Cleveland's Rapid Transit Network Evolution

From its beginning in 1913, the Cleveland Light Rail, Subway, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) networks have grown to over 70 stations, spanning 37.2 miles (60 kilometres). This animated video takes you through the timeline of when new stations were opened, forming the RTA Rapid network that we know today.
🚧 Full construction timeline: Coming soon!
Credit: Rodney Chan. Twitter: @_ChanFace ( / _chanface )
🐦 Ask us questions on Twitter: / vanishingunder
☑️ Video Criteria:
- Population given is the sum of all counties and independent cities with stations in them.
- Future extensions are shown only if a construction tender has been awarded for their completion, at the time of video publication. If a construction tender has been issued for a project not included in the video, feel free to leave a comment, and we'll add it to our list to update.
- If you find an error, feel free to let us know in the comments. Please include links to any sources that will help us correct the error. Note: comments with links might take up to 24 hours to appear due to KZbin anti-spam policies.
📸 Image Credits:
All images used in this video are public domain.
🖼 Thumbnail image: owned by me.
🚋 #RTA
Cleveland 66 Airport-Windermere Red Line Subway
Cleveland 67 Van Aken Blue Line Light Rail
Cleveland 67A Shaker Green Line Light Rail
Cleveland Health Line Bus Rapid Transit
Cleveland Detroit-Superior streetcar subway

[@metropod]

It's a fascinating little system, when you think about it. The three lines share the same tracks, Red is a still somewhat rare Metro line powered only by overhead catenary (emphasis ONLY), and it was the only heavy rail metro line built in the US between the two major eras of rapid transit construction in the US: It came after the systems of New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia, which form what I call "the classic four". All four cities that opened their first lines before WWI, It came before another era I've termed "the Subway Revolution", the new systems constructed in the 1970s and 1980s (BART, DC Metro, Baltimore Subway, Atlanta MARTA, Miami Metrorail)

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

For similar reasons, the Rochester Subway is also a fascinating case study, though one with an even less happy ending: the system was abandoned in 1956 to make room for an expressway.

[@theodoretaylor5228]

@@OntarioTrafficMan sounds like Cincinnati's situation. They've got a whole abandoned subway tunnel that empties out at I75. 6 station platforms underground as well.

[@JBS319]

The Red will not be a metro for very much longer. RTA has ordered a fleet of Siemens S200 LRVs that will operate on all lines, including the Red. It makes sense to have a single fleet for such a small system.

[@LuckyFlanker13]

Just thinking of any transit evolution in America makes me incredibly angry about losing the streetcars

[@depressoespresso7364]

I feel very blessed to live near New Orleans and love riding their streetcars

[@qolspony]

Indeed! THERE WASN'T EVEN A CONNECTION TO THE STATION IN STREET CAR TUNNEL PORTION THE WHOLE TIME OF IT SHORT EXISTENCE!

[@LuckyFlanker13]

@@depressoespresso7364 yes. We are lucky to have those few survivors

[@tswagg504]

@@depressoespresso7364 New Orleans has nowhere near the streetcar network it had before the 60s….only 4 lines now

[@depressoespresso7364]

@@tswagg504 I know!!! It upsets me to no end.

[@andrewfusco7824]

Very impressive network for a city of this size.

[@randomcontentgenerator2331]

Sort of but at the same time it avoids density and ridership is horrendous.

[@essbee2334]

@@randomcontentgenerator2331 I get the impression that the density was once there long ago and it's either impossible or too difficult to place new rail or otherwise change the system

[@randomcontentgenerator2331]

@@essbee2334 I doubt there was ever much density, especially along the mainline rail lines, however I agree that they really don't have the money to improve the system. At least Healthline follows the densest corridor in the city

[@CreatorPolar]

@@essbee2334 it’s definitely possible to fit some light rail tracks in the middle of the wide American streets, they are either too lazy to do so of lack funding

[@D2A962]

between the clear, concise narration and the detailed maps, this has become my favorite train related youtube channel. Thanks for the great content!

[@SparenofIria]

Excellent video! It's rare to see Cleveland's (admittedly not doing so well) rapid transit network featured anywhere.

[@CaseysTrains]

Not to promote my boyfriend but he did recently do a video in Cleveland on various lines. It got almost no attention on YT and most who did see it commented "Cleveland has....TRAINS?! what?"

[@anindrapratama]

@@CaseysTrains what's the channel name?

[@pjsparma]

RTA just put out an RFP for new joint replacement rail cars this week. Looks like there will be one type of vehicle running on Red, Blue, Green lines eventually. It will certainly improve efficiency.

[@SuperTobyproductions]

Didn't know cleveland had a subway, interesting!

[@CaseysTrains]

It more like 2-Car Elevated Train that runs mainly along mainline railroad right-of-ways with a little of bit of stitching here and there. Tower City and The Airport are the only underground stops.

[@SuperTobyproductions]

@@CaseysTrains ah, thanks for explaining

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

right.

[@calbob750]

Not a subway.

[@rayizard5687]

@@CaseysTrains Actually Tower City Station isn't technically underground either, it's at ground level for the flats. Because the main entrance from Public Square is up on top of the bluff that holds downtown, when you head to station level, you are traveling down the cliff the building was built into

[@jeffjeannette9364]

I'm actually impressed, I had no idea Cleveland has a subway. I've only seen the Greyhound station coming to and from Detroit and New York City, there's always a layover in Cleveland.

[@eurosoe]

I had no idea Cleveland had a subway. I always joke about visiting Cleveland. I might ACTUALLY visit Cleveland now.

[@calbob750]

There is no subway. The Rapid Transit (as we call it) goes underground briefly for the Union Terminal Building and at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. The Union Terminal was a passenger train terminal up until Amtrak took over passenger service.

[@TheLocalLt]

@@calbob750 “subway” in colloquial terms just means heavy rapid transit or non-streetcar light rapid transit; it doesn’t literally mean underground. The New York Subway and London Underground have numerous non-underground lines, just as conversely the Chicago El (also a “subway” by colloquial definition) has underground portions. Really you can even have limited streetcar stops still be part of a subway system, look at the Green Line in Boston: one of the line’s four branches has a brief legacy street-running portion on a line otherwise separated from traffic (although often just by a median), yet it’s such a small portion that its usually forgotten.

[@KENHIGBEE1]

WOW, a big Thank You for the history of the Cleveland Transit Network I learned a lot of things I did not know. Great job!

[@mariachrzski18]

I would like to see evolution of Boston's transit network next!

[@hermanhuang9048]

Zach, my inner transit geek thanks you! I lived in Cleveland for a while in the 1980s. Here are some of my recollections: 1. The lines were known as the Red (66X on printed timetables), Blue (67X), and Green (67AX) Lines. They were collectively referred to as the Rapid or Rapid Transit. 2. All trips on the Red Line were charged at the express fare ($1.00). Trips on the Blue and Green Lines were local (85 cents) if the entire trip was Shaker Square and points east; trips west of Shaker Square were express. 3. At E 34th-Campus, the Red Line and Blue/Green Lines boarded from different parts of a center platform. At E 55th, the Red Line boarded from side platforms and the Blue/Green Lines, from the center platform. 4. The Red Line ran left-handed between downtown and Windermere. The Blue and Green Lines ran left-handed between downtown and E 55th, then switched to right-handed. Left hand running was a relic from when the Blue and Green Lines used PCC cars; when I was in Cleveland, they had switched to LRVs but hadn't switched to right hand running. Green Road and Warrensville had PCC turnarounds and signs directing LRVs not to enter. 5. Trains were typically two cars during peak periods and one car off-peak. 6. There was a Greyhound bus stop at Puritas - if I remember correctly, it was called "West 150th St" on Greyhound timetables.

[@samlapin8226]

Very Helpful Video - Thanks!

[@pjsparma]

Great video. Thanks for sharing! Unfortunately, service on the Waterfront Line has been suspended until spring, due to the pandemic.

[@edwinmadrigal7652]

Thankfully they finished construction on the bridge that was damaged and now it runs for big events on the lakefront and are working to having regular service (hopefully sometime soon). But for the time being, it is at least open when there are big events and it really helps getting right on the water when it does 🙏🏼

[@JBS319]

RTA is purchasing new vehicles for their rail lines and have settled on a consistent fleet of Siemens S200 light rail vehicles that will operate on all lines.

[@qolspony]

Whenever I read about Cleveland, I think of Rochester Transit system. Especially when you considered that streetcar tunnel portion.

[@qolspony]

I could add Pittsburgh, but it actually one of the few cities that kept it street car system until more recently. It was replaced by light rail, heavy rail and a subway portal, which is a vast improvement of the former streetcar system. And it all happened because most of the street cars were burnt in a yard fire.

[@qolspony]

Your so right.

[@kennethboehnlein51]

Great video. Informative. Thanks for the research.

[@fainelia]

I loved your video! It would be great if you could show more pictures and videos besides the map explanations

[@rayizard5687]

Amtrak Station is only open from Midnight to 7am. All four daily Amtrak trains pass through between 1am - 5am...hours that light rail doesn't run

[@nancyschafer4259]

Excellent!!

[@nicolasfajardo1696]

Loved it!

[@bill-zc1wi]

beautiful

[@thecyclovert]

Great video! The biggest missed opportunity was right after WW1. That east/west streetcar subway would have connected 2 west side lines from Detroit and west 25th and 3 on the east that travelled under Euclid. One line would follow Euclid, one went up mayfield and a 3rd would have gone down east 40th and onto broadway. Cleveland would be a very different city if this or any of the other big plans had come to fruition.

[@rockinrandy9621]

Living in SW Cleveland, I wish it would be more expansive, I wouldn’t have to rely on my car as much.

[@stevenallen9613]

My grandfather was a motorman working out of the former Windemere Car Barn. He retired in October or 1959.

[@mastersingleton]

Great video and if possible can you do a video regarding the evolution of Sydney, Australia's Rapid Transit Network thanks.

[@binarysignals9593]

Subbed from Uk. Would be great to see this format with asian and euro cities too. Thanks i wish your channel mucho success!

[@dangelohartley5977]

Can you do the evolution of Chicago's "L" System? Edit: Feel free to check out my KZbin channel, I have videos of the CTA trains if y'all interested

[@jonathanveach369]

Yes, seconded!

[@jamesshellenberger4344]

Nashville voters rejected a $ 5.2 billion dollar light rail system similar to what Cleveland already has. Cleveland is soooo lucky that this was built up over the last century !

[@Theincredibledrummer]

Really good! Could you do Auckland, New Zealand?

[@amiranore1707]

The red line isn’t a subway line

[@pjsparma]

Correct. It is a heavy rail system. The Blue & Green lines are light rail systems.

[@officialalonzo263]

Nice video, another great video would be WMATA in Washington, D.C.

[@paulhealy2557]

It’s a shame it’s seen as only for lower income people. I lived in Lakewood, which is a close suburb, for 9 years. Never used a bus and only used rta light rail a few times mainly going to baseball games. Left car at w117 station, which is free parking. Then tower city station is a short to the ball park.

[@Funkenstein91]

Hopefully someday we’ll see a new line branching off the red that services Lakewood directly. The area is so dense, it could easily support quality rail service.

[@calbob750]

The Rapid Transit from Windermere to Union Terminal which opened in 1955 was never called or considered a subway. It’s only subterranean moments are under Union Terminal and at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. The Shaker Rapid began as a part of the development of Shaker Heights by the Van Sweringen brothers. They built the Union Terminal and developed Shaker Heights. Cleveland was mostly served by streetcars until the 1940s when buses and trackless trolleys took over.

[@brendanu1680]

Why Didn't You Include The Youngsville Commuter Rail Line?

[@acivilconversation18]

Very informative video, always had a keen interest in learning about metro systems so this video was great! I have a couple on my channel to do with the origins of Moscow and Berlin metro systems if you are interested. Look forward to future videos! :)

[@williamerazo3921]

Representing

[@Dexter037S4]

Cleveland! We're not Detroit!

[@mattloveohiost5]

Currently the red line and blue/green lines, although sharing tracks, have different rolling stock. Red line have high platform subway-style trains, while blue/green have light rail low platform trains. RTA wants to change out both of the different rolling stock into one common rolling stock for all lines (and also modify platforms as needed). Hopefully Biden can help get the funding so it happens.

[@essbee2334]

Source? That seems like quite the endeavor but I'm interested in what this could potentially bring the system. I've never heard of it but I'm interested

[@mattloveohiost5]

@@essbee2334its on RTA's website. just search "GCRTA new trains".

[@anderslarsen6009]

Are you gonna do european cities as well, I would love to see one of Copenhagen with both the S-train, Metro and perhaps commuter trains (Øresundståg train etc) as well.

[@Gabbysmith717]

Can you do Los Angeles next?

[@amjkodaz]

Can you do one on Atlanta's MARTA?

[@bas3q]

Pittsburgh one week, Cleveland the next...oof. There's some pissed-off Yinzers out there no doubt, haha... Seriously though, thanks for this. I had no idea that like Cincinnati, Cleveland also has abandoned subway stations!

[@angelolopresti7437]

Can you do the NJ transit heavy rail and light rail evolution?

[@hpage66]

Cleveland actually passed a bond issue for a real subway in 1953 but was never built, perhaps due to the crooked Cuyahoga County engineer, Albert S Porter.

[@jenniferburton1711]

The rapid could have so much more ridership if it was actually extended East and west to reach suburbs the lines end in useless areas

[@davidpanton3192]

UK here. Windermere is a lake - that's what 'mere' means. Odd that the Cleveland one isn't even on the water!

[@jimpern]

You show the 66 line and the Heath Line remaining apart east of downtown, but the "official" map you show at 6:58 shows them coming together at Louis Stokes-Windermere. What's the story?

[@kdwaynec]

The 66 runs on rails and Windermere is the final stop. The Healthline runs on the street and turns around at the Windermere station.

[@TheCloakedTiger]

Sure wish Rochester would build a light rail line or a BRT line

[@simmerman334]

Question, what subway system is the last video of your channel introduction? I wanna check it out. Also very informative video on cleveland- never knew the history of their transit system!

[@VanishingUnderground]

The shot at 0:44? That’s Pioneer Village station in Toronto

[@Blank00]

If RTA were to convert their Red line from a subway to a light rail line like the other lines, would train replacements and platform remodelings be all that's needed for that to heppen?

[@sygneg7348]

On second thought, why would they even do that?

[@Blank00]

Cheaper amd simpler to operate only 1 train model instead of 2

[@alexanderglazman3209]

The 5 subway Line that is an MTA New York City Subway should be an FTA New York City Subway.

[@schwenda3727]

Have Cleveland (along with Akron) area powers that be (and voters) ever considered a regional/commuter rail baseline to further compliment their existing LRT/BRT network? With branches at bare minimum to/from: >Canton >Youngstown & Sandusky (home of Cedar Point; what I hear is THE pinnacle roller coaster park around compared to even the better/most popular amusement parks) With potential to further branch out towards: >Ashtabula >Mansfield & maybe New Philadelphia among other smaller but reasonably populous cities within the edges of the Cleveland/Akron metropolitan/combined statistical area?

[@jamess8504]

Ive heard commuter rail lines to Lorian county and Akron were proposed in the past but they never seemed to get off the ground in any meaningful way. I mean it would make sense since like most suburbanites now live outside Cuyahoga county.

[@farajaraf]

I’m from Cleveland!

[@raytylicki9001]

Forgot Commuter Rail to Youngstown Oh which ran until 1976

[@davidtsvetovat9419]

Please do evolution to the San Diego trolley 🚋

[@kahengchua9894]

At 3:06 there was a station named Warrensville(Green line) and Warrensville(Blue line).Is very confusing to me!!

[@kdwaynec]

Warrensville Center Road is a major north/south street. The Green line crosses it and terminates a few stops later on Green Road. The Blue line ends at Warrensville Center. The stops are less than 1 mile apart and actually directly n/s of each other, not offset as shown on the diagram.

[@bigsqueak4086]

South Harbor is in the north?

[@danielposlet9519]

I'm a native Clevelander and even I was confused especially because that area is known as North Coast Harbor lol

[@danesmith3615]

When u gonna do los angeles

[@damon9408]

I'm in Detroit. Our public transit is a pathetic joke. We could only dream of a system like this. Good for you guys

[@alexhaowenwong6122]

I'm an American whose only visit to the Midwest was Toronto (it's a Great Lakes City and A Christmas Story was filmed there as well as in Cleveland--so Toronto is the Midwest, right?) Jokes aside, I always wonder what would have happened if Cleveland continued to grow for decades into the 21st century. At its zenith, the Greater Cleveland area in 1960 was equal to in population to the Toronto CMA area. Interestingly, both Toronto and Cleveland built their subways in the 1950s, at a time when suburban car culture was sweeping across North America. And Cleveland was the very first city in North America to have an airport rail link. If Cleveland had continued on its trajectory of postwar growth, perhaps it would have become as big as Toronto today, with a rapid transit ridership to rival the TTC.

[@rogerbaker5112]

Thats all the Great Lakes. The real Midwest is Kansas & Iowa and that is very far away.

[@AnotherChannel-wh3mf]

Dude the amount of people you are putting in a city is super low

[@demondburgess7514]

When I think of Cleveland, I think of Bone Thugs N Harmony, Not Trains! Lol

[@amiranore1707]

We don’t have a subway line

[@sallysmith2349]

If only Cleveland incentivized development around the subway lines it could be something amazing. Instead it's completely fucking wasted

[@mrrobot5963]

Agreed. Ridership is among the lowest in North America.

[@calbob750]

I’d take a ride from University Circle to Windermere Station to realize that it would take many millions to create something that would grow. University Circle area had a rebirth once millions were spent in redevelopment for college residences and those seeking housing around the college and UH medical campus.

[@qolspony]

Saddest part of this video 1:41 and 3:12. At least there is light at the end of the TUNNEL for the former street car service 4:56.

[@ketanfernandes4094]

Few thoughts: 1) As someone who’s super pro-public transportation, I’ll admit Ohio’s attitude towards public transportation is pretty unfriendly. 2). Looking at Cleveland’s public transportation versus bigger cities, there’s obviously no question that ridership dwarfs that in bigger cities unless during sports events. 3). With that in mind, if you look at Cincinnati’s or Columbus’s (a city nearing 1 MILLION), Cleveland’s public transportation is superior to the other two. The other two essentially have nothing. A major shame especially for a growing city like Columbus that actually needs a light rail (fact - Columbus is the largest US city without any passenger rail transportation). 4). Personally speaking, yes, the RTA is outdated/unclean and yes, I wish more would use it, but for me it does do its job when needed.

[@joshuafajardo5697]

🚇🚈🚌🇺🇸

[@TheBurlingtonTransitFan]

Nice! But the subways look ugly ngl...

[@danielposlet9519]

We've had a the same train cars since the mid 80s and are past their useful life. The RTA wants to upgrade but the state of Ohio doesn't fund public transit at all :(