Three public hearings are scheduled next week for Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority riders to learn about proposed reductions to bus and rail services due in August (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Livestream, written input options available
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) has scheduled public hearings on proposed service reductions to address a financial crunch. But as NEOtrans first reported last month, those cuts will be less than transit agency officials first feared.
The GCRTA board would need to make a decision on the proposed service cuts by May 7 so bus and rail operator assignments can be organized for the changes to take effect at a target date of Aug. 16.
All of the scheduled public hearings are to be held in GCRTA’s Main Office Building at 1240 W. 6th St. in Downtown Cleveland on the following dates and times next week:
- Monday, April 13, from 5:30 – 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 15, from 12 – 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 16, from 8:30 – 10 am
Limited reductions to Cleveland-area bus and rail services are planned as the transit agency found other ways to reduce its budget in response to rising expenses (NEOtrans).
In addition to in-person participation, the public hearings will be live streamed on GCRTA’s Web page at rideRTA.com and available for replay throughout the comment period.
To submit a comment: attend a public hearing, complete the Public Hearing Comment form on GCRTA’s Proposed Service Reduction Web page, call 216-621-9500, or mail a written statement to “GCRTA Public Hearing Comment”, 1240 W. 6th St., Cleveland OH 44113.
The public comment period closes at 7 p.m. on April 27, 2026.
American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish interpretation will be available. If you require an accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact the GCRTA Office of Equal Opportunity at (216) 356-3085 or email ada-civilrights@gcrta.org at least five (5) days prior to the event.
Most bus and rail services, like the busy No. 26 route on Detroit Avenue on the city’s West Side, will not be affected by GCRTA’s proposed service reductions (NEOtrans).
For details on the proposed service reductions visit the GCRTA Proposed Service Reduction Web page which has more links to more information. The proposed service reductions are identified below:
- Weekday frequency reductions
- Bus No. 78: West 117th – Puritas from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes
- Bus No. 86: Rocky River Dr. – Bagley from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes
- Weekend frequency reductions
- Bus No. 3: Superior from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes
- Bus No. 10: East 105 – Lakeshore from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes
- Route discontinuation
- B-Line Downtown Trolley
- Bus No. 19B Broadway: Fargo branch
- Light-Rail Waterfront Line will operate for special events only
- Route realignment
- Bus No. 77: Brecksville, discontinue service west of I-77, extend service to Columbia Road business park.
Interested persons have until 7 p.m. April 26 to submit their comments, ideas and other input on GCRTA’s proposed service reductions (NEOtrans).
The countywide transit agency faces having to cut about $78 million from its $373.2 million operating budget for 2026 and in coming years to cover rising expenses, including a 24 percent increase in employee healthcare costs.
Among the cuts are a hiring freeze, eliminating 56 vacant positions, reducing travel and other expenses, plus tapping its operating reserves. And, at one point, GCRTA anticipated cutting 12 percent of bus and rail services to realize another $10 million in annual savings, said GCRTA Deputy General Manager of Finance Rajan Gautam.
But GCRTA made other changes, including ending customer Wi-Fi, eliminating a bus mechanic apprentice program, reducing diversions of operating funds to capital improvement accounts and instead issuing $35 million in debt serviced over a longer period of time to afford things like completing GCRTA’s order of 60 new railcars.
So the bus and rail service reductions are anticipated to be only a 3 percent cut, saving about $2.5 million per year, according to a presentation to the GCRTA board given two weeks ago. Fare increases were deemed counterproductive and thus not considered.
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