The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Red Line service to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Nov. 15 and announced a state grant that will allow the authority to reconstruct portion of line.
On November 15, 1968, the first rapid transit train broke through a banner stretched across the entrance to the Airport, making Cleveland the first city in the world with direct public transit rail service between a city’s Downtown district and an international airport.
Dr. Floun’say Caver, GCRTA’s interim CEO and general manager, noted that Red Line service remains a critical component to downtown economic development, as well as to the region’s travel, tourism and convention business.
The anniversary celebration was amplified by news that the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Transit awarded GCRTA an $8.68 million grant from the Ohio Transit Preservation Partnership Program. The funds will reconstruct track on the Red Line between the airport and West Park Station.
“The Red Line logged more than 6.3 million riders in 2017. No doubt that our funding partners know how valuable the Red Line is to this region, and we are always grateful for their generous support,” Caver said.
