Waterfront Line

Light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system

Waterfront Line

A Waterfront Line train approaching Settlers Landing

Overview
Locale| Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Termini|

* South Harbor
* Tower City

Stations| 7
Service
Type| Light rail/Tram
System| RTA Rapid Transit
History
Opened| July 10, 1996[1]
Closed| October 26, 2020[2][3]
Reopened| September 10, 2023[4]

Route map

Waterfront Line highlighted in blue-green

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Legend

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Cleveland Terminal Subdivision

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|  | South Harbor
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|  | East 9th–North Coast
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|  | Amtrak

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|  | West 3rd–Stadium
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Cleveland Terminal Subdivision

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|  | Flats East Bank
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|  | Settlers Landing
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Red to Airport

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|  | Tower City
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Red to Windermere

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Blue Green to Shaker Heights

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The Waterfront Line is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then north and northeast to South Harbor station, adjacent to the Cleveland Municipal Parking Lot. The Waterfront Line is the newest rail line in Cleveland, having opened in 1996. The 2.2 mile (3.5 km) line is unique in that it is an extension of the Blue and Green lines, but has its own naming designation. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power. Due to safety concerns, the line was closed from 2021-2023, but has since been re-opened, providing service on weekends, holidays, and for special events.

## History

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The line opened on July 10, 1996, coinciding with Cleveland's bicentennial celebration which took place later in the year.[5] The line had a total cost of $70.9 million and was funded by a combination of bonds, grant money from the Ohio Department of Transportation, and local RTA funding.[5] Service on the Waterfront Line was suspended indefinitely in 2021, after previously being suspended in October 2020.[6][3] Plans called for opening in time for the 2023 Cleveland Browns season.[7] On September 10, 2023, rail service resumed on the Waterfront Line.[8]

## Route description

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From South Harbor, the lines extends generally west-southwest adjacent to the former New York Central Railroad tracks, now owned by Norfolk Southern. Notable destinations along the line include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium. Trains will stop at Amtrak's Cleveland Lakefront Station upon request.

The line continues along an elevated loop, allowing it to turn from west-southwest to south-southeast, cross over the Norfolk Southern tracks and travel along the east bank of The Flats. The route passes through three grade crossings.

The line then turns east and climbs up from The Flats in two cuts on either side of the Red Line. It merges onto the Red Line tracks and travels through Tower City. Through service between the Waterfront Line and the Blue and Green Lines is provided at Tower City.

From April 2010 through May 2013, RTA completely eliminated weekday regularly scheduled Waterfront Line service due to low ridership and trains ran on the line only on weekends and for special events. Though seven-day-a-week service on the line was restored, a number of trains continue to use Tower City as a western terminus.

Tower City is the major station on all RTA Rapid Transit lines. It is the main station serving downtown Cleveland and it provides a convenient transfer point between the Red Line and the Blue and Green Lines.

## Service

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East 9th–North Coast station turnstiles in 2017

As of August 2024, the line provides service on weekends and holidays, and for some special events.

### Rail replacement bus

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During rail shutdowns, RTA uses replacement buses signed as route 67R. These shuttle buses run between Tower City and South Harbor on surface streets.

## Stations

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Platform at Settlers Landing Riders may use the flag stop at Cleveland Lakefront Station, but Amtrak trains arrive in the middle of the night

All stations are located within Downtown Cleveland.

Station[9][10] | Date opened  | Date rebuilt  | Connections / notes[9][10]

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|
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South Harbor | July 10, 1996[1] |  |
East 9th–North Coast |  Laketran: 10, 11, 12
Amtrak | December 1997  |  Amtrak: Floridian, Lake Shore Limited
West 3rd | August 12, 1999[1] |
Flats East Bank | July 10, 1996[1] |
Settlers Landing |
Tower City | July 20, 1930  | December 17, 1990[1] |  RTA Rapid Transit: Red Blue Green
RTA BRT: HealthLine
RTA Bus: 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, B-Line Trolley
Laketran: 10, 11, 12
METRO RTA: 61
PARTA: 100
SARTA: 4

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e "History of public transit in Greater Cleveland". Cleveland, Ohio: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
2. ^ "Waterfront Line Construction". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. June 15, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
3. ^ a b Astolfi, Courtney (October 21, 2020). "RTA Waterfront Line service to be suspended until spring 2021". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
4. ^ "Waterfront Line Reopens For 2023 Browns Season". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
5. ^ a b "How the Waterfront Line was constructed". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. December 22, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
6. ^ "Waterfront Line Construction". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. June 15, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
7. ^ RTA, Greater Cleveland (August 16, 2022). "RTA Waterfront Line Bridge Update". www.riderta.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
8. ^ "Waterfront Line Reopens for 2023 Browns Season | rideRTA.com". www.riderta.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
9. ^ a b "Green Line (Shaker) / Blue Line (Van Aken)" (PDF). Cleveland, Ohio: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. December 15, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
10. ^ a b "Major Stations". Cleveland, Ohio: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2015.

## External links

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* Routes - Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority - Rail
* Jon Bell - Cleveland, Ohio: The Waterfront Line
* Northern Ohio Railway Museum

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Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

RTA Rapid Transit (The Rapid)|

* Red Line
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* Green Line (light rail)
* Waterfront Line (light rail)

Bus rapid transit (BRT)|

* HealthLine
* Cleveland State Line

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