The Greater Cleveland RTA (Regional Transit Authority) Rapid Transit system, known as The Rapid, is the region’s heavy and light rail network. It includes the heavy-rail Red Line (Brookpark Airport–Windermere) and three light-rail lines: Blue, Green, and the Waterfront.
The system covers about 31 km (19 mi) of heavy rail and 29 km (18 mi) of light rail. It serves Cleveland, Shaker Heights, East Cleveland, and parts of Brook Park. The Red Line began operation in 1955, the Blue and Green Lines in 1980, and the Waterfront Line in 1996.
On average, about 11,500 riders use the system each weekday (Q2 2025). Key downtown transfer points are Tower City Center, where all lines meet, and Public Square for the Red Line. The Rapid offers direct service between the airport, downtown Cleveland, Shaker Heights, and the lakefront.
Cleveland Rapid Transit Map
The RTA offers an system map (updated for 2025) showing all rail lines and connections.
The Red Line runs east–west from Cleveland Hopkins Airport through downtown Tower City to East Cleveland (Windermere). The Blue and Green Lines run east from Tower City along Shaker Boulevard, ending at Warrensville–Van Aken (Blue) and Green Road (Green). The Waterfront Line branches north from Tower City to the lakefront, serving the Seven Cents Ferry Terminal and South Harbor.
Map of Cleveland RTA Rapid Transit showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Cleveland RTA map in PDF format.
Lines and Stations
Red Line (Heavy Rail)
The Red Line has 18 stations, running from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in the west to Windermere in East Cleveland. Major stops include Brookpark (Park–n–Ride), West 25th–Ohio City (near West Side Market), Tower City (downtown hub), Tri-C–Campus District (Cuyahoga Community College), East 55th, East 105th–Quincy, Cedar–University (University Circle/Cleveland State), Little Italy–University Circle (Case Western Reserve University), Superior, and Windermere.
Notable stations: Tower City, the central transfer point for all lines, and the Airport station, located beneath the Cleveland Hopkins Terminal.
Blue Line (Light Rail, Van Aken)
The Blue Line runs from Tower City east to Warrensville–Van Aken in Shaker Heights. It shares tracks with the Green Line from Tower City through Shaker Square, then diverges southeast.
Key stations: Tower City, Tri-C, East 55th, East 79th, Buckeye–Woodhill, East 116th–St. Luke’s, Shaker Square, Drexmore, South Woodland, Southington, Onaway, Ashby, Lee–Van Aken (surface), Avalon, Kenmore, Lynnfield, Farnsleigh, and Warrensville–Van Aken (terminus).
The line serves Shaker Square shopping district and multiple stations along Shaker Boulevard.
Green Line (Light Rail, Shaker)
The Green Line runs from Tower City east to Green Road in Beachwood. It shares tracks with the Blue Line between Tower City and Shaker Square, then turns northeast.
Stations beyond Tower City, Tri-C, and East 55th include: Coventry, Southington, South Park, Lee–Shaker, Attleboro, Eaton, Courtland, Warrensville–Shaker, Belvoir, West Green, and Green Road (terminus).
The line serves Shaker Square’s shops and restaurants and ends in Beachwood, near offices and shopping areas.
Waterfront Line (Light Rail)
The Waterfront Line is a 7-station branch running from Tower City north to South Harbor at Cleveland’s shipyards.
Stations include East 9th–North Coast (near the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame), Cleveland Lakefront (Amtrak station, flag stop), West 3rd–Stadium (near Progressive Field and FirstEnergy Stadium), Flats East Bank, Settlers Landing, and South Harbor (near the municipal lot).
The line, technically an extension of the Blue and Green Lines, is the city’s only lakefront rail. It opened in 1996 and returned to weekend service on September 10, 2023.
Timetables and Schedule
RTA publishes current schedules for all rail lines. For 2025, the Red Line timetable takes effect on August 3, 2025, while the Blue, Green, and Waterfront lines follow a shared schedule effective August 17, 2025.
Trains run about every 20–30 minutes during the day, more often at peak hours, and less frequently in the evenings and on weekends. The Red Line operates daily from about 5 am to 2 am, with some earlier weekday departures. The Blue and Green Lines run from about 6 am to 11 pm. Transfers are easiest at Tower City Center, which connects all lines and downtown stops. Full timetables and live tracking are available on RTA’s website and mobile apps.
Cleveland RTA Pricing
| Fare Category | Adult | Senior / Disabled | Child (K–12) / Student | Paratransit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Single Ticket | $2.50 (≈ €2.30) | $1.25 (≈ €1.15) | $1.75 (≈ €1.60) | $2.75 (≈ €2.55) |
| 5-Trip Prepaid Card | $12.50 (≈ €11.50) | $6.25 (≈ €5.75) | $8.75 (≈ €8.05) | $13.75 (≈ €12.65) |
| 7-Day Pass | $25.00 (≈ €23.00) | $12.50 (≈ €11.50) | $12.50 (≈ €11.50) | $30.00 (≈ €27.50) |
| 1-Day Pass (All-Day) | $5.00 (≈ €4.60) | $2.50 (≈ €2.30) | $4.25 (≈ €3.90) | $7.00 (≈ €6.40) |
| Monthly Pass (30-day) | $95.00 (≈ €87.00) | $48.00 (≈ €44.00) | n/a | $110.00 (≈ €101.00) |
Seniors and riders with disabilities must show a qualifying ID. Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult. Weekly and monthly passes provide unlimited rides on all RTA buses and rail during the validity period. Special tourist passes are also available: 1-day for $5 (≈ €4.60), 2-day for $10 (≈ €9.20), and 4-day for $20 (≈ €18.40). Details on fares, passes, and mobile ticketing are on RideRTA’s website.
Connections
Red Line Stations
Airport (CLE Hopkins): Western terminal. Provides direct Red Line service downtown.
Brookpark: RTA routes 54, 78, 86 (to west side suburbs and city).
Puritas–W.150th: RTA route 78.
W. Park: RTA routes 22, 83, 86.
W.117–Madison: RTA routes 25, 78.
W. Blvd–Cudell: RTA routes 18, 26, 26A.
W.65–Lorain: RTA routes 22, 25, 71.
W.25–Ohio City: RTA routes 22, 25, 45, 51, 51A. Access to West Side Market, bars, restaurants.
Tower City (Downtown): Major transfer hub. Connections to Red, Blue, Green, Waterfront trains and numerous buses. RTA buses 1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 14, 14A, 15, 19, 19A, 19B, 22, 25, 26, 26A, 39, 45, 51, 51A, 53, 53A, 55, 55B, 55C, 71, 77, 90, 251, and the B-Line trolley all serve Tower City. Regional transit includes Laketran (10, 11, 12), METRO (Akron) 61, PARTA 100, SARTA 4. Also connects to the HealthLine BRT at Euclid Ave.
Tri-C–Campus District: RTA buses 15, 19, 19A, 19B.
E.55th: RTA bus 16. Major rail yard at station.
E.79th: RTA bus 2. New station opened 2021.
E.105th–Quincy: RTA buses 8, 10, 11. Access to University Circle area.
Cedar–University: RTA buses 11, 48, 50. Close to Cleveland State University and Ford Auditorium.
Little Italy–University Circle: RTA bus 9. Serves Case Western Reserve University, museums, hospitals.
Superior: RTA buses 3, 35, 40.
Windermere: RTA routes 3, 7, 7A, 28, 28A, 31, 35, 37, 41, 41F.
Waterfront Extension (Green/Blue Lines)
South Harbor (Seven Cents Ferry): Northern terminus. Serves municipal lot.
E.9th–North Coast: Laketran buses 10, 11, 12 (suburban East Side routes).
Amtrak (Cleveland Lakefront): Intercity rail stop for Amtrak’s Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited.
Tower City: See above (transfer hub). Beginning of the Waterfront Line.
Converging Green and Blue Lines Stations
Tower City: All rail lines and many buses.
Tri-C–Campus: Served by both Blue and Green. Same connections as Red/Blue at Tri-C.
East 55th: Shared by Red, Blue, Green. Connects with RTA bus 16.
Shaker Square: Junction for Blue and Green Lines. Nearby RTA buses 8 and 48. Historic shopping plaza with restaurants.
Green Line Stations
Lee–Shaker: RTA bus 40. Connects to Cleveland Clinic area.
Warrensville–Shaker: RTA buses 41 and 41F.
Green Road: RTA buses 34 and 94 (to Beachwood and south suburbs).
Blue Line Stations
Lee–Van Aken: RTA bus 40.
Warrensville–Van Aken: RTA buses 14, 14A (Warrensville/Union) and 41, 41F.
All listed routes are operated by Greater Cleveland RTA unless noted.
Connection with the Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is served directly by the Red Line. The Airport Station is located underground, beneath the baggage claim level.
From the station, Red Line trains reach downtown Tower City in about 15–20 minutes. Service runs roughly every 15 minutes during peak hours, with about 100 weekday departures. To get to the airport from downtown, board any eastbound Red Line train—no shuttle is needed.
As part of the airport modernization plan, a new RTA station is scheduled to open by 2029, replacing the current terminal station.
Regulations
- Conversations must not be made excessively loud to avoid discomfort to other passengers.
- Seats are for sitting. However, passengers may rest with their feet up if necessary, but must give up the extra seat if someone else needs it.
- Passengers are requested to use headphones when listening to music.
- Food and drink are allowed on board as long as they don’t cause discomfort to other passengers.
- Passengers are asked not to push others when entering or leaving the train.
- Any act of harassment, intimidation or violence against another passenger is strictly prohibited. Security staff may intervene if necessary, and may also press criminal charges.
- It’s forbidden to leave the train while it’s in motion.
- Smoking is prohibited in all trains and stations.
- Passengers are not allowed to enter areas reserved for staff and operators.
- Any passenger under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances may be removed from trains or stations by security personnel.
- The consumption of alcohol or illicit substances is prohibited on trains or in facilities.
- Unauthorised marketing or distribution of leaflets or similar materials is prohibited in stations or on trains.
Future Expansions
Several projects are planned or underway for The Rapid. RTA is replacing its aging fleet: starting in 2027, new Siemens light-rail cars—designed for both heavy and light rail—will begin service. Ongoing infrastructure upgrades include rebuilding W.117th, E.79th, and Warrensville–Van Aken stations, and replacing 16 km (10 mi) of light-rail track. A new airport station is scheduled to open in 2029 alongside the Siemens fleet rollout, modernizing both facilities and vehicles.
Longer-term proposals include possible Red Line extensions. Past studies looked at extending west from Hopkins Airport through the I-X Center to Berea. While not yet funded, RTA’s Transit 2025 plan keeps potential links to Lorain and Medina Counties as future options. National rail plans, such as the “3C+Detroit (3C+D)” corridor, would connect Cleveland to Columbus, Cincinnati, and Detroit. These intercity lines would complement local transit. Cleveland’s connectivity is also expected to improve with the new airport station and a potential Amtrak hub.
History
Cleveland’s transit history began in 1859 with streetcars. The modern RTA system took shape in the mid-20th century. The Red Line, then called CTS Rapid Transit, opened in 1955 as the first U.S. airport subway. The Blue and Green Lines, formerly Shaker Heights trolleys, began operating in their current form in 1980.
The 3.5 km (2.2 mi) Waterfront Line opened on July 10, 1996, during Cleveland’s bicentennial. More recently, infill stations were added: Little Italy–University Circle in 2015 and a rebuilt E.79th Street station in 2021. Over time, the RTA Rapid Transit system has modernized while maintaining its core downtown-to-suburb routes.
Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions
- Cleveland Hopkins Airport – Red Line terminus at Airport Station.
- West Side Market (Ohio City) – Red Line via W.25–Ohio City station.
- Downtown Tower City – central hub with transfers to all lines; access to Playhouse Square, Public Square, and downtown offices.
- University Circle – museums, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals. Served by Cedar–University and Little Italy–University Circle stations (Red Line).
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Waterfront Line via E.9th–North Coast station.
- FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland Browns) – Waterfront Line via Settlers Landing and nearby stations.
- Shaker Square – shopping and dining district on the Blue and Green Lines.
- Cleveland Museum of Art – accessible from Little Italy–University Circle station.
- Edgewater Park – near Windermere, Red Line terminus.
- Lake View Cemetery and Cedar Hill – near Superior station (Red Line).
- Cleveland State University – accessible from Tower City loop and nearby stations.
The Rapid system connects downtown attractions, University Circle’s arts and culture, suburban main streets, and the lakefront, making it practical for both daily riders and tourists.