will be on West Prospect at West 3rd Street. Stops for West Boulevard Station will be on Detroit Avenue, not inside the station bus loop, as they are normally. These adjustments will help move riders to and from Downtown as quickly as possible. RTA will use this time to upgrade tracks, and remove some slow zones between West 25th Street and West Boulevard.

Passengers who start their trips near the temporarily closed West 25th and West 65th stations can use the 22 bus route to reach their destinations, or to connect with the Red Line at West Park or Tower City.

Some bus routes change on Nov. 5

Two bus timetables will change Nov. 5. There will be minor adjustments on the 48-48A and the Cleveland State Line (55-55A-55B-55C).

Other routes will be affected on Sunday, Dec. 3, when the winter service changes take effect.

Downtown alignments change for four bus routes

In response to customer comments, the temporary inbound downtown alignment of 53F, 246, 251, and 263 will be permanent.

RTA will not return to the longer route via West Huron Avenue, even after the sewer project on West Superior Avenue is completed.

Your farecard can bring you discounts

Use your RTA farecard for a rider reward at many local sites. Check out their Web sites for more information on these RTA partners.

See a complete list of 40 places that offer special deals for RTA customers.

Are you registered to vote in the Nov. 7 General Election?

If you plan to vote in the Nov. 7 general election, you need to check on your status soon.

  • Oct. 10: Deadline to register to vote, or to update your info.
  • Oct. 11: Early voting begins at the Board of Elections, 2925 Euclid Ave.

For more information, call 216-443-VOTE (8683), or go here.

For your safety: RTA is a Safe Place for all youths

With childhood safety in the news more and more, it’s a good time to remind Clevelanders that RTA is part of the national program, A Safe Place.

Safe Places are sites set up in public locations where youth in crisis situations can get help immediately. Safe Place signs are displayed near the front door on all RTA buses and trains.

Any youth, in their teens or younger, can go to a Safe Place, in any type of crisis situation. It’s free for youths and their families.

What to do

Just tell the bus or train operator that you are there because of the Safe Place sign. They will notify a Road Supervisor or Transit Police Officer, who will meet the bus or train at a nearby location, usually within 15-20 minutes.

They will either transport you to a Safe Place shelter partner, or have a Safe Place volunteer come to meet with you. RTA shelter partners have counselors who care and want to help.