Oct 24, 2018
Cleveland has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. From the revitalization of University Circle, to the giant chandelier in Playhouse Square to a new and improved Public Square, these elements are all tied together by one thing: RTA’s state of the art HealthLine. New businesses have sprouted along the Euclid Corridor and has helped Cleveland gain national attention for sports, attractions, world-class museums, restaurants and more. There is a new energy in Northeast Ohio and the world is taking notice.
10 years ago this week Greater Cleveland RTA introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Cuyahoga County by better serving the Euclid Corridor. The HealthLine connects the largest employment areas, Downtown and University Circle, while also stopping at the major universities (Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University) and premier healthcare facilities (Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals) before terminating at the Louis Stoke Station at Windermere in East Cleveland.
Vehicles are referred to as “RTV’s” and are 63-feet long run on hybrid-electric power. The five doors located on both sides of the coach make it easily accessible as it moves through downtown Cleveland. These vehicles are designed to increase capacity and reliability relative to a conventional bus system. The HealthLine includes 9.2 miles of roadway improvements on and near Euclid Avenue. 108 standard bus stops were replaced with 36 spaced stations and total route travel time was reduced by 12 minutes. Traffic signal prioritization and distinguished bus-only lanes give the HealthLine the opportunity to bypass traffic and long traffic signals, which results in an increase of its on-time performance.
So with over $8 billion in development and improvements along the Euclid Corridor, it will be fun to see where Cleveland is in another 10 years! Cheers and happy birthday, HealthLine!
