To improve travel times to downtown, the Vans organized the Cleveland and Youngstown Railroad. They knew that the success of their plans depended upon the availability of streetcar service to downtown Cleveland, so they persuaded the Cleveland Railway to extend its Euclid Heights trolley line along Fairmount Boulevard from Cedar Road to Lee Road, which was completed by 1907. The Van Sweringen brothers purchased the land of what is now Shaker Heights in 1906 intending to create a planned suburban community. The Moreland division of the rapid opened, along with the private right-of-way to downtownĬleveland Union Terminal opened to Shaker trains, both rail divisions were extended east to Warrensville Center RoadĪ PCC streetcar approaching Shaker Square station in 1968 Rail service was extended from Attleboro to Courtland The three routes have united under the 67 designation, which is now internal and no longer shown on official timetables. The Waterfront line was briefly designated as 67W. In the mid 2010s, the Waterfront line became a separate designation from the 67 and 67A Blue and Green lines. This remained with the opening of the Waterfront "line" extension of the Blue and Green lines. When the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit was absorbed into the RTA, The Green line held the designation of 67A. The Green Line terminates at Green Road and Shaker Boulevard. There is also a bridge at Green Road, although the station is actually just west of the bridge and only layover tracks extend beneath the bridge. The central median of Shaker Boulevard expands at Warrensville Road-it was originally planned for a high-speed parkway-and the Green Line continues along this median with Warrensville Road crossing on a bridge overhead. The station-stops east of Shaker Square are adjacent to street intersections and most comprise merely concrete platforms with simple shelters. The Green Line separates from the Blue Line just east of Shaker Square at 41☂9′02″N 81☃5′20″W / 41.483798°N 81.588824°W / 41.483798 -81.588824, with the Green Line continuing east in the median of Shaker Boulevard. The lines then rise to street level at Shaker Square.įrom Shaker Square eastward, both lines enter Shaker Heights and operate at street level with grade crossings, reflecting this portion of the lines' history as streetcar lines. Along this portion of the lines are East 79th station, Woodhill station and East 116th Station. The private right of way extends from this junction to Woodhill Road at the western end of Shaker Boulevard and then below grade through an excavated cut in the median of Shaker Boulevard to Shaker Square. A complex of tunnels existed at this junction to provide means for the Blue and Green Line trains to switch from right to left side running from East 55th to Tower City, but right side running is now used throughout the system, and the tunnels have been closed. RTA Central Rail yards and headquarters are located at the East 55th station, where trains of all rail lines are stored and serviced.Įast of East 55th, the Blue and Green Lines split from the Red Line and travel east on a separate, dedicated, grade-separated right-of-way. The shared stations have low platforms for the Blue and Green Lines directly adjacent to high platforms for the Red Line. The Tri-C–Campus District station and the East 55th station are shared by the heavy rail rapid transit Red Line and the light rail Blue and Green Lines on the same platform, an arrangement unique in North American rail transit. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power.įrom Tower City to just east of East 55th Street, the Blue and Green Lines share track with the Red Line for 2.6 miles (4.2 km) along a private right-of-way originally acquired in 1930 to bring intercity trains into Cleveland Union Terminal (the site of today's Tower City Center). The Green Line shares the right-of-way with the Blue Line in Cleveland, and splits off after passing through Shaker Square. 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of track, including two stations ( Tri-C–Campus District and East 55th), are shared with the rapid transit Red Line, the stations have low platforms for the Green Line and high platforms for the Red Line. The Green Line (formerly known as the Shaker Line) is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then east to Green Road near Beachwood.
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