Waterfront Line

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title: "Waterfront Line" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["waterfront-line-(rta-rapid-transit)", "light-rail-in-ohio", "standard-gauge-railways-in-the-united-states", "600-v-dc-railway-electrification", "railway-lines-opened-in-1996", "1996-establishments-in-ohio"] description: "Light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfront_Line" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rail line"]

Field	Value
name	Waterfront Line
color
color2
image	RTA Green Line train.png
image_width	300px
caption	A Waterfront Line train approaching Settlers Landing
type	Light rail/Tram
system	RTA Rapid Transit
locale	Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
start	South Harbor
end	Tower City
stations	7
open	July 10, 1996
close	October 26, 2020
reopen	September 10, 2023
elevation
map	{{switcher
{{maplink-road	from
::

| name = Waterfront Line | color = | color2 = | image = RTA Green Line train.png | image_width = 300px | caption = A Waterfront Line train approaching Settlers Landing | type = Light rail/Tram | system = RTA Rapid Transit | status = | locale = Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio | start = South Harbor | end = Tower City | stations = 7 | open = July 10, 1996 | close = October 26, 2020 | reopen = September 10, 2023 | speed = | elevation = | map = {{switcher | Waterfront Line highlighted in blue-green |Show interactive map | |Show diagram map

The Waterfront Line is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then north and northeast to station, adjacent to the Cleveland Municipal Parking Lot. The Waterfront Line is the newest rail line in Cleveland, having opened in 1996. The 2.2 mile (3.5 km) line is unique in that it is an extension of the Blue and Green lines, but has its own naming designation. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power. Due to safety concerns, the line was closed from 2021-2023, but has since been re-opened, providing service on weekends, holidays, and for special events.

History

The line opened on July 10, 1996, coinciding with Cleveland's bicentennial celebration which took place later in the year. The line had a total cost of $70.9 million and was funded by a combination of bonds, grant money from the Ohio Department of Transportation, and local RTA funding. Plans called for opening in time for the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. On September 10, 2023, rail service resumed on the Waterfront Line.

Route description

From South Harbor, the lines extends generally west-southwest adjacent to the former New York Central Railroad tracks, now owned by Norfolk Southern. Notable destinations along the line include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium. Trains will stop at Amtrak's Cleveland Lakefront Station upon request.

The line continues along an elevated loop, allowing it to turn from west-southwest to south-southeast, cross over the Norfolk Southern tracks and travel along the east bank of The Flats. The route passes through three grade crossings.

The line then turns east and climbs up from The Flats in two cuts on either side of the Red Line. It merges onto the Red Line tracks and travels through . Through service between the Waterfront Line and the Blue and Green Lines is provided at Tower City.

From April 2010 through May 2013, RTA completely eliminated weekday regularly scheduled Waterfront Line service due to low ridership and trains ran on the line only on weekends and for special events. Though seven-day-a-week service on the line was restored, a number of trains continue to use Tower City as a western terminus.

Tower City is the major station on all RTA Rapid Transit lines. It is the main station serving downtown Cleveland and it provides a convenient transfer point between the Red Line and the Blue and Green Lines.

Service

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/North_coast_station_turnstiles.png" caption="[[East 9th–North Coast station]] turnstiles in 2017"] ::

As of August 2024, the line provides service on weekends and holidays, and for some special events.

Rail replacement bus

During rail shutdowns, RTA uses replacement buses signed as route 67R. These shuttle buses run between Tower City and South Harbor on surface streets.

Stations

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Settlers_Landing_Cleveland_RTA_station_1.jpg" caption="Platform at Settlers Landing"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/CLE_Amtrak_(2018).jpg" caption="Riders may use the flag stop at [[Cleveland Lakefront Station]], but [[Amtrak]] trains arrive in the middle of the night]]All stations are located within [[Downtown Cleveland]]."] ::

::data[format=table] | url=http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/schedule-pdfs/BlueGreenWaterfrontLine.pdf |title=Green Line (Shaker) / Blue Line (Van Aken) |date=December 15, 2013 |publisher=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority |accessdate=April 11, 2015 |location=Cleveland, Ohio}} | Date opened | Date rebuilt | Connections / notes | |---|---|---|---| | | July 10, 1996 | | | | | Laketran: 10, 11, 12 | | | | | December 1997 | Amtrak: Floridian, Lake Shore Limited | | | | August 12, 1999 | | | | | July 10, 1996 | | | | | | | | | | July 20, 1930 | December 17, 1990 | RTA Rapid Transit:
RTA BRT: HealthLine RTA Bus: 1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 14, 14A, 15, 19, 19A, 19B, 22, 25, 26, 26A, 39, 45, 51, 51A, 53, 53A, 55, 55B, 55C, 71, 77, 90, 251, B-Line Trolley Laketran: 10, 11, 12 METRO RTA: 61 PARTA: 100 SARTA: 4 | ::

References

References

1. (2012). "History of public transit in Greater Cleveland". [[Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]].
2. (15 June 2021). "Waterfront Line Construction".
3. (21 October 2020). "RTA Waterfront Line service to be suspended until spring 2021".
4. (18 September 2023). "Waterfront Line Reopens For 2023 Browns Season".
5. (December 22, 2016). "How the Waterfront Line was constructed". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.
6. (15 June 2021). "Waterfront Line Construction".
7. RTA, Greater Cleveland. (2022-08-16). "RTA Waterfront Line Bridge Update".
8. "Waterfront Line Reopens for 2023 Browns Season {{!}} rideRTA.com".
9. (December 15, 2013). "Green Line (Shaker) / Blue Line (Van Aken)". [[Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]].
10. (2012). "Major Stations". [[Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::