GCRTA
GCRTA is marking five decades of providing transportation services to Cleveland and its surrounding suburbs.
On Dec. 30, 1974, the Cleveland Transit System (CTS) changed and became known as the Greater Cleveland RTA when former Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk signed the RTA legislation. Today, GCRTA serves 150,000-200,000 customers on a typical weekday, or about 45 million rides annually, through light rail (Blue, Green and Waterfront lines), heavy rail (Red Line), bus, bus rapid transit, paratransit, and vanpool services (see map below).
The Red Line, with 40 cars, serves 18 stations on 38 miles of track from the Hopkins International Airport Station, through the Tower City Station, to the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. It operates seven days per week, with a frequency of 7-15 minutes for 20 hours per day. The Blue, Green and Waterfront lines, with 34 cars, serve 34 stations on 31 miles of track.
“For half a century, GCRTA has connected customers and communities to jobs, education, and health care, in addition to serving a multitude of neighborhoods in the Greater Cleveland area with access to special events,” GCRTA General Manager and CEO India L. Birdsong Terry said. “This is an important milestone worth celebrating in appreciation of our customers, as well as our dedicated, hard-working employees, who over the last 50 years have kept GCRTA on track in providing accessible and affordable public transportation in Ohio.”
As part of its 50th anniversary festivities, GCRTA has decorated its Main Office Building windows with commemorative anniversary posters to go along with the special GCRTA 50th anniversary banners on display in downtown Cleveland Public Square, Ontario Avenue and W.6th Street. Additionally, multiple GCRTA bus shelters throughout Cleveland will display a 50th Anniversary design while two GCRTA buses will be wrapped in a special 50th Anniversary advertisement and operate throughout GCRTA’s service area from November 2024 through June 2025. On Nov. 18, 2024, and for the next seven weeks, GCRTA will launch its 50th Anniversary/holiday social media campaign featuring GCRTA and Cleveland history trivia. Also, in November and into December, the GCRTA Holiday Community Bus will make appearances throughout the area.
Click here to learn more about the system’s history.
CTA
Following a successful pilot, CTA and the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services sign a new two-year agreement to continue outreach to those on the transit system who are unhoused and/or suffering from mental health/substance abuse issues, CTA reported Nov. 13.
CTA will allocate up to $2 million annually for outreach teams to deploy delay on the rail system, largely targeting the Red and Blue lines that operate 24/7. The outreach teams offer connections to support services, health care, and housing resources (when available), as well as “harm reduction personal care materials, and sustenance.”
According to the transit agency, there has been a “positive impact” since the pilot began in January 2023. This includes:
- More than 17,580 interactions by outreach engagement teams across the Blue and Red lines and stations with unhoused riders from the start of the pilot through September 2024.
- The connection of 104 people to housing and successfully facilitation of 240 shelter placements from the CTA Red and Blue line trains between January 2023 through September 2024.
- 20 clients were housed via an Accelerated Moving Event (AME)* on CTA in April 2024, while another 19 clients were housed through a CTA specific AME in July 2023.
- An additional 64 people who were supported by the CTA outreach teams have exited from homelessness to other stable or permanent housing destinations outside of the AME process.
“This program has quickly proven to be invaluable to not only those receiving the outreach services and care provided, but also for our riders—as it has always been our goal to provide everyone with a safe and comfortable transit riding experience,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. said. “We recognize the impact this investment is making on hundreds of people’s lives, and we are pleased to be able to continue this agreement with DFSS and help address this larger, societal issue.”
Each year, the City of Chicago conducts the Point in Time Count to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness throughout the city on a given night each January. In 2024, there were nearly 19,000 individuals counted. Among this group, more than 1,600 individuals were experiencing unsheltered homelessness—46% of which (or about 751 individuals) were counted on CTA.
* CTA explains that AMEs are “events where clients are able to complete several steps of the housing process at once, including looking at available units and filling out applications.”
MBTA
At its October 2024 Board of Directors meeting, MBTA released its Strategic Plan Update (see above) highlighting a series of “significant improvements,” the transit agency reported Nov. 13.
Among them:
- The reopening of Lynn, Ashland, and South Attleboro stations.
- Reaching new agreements for all 28 unions, “exceeding” annual hiring goals, and developing a Bus Operations Training Relief Program to schedule regular professional development for bus operators.
- Releasing the Capital Needs Assessment and funding “equitable transit access” through the new Income-Eligible Reduced Fares Program.
- Being awarded more than $616 million in federal grant funding since General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng joined MBTA in April 2023.
The Strategic Plan Update also covered:
- Infrastructural and Accessibility Improvements. MBTA reported that “major milestones include the completion of accessibility upgrades on the Green Line D Branch, making four stations fully accessible in just two weekends—well ahead of the projected nine weekends. These improvements underscore the MBTA’s efficiency in delivering high-impact projects while minimizing disruption to service.”
- Operational Efficiency and Financial Responsibility. The Strategic Plan Update “emphasized MBTA’s focus on using taxpayer dollars wisely, announcing that through strong management, the agency reduced third-party shuttle bus costs by $70 million, enabling the reallocation of funds to other critical needs,” the agency said. On the fleet side, MBTA reported that performance of Orange Line cars “continues to exceed expectations, now running over 200,000 miles between failures—far surpassing contractual requirements.” New Red Line cars are also delivering “exceptional results,” it said, “further advancing the MBTA’s goal to modernize its fleet, which in turn aims to attract even more riders.”
- Increasing Ridership and Fare Initiatives. MBTA said it has seen a “steady growth in ridership” with an increase of 25% on the Commuter Rail since July 2023. The launch of the Income-Eligible Reduced Fares Program and contactless payment options “have been well-received,” MBTA added, with more than 27,000 participants enrolled in these programs so far. The MBTA also recently deployed 16 trained Fare Engagement Representatives on the Green Line Union Square and Medford/Tufts branches who “are focused on helping riders pay the appropriate fare.”
MBTA reported that it has a number of upcoming projects that will further modernize the system, most notably the modernization of the North Station Drawbridge, a project that will improve the reliability and frequency of Commuter Rail services to the north of Boston; the South Coast Rail project, which will offer a reliable transit connection between southeastern Massachusetts and Boston; and the electrification of the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, which will improve service frequency and reduce emissions.
“The work we are doing now is the foundational work that will pave the way as we build a system for future generations,” MBTA’s Phillip Eng said. “We place great value on public feedback as it helps shape our decisions. We serve the public and our riders and we are excited about the future as we continue to improve and rebuild our transportation network, setting the stage for a stronger MBTA serving the Commonwealth for decades to come.”
“We understand that we need to not only solve the issues today but present our aspirations for the transit service we want to provide in the future,” added MBTA Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning Lynsey Heffernan.
In a related development, MBTA on Sept. 26 issued a 28-page Climate Assessment that outlines its climate mandate and achievements to date and identifies next steps for improving the transit system’s resilience and sustainability.
NJT
NJT on Nov. 13 reported being selected to receive $380,000 from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to create a transit-oriented development (TOD) master plan around Paterson station, which is on the agency’s Main-Bergen County commuter rail line. Paterson is New Jersey’s third largest city and the ninth most densely populated city of at least 50,000 residents in the United States. It is located less than 20 miles from New York City and about 30,000 residents do not have access to a private vehicle, according to the U.S. Census.
The FTA grant, NJT said, will support a study on how TOD could be used “as a tool for community revitalization through private and public sector collaboration and as a means to improve transit service as well as pedestrian, bike, and multimodal connections.” The study will also seek to identify infrastructure needs outside the scope of the Paterson station improvements, including evaluating nearby station accessibility. This would include features like traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, signage and lighting. Additionally, the study will assess the need for housing, commercial spaces and community amenities. NJT said it will partner with the City of Paterson, and community engagement will be conducted throughout the planning process.
NJT was one of 11 of grant recipients in 10 states to share the $10.5 million awarded through FTA’s Pilot Program for TOD Planning.
“NJT is grateful to the FTA for this federal grant award, which will allow us to support both economic development and improved mobility in the greater Paterson area, anchored by our Paterson station” said Kevin S. Corbett, President and CEO of NJT, which provides more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines, and through Access Link paratransit service. “This TOD study strengthens our commitment to maximizing access to public transit for all New Jerseyans.”
SFMTA
SFMTA’s has opened The Muni Store offering official merchandise to riders and fans. The online-only store features more than 30 items, including hoodies and sweatshirts, t-shirts and caps, mugs, a custom Muni puzzle, and a pillow in the shape of the Muni “worm” logo.
According to SFMTA, there are three collections: The “Classic” collection includes items with the “worm” logo; the “Vintage” collection highlights the logo and graphics of years gone by; and the “City” collection “reimagines the original ‘worm’ logo with a San Francisco twist.”
By wearing Muni gear, riders and fans are not only showing off their style, SFMTA said, but also displaying their support for San Francisco’s public transportation system. “Branded merchandise does more than just promote Muni; it builds a community,” according to SFMTA. “As an ambassador for public transit, you will increase the visibility and awareness of accessible public transit throughout our city. We hope to build a sense of belonging among riders and supporters, strengthening your emotional connection to what’s important in making San Francisco a special place.”
