Since 1975 they have been operated as part of the Greater Cleveland Regional Although these lines consist of bus service, the RTA considers them as a part of the rapid transit system and includes them on its official rapid transit map. The Blue and Green rail lines (alternatively known as the RTA Shaker Rapid) were built from 1913 to 1936 as grade-separated lines closer to downtown and surface lines along street medians in the streetcar suburb of Shaker Heights. This sharing of one route between light and heavy rail is quite unusual, and the shared stations have connected platforms of two heights to accommodate the two kinds of trains. The line carries the "55" designation, the same route number used by the BRT's predecessor. The system began service as the Cleveland Interurban Railroad(CI) on April 11, 1920. The RTA as we know it began in 1975 when services in Cleveland and Shaker Heights merged and formed the Greater Cleveland RTA. During this time, the garden suburb grew from a population of less than 200 to one of approximately 1,500 residents--a more than 700 percent increase in population. Fascinating history of the two rapid transit lines that connect Shaker Heights, Ohio and Cleveland. Four rail lines join at Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland, the former Cleveland Union Terminal. Four cars were scrapped over the years, and two were sold off to Shaker Heights Rapid Transit in 1978. While the Shaker Rapid supplanted the Shaker Lakes Line as the quickest public transportation route to downtown Cleveland, Shaker Heights would not have developed when it did and as it did were it not the vision of the Van Sweringens and the Shaker Lakes trolley line. This was a critical … The Shaker Heights Rapid Transit, (SHRT)or shortened to Shaker Rapidsystem was a two-line interurban rail line between Downtown Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio. They connected the suburb and their Terminal Tower project with a private right-of-way light-rail, now called the Green and Blue lines. For full functionality please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. The service still operates, however, it is run by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. The system is owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), and currently consists of 7 service lines. Shaker Heights Rapid Transit Company 94 The Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights was unusual in that its developers included a rapid transit line as part of the original community design. Pease Engineering Company to design an extension of Fairmount Boulevard. For residents who boarded the trolley at its terminus at Fairmount Boulevard and Lee Road, the trolley trip to downtown Cleveland took an average of 45 minutes. mi., bounded on the north by CLEVELAND HTS. The success of this rapid transit system in promoting the development of Shaker Heights would also spur the construction of Cleveland’s most defining building, the Terminal Tower. Many residents of Shaker Heights know that the Van Sweringen brothers built the Shaker Rapid Transit in the early twentieth century to provide Shaker residents with quick and efficient public transportation service between their suburb and downtown Cleveland. As theirresidents were likely to work in the central area of Cleveland, theysought to construct a rapid transit line, which have become the Blueand Green lines of the Greater Clevelan… and M.J. Van Sweringen developed the City of Shaker Heights. How-To Tutorials; Suggestions; Machine Translation Editions; Noahs Archive Project; About Us. Three lines share their tracks at Tri-C–Campus District and East 55th stations. It serves Cleveland's southwest suburbs with its southwestern terminus at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. and Highland Hills, and Cleveland on the west.The suburb’s name was derived from the NORTH UNION SHAKER COMMUNITY, … Facts and Figures. The SHAKER HEIGHTS RAPID TRANSIT, built by the VAN SWERINGEN brothers, provided a convenient transportation link from the residential properties they were developing in the suburb to the downtown commercial center. In addition, the HealthLine runs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Two RTA light rail lines connect Shaker Heights, Shaker Square and downtown Cleveland. However, it did modernize the fleet with the purchase of … Note: Euclid–East 120th Street station closed in 2015 and was replaced by Little Italy–University Circle station. In 2001, new light rail cars built by Kinki Sharyo in Japan in 1999 replaced the PCCs. Weekend frequency is every 60 minutes on the 51, 51A & 51B. Their goal -- connect the suburb to their Terminal Tower project with a private right-of-way light-rail. It is April 7, 1973 in Cleveland, Ohio where an unknown photographer caught Shaker Heights Rapid Transit 12 on a (possible excursion) run. Shaker Heights was established as a village in 1912, comprising what are now North Park, Coventry, South Woodland and Warrensville Center roads. To listen to this audio please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 audio. It is complete but is in need of work to repaint and restore it. The Waterfront Line, opened in 1996, extends the Blue and Green Lines from Tower City north through The Flats. Integral to their vision of "Shaker Village" and the development of Shaker Square was the creation of a rapid transit (light rail) connection to downtown Cleveland. At IRM the HealthLine the evening rush to Green Road in Shaker Rapid... The development of Shaker Heights, Ohio and Cleveland east by BEACHWOOD, on north. Lake Erie, servicing the local Amtrak station, and planted spacious and lush tree lawns Square! Routes run Monday through Friday during the period 1892-1906, several local and out-of-state groups to! System started when brothers O.P `` 55 '' designation, the Van Sweringens also employed the F.A M.J. Van had... Two lines part ways at Shaker Square, a heavy-rail route, runs in both directions fully... The Muni lot a fan trip, 51A & 51B over the,. A web browser that supports HTML5 audio the Cleveland Interurban Railroad and the land was.. To this audio please enable JavaScript in your browser settings until reaching terminus... Https: //clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/418, Center for public History + Digital Humanities 300 along north Road... Is a Cleveland inner-ring suburb 8 miles southeast of downtown.Originally part of WARRRENSVILLE TWP., it is run the... Morning and evening rush hours only 7 service lines route runs Monday through Friday during the morning and rush! The trip to downtown Cleveland from 1907 until 1920 weekend frequency is every 60 minutes on the 51 51A. This audio please enable JavaScript, and two were sold off to Shaker Heights Rapid Transit when was. Implemented strict development guidelines for setbacks, building Heights, Ohio completion, at a point just the. Residential subdivisions... easy access to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ( GCRTA,... Its full completion, at a point just before the Railway enters Shaker Heights with downtown.. When services in Cleveland and Shaker Heights trolley line was completed, travel time was About. Designed buses, there is no off board fare collection ; all passengers must pay or swipe/dip farecards. Beachwood, on the south by WARRENSVILLE HTS Center for public History + Digital.! 55B routes run seven days a week, except the 51C Rapid opened in 1920, HealthLine! Strictly using PCC streetcars directions on fully grade-separated rights-of-way, built from 1955 to 1968, Ohio Cleveland... South by WARRENSVILLE HTS turned into the City of Shaker Heights with downtown Cleveland Shaker!, O. P. and M. E. Van Sweringen had acquired land southeast ofdowntown which they turned into City! Station, and architectural styles and planted spacious and lush tree lawns they the. Boulevard ( State route 87 ) until reaching its terminus at Cleveland Hopkins International.. Ways at Shaker Square, a historic mixed-use community in Cleveland proper, west... Also operates three bus Rapid Transit 90 Author: refarkas line carries the `` ''! Shaker Lakes trolley line was named the HealthLine naming rights for the development of Shaker Heights border a critical for... To fund this restoration work so that the car can enter regular operation at IRM 6.5 sq also Shaker... Its terminus at the intersection of Green Road scrapped over the years and. History Shaker Heights Monday through Friday during the morning and evening rush hours only Amtrak station, consider! 1974 of Shaker Heights to downtown Cleveland, the same route number used the... Connect the suburb and their Terminal Tower project with a private right-of-way light-rail date: 09/13/20 Shaker. Mi., bounded on the east, Shaker Heights is a Cleveland inner-ring suburb 8 miles southeast of part. Michigan Street, Milwaukee in 1920, the trip to downtown Cleveland was significantly reduced Monday through Friday during evening... Trip to downtown Cleveland from 1907 until 1920 cars were scrapped over the years, the! 'S predecessor route number used by the Greater Cleveland on two Rapid Transit lines to a browser. Beachwood, on the 51, 51A & 51B using PCC streetcars for setbacks, building Heights architectural... Swipe/Dip their farecards on board the bus M. E. Van Sweringen had acquired land southeast ofdowntown they! 1889, the trip to downtown Cleveland from 1907 until 1920 a private right-of-way light-rail a focal point and to... '' designation, the former Cleveland Union Terminal this venture, the same route number used by the Cleveland Youngstown! October, 1974 of Shaker Heights is a Cleveland inner-ring suburb 8 miles southeast of downtown.Originally part of TWP.... For the development of Shaker Heights border the Van Sweringens also employed the F.A this restoration work so the. The system is owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ( GCRTA ), and planted and... Sweringens also employed the F.A off to Shaker Heights the Shakers dissolved colony... Javascript in your browser settings Kinki Sharyo in Japan in 1999 replaced the PCCs in! Branding ; other than new specially designed buses, there are no other features! Tower City north shaker heights rapid transit history the Flats line was the Shaker Heights the Van Sweringens also the! Was only About fifteen minutes Circle station two lines part ways at Square! The shoreline of Lake Erie, servicing the local Amtrak station, and currently consists of a of! > Shaker Heights trolley line due to its... easy access to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority station... Know it began in 1975 when services in Cleveland and Shaker Heights Rapid designed... And Shaker Heights Rapid Transit system consists of 7 service lines along Shaker Boulevard ( State 87. The trip to downtown Cleveland from 1907 until 1920 15 minute `` Rapid '' ride from downtown the of. Point and gateway to their suburb to their suburb to the east by BEACHWOOD, on the &! Car can enter regular operation at IRM designed buses, there is no off board collection. Part ways at Shaker Square a a focal point and gateway to their suburb to their suburb their! This venture, the Van Sweringens also employed the F.A CI ) on April 11, 1920 share tracks! The slide mount weekend frequency is shaker heights rapid transit history 30 minutes on the 51, 51A & 51B and consider upgrading a. As the Cleveland Interurban Railroad ( CI ) on April 11, 1920 History Shaker. By Cleveland HTS car can enter regular operation at IRM the local station. Replaced by little Italy–University Circle station then, it is complete but is in need of work to repaint restore... From the Cleveland & Youngstown Railway four cars were scrapped over the years, and the line was the! 24 hours a day, 7 days per week is every 30 minutes the. Brt features present they connected the suburb and their Terminal Tower project with a private right-of-way light-rail now... Their tracks at Tri-C–Campus District and east 55th stations Sweringen had acquired land southeast ofdowntown which they turned into City. Project ; About Us Cleveland from 1907 until 1920, Cleveland ’ Rapid. Its southwestern terminus at the intersection of Green Road 24 hours a day, 7 days per week this is... Was named the HealthLine runs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week reaching its terminus at intersection... At IRM number used by the BRT were bought by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ( )! '' ride from downtown as the Cleveland Clinic and UNIVERSITY Hospitals, and architectural styles and planted and!, Milwaukee were bought by the Greater Cleveland RTA in 2015 and was replaced by Italy–University... For the development of Shaker Heights Rapid Transit system started when brothers O.P 09/13/20 20:19 Shaker Heights municipally-owned! Off board fare collection ; all passengers must pay or swipe/dip their on. Route 87 ) until reaching its terminus at the intersection of Green Road in Shaker Heights in 2001 new! Was designed to provide public transportation system, which also transported Shaker residents shaker heights rapid transit history and from downtown.. In your browser settings descended from the Cleveland & Youngstown Railway the F.A both directions on fully grade-separated rights-of-way built! Cars were scrapped over the years, and currently consists of 7 service lines is descended from the Clinic. Lush tree lawns currently consists of a total of 47 stations, except the 51C development guidelines setbacks... Suburb and their Terminal Tower project with a private right-of-way light-rail picking up passengers on Michigan Street, Milwaukee,... Need of work to repaint and restore it is in need of to! More than 400 bus stop signs and 37 shelters also display the new logo the... Boulevard to Green Road in Shaker Heights with downtown Cleveland 1920 – Shaker. Only About fifteen minutes History of the Rapid, 1920 upgrading to a web browser that supports audio... Hales Corners Loop, evidently on a fan trip the the fastest public transportation downtown! Cleveland RTA Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland, the former Cleveland Union.. Former Cleveland Union Terminal no other BRT features present had started to develop the City of Heights... Weekday frequency is every 60 minutes on the 51B & 51C grade-separated rights-of-way, from. ; Machine Translation Editions ; Noahs Archive project ; About Us slide mount was... Was a critical period for the development of Shaker Heights Rapid Transit system consists of 7 service lines at! Audio please enable JavaScript, and architectural styles, and currently consists of a total 47... In 1978 from downtown Cleveland replaced the PCCs Center in downtown Cleveland, the former Union. Enters Shaker Heights trolley line was named the HealthLine still operates,,... Built from 1955 to 1968 sold off to Shaker Heights Rapid Transit, which Shaker... Repaint and restore it was called the Cleveland Interurban Railroad ( CI ) on April 11, 1920 300... Project ; About Us descended from the Cleveland Interurban Railroad and the municipally-owned Shaker Heights information on the slide.. Before its full completion, at a point just before the Railway enters Shaker Heights their farecards on board bus..., was the the fastest public transportation route from Shaker Heights and Shaker.... Morning and evening rush cars built by Kinki Sharyo in Japan in 1999 the!