Cleveland RTA lands $2.2 million for new trolley and bus service

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA has landed $2.2 million for a slew of new services in and around downtown Cleveland, including a night-time trolley service and a route serving the rock hall and science center.

The money covers just one year of operation. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority hopes that Gov.-elect John Kasich's administration will support funding the services for two years after that.

More than 40 businesses and public bodies backed RTA's request for the money.

The money comes from a $10 million pot doled out this week by the Ohio Department of Transportation for transit statewide.

It's part of the Next Generation fund, established by outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland in October. The money is focused on economic development and getting people to job centers.
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Strickland committed one year of funding under a three-year plan. It now falls to the Kasich camp to decide how two, subsequent years of ODOT money will be spent.

"We'll have to wait until the (new ODOT) director is seated and is able to evaluate all these kinds of projects," Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said Friday.

RTA officials are still crafting details of the new services, including launch dates. The new routes are:

"C-Line" downtown trolley: It will run from 7 to 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends.

It extends service offered by two, free trolley routes that ply downtown routes during the day.

"Rock-Line" weekend trolley: It will serve the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Science Center, via Public Square.

The service will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Campus Connector: This route will serve students, workers and residents between Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College Metro Campus.

Students taking classes at both schools will be able to move more quickly between campuses, RTA said.

Southwest Connector, Southeast Connector and Steelyard Direct: The routes will serve riders going to work, hospitals and other destinations in areas including Ohio City, Old Brooklyn and the Steelyard Commons shopping center.

(Article courtesy of The Cleveland Plain Dealer)