A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Blue Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Blue Line train departing Tower City station | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner |
| ||
| Locale | Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 18 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Light rail/Tram | ||
| System | RTA Rapid Transit | ||
| Operator(s) |
| ||
| History | |||
| Opened | April 11, 1920[1] | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 9.2 mi (14.8 km) | ||
| Number of tracks | 2 | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | Overhead line, 600 V DC[2] | ||
| |||
The Blue Line (formerly known as the Moreland Line and the Van Aken 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 and southeast to Warrensville Center Blvd near Chagrin Blvd. 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 Blue Line and high platforms for the Red Line. The Blue Line shares the right-of-way with the Green Line in Cleveland, and splits off after passing through Shaker Square. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power.
Route
Interurban portion
From 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 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. The shared stations have low platforms for the Blue and Green Lines directly adjacent to high platforms for the Red Line. RTA Central Rail yards and headquarters are located at the East 55th station, where trains of all rail lines are stored and serviced.
East 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. 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.
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. Along this portion of the lines are East 79th station, Woodhill station and East 116th Station. The lines then rise to street level at Shaker Square.
Suburban portion
From 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. The Blue Line separates from the Green Line just east of Shaker Square. Van Aken Boulevard branches off from Shaker Boulevard at this point and follows the Blue Line. The station-stops east of Shaker Square are adjacent to street intersections and consist mostly of concrete platforms with bus shelters. The Blue Line descends at Lee Road; an excavated cut under a bridge carrying Lee Road over the tracks. The line terminates at Warrensville Road and Van Aken Boulevard.
Service description
Hours and frequency
Blue Line trains operate every 30 minutes from approximately 4:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily.[3]
Rail Replacement Bus
During rail shutdowns, RTA uses the replacement bus designation "67R".
Rolling stock
The Blue and Green Lines use a fleet of 48 light rail vehicles (LRVs) manufactured by Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie in 1980 and 1981. Each car is 77.13 feet (23,509 mm) long, 11.32 feet (3,450 mm) high, and 9.3 feet (2,835 mm) wide and is articulated with operator cabs at each end, seating 84 passengers. The units are numbered 801–848.[4] RTA needs 17 cars to operate currently scheduled service.[5] Around 2005, RTA renovated up to 34 cars with the hope of making them last for another 15 years.
Stations
The following is the complete list of stations, from west to east.
| Station[6][7] | 
|
Date opened | Location | Connections / notes[8][6][7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower City |
|
July 20, 1930[9] | Downtown |
|
| Tri-C–Campus District |
|
Central |  RTA Rapid Transit: Green Red RTA Bus: 15, 19, 19A, 19B
| |
| East 55th |
|
April 11, 1920[9] | North Broadway | RTA Rapid Transit: Green Red RTA Bus: 16 Park and ride: 50 spaces
|
| East 79th | Kinsman | RTA Rapid Transit: Green RTA Bus: 2
| ||
| Buckeye–Woodhill |
|
Kinsman/ |
RTA Rapid Transit: Green RTA Bus: 8, 10 Park and ride: 60 spaces
| |
| East 116th–St. Luke's |
|
Woodland Hills | RTA Rapid Transit: Green RTA Bus: 50
| |
| Shaker Square |
|
Buckeye–Shaker | RTA Rapid Transit: Green RTA Bus: 8, 48
| |
| Drexmore | January 1948[9] | Park and ride: 65 spaces
| ||
| South Woodland | April 11, 1920[9] | Buckeye–Shaker/ |
Park and ride: 74 spaces
| |
| Southington | Shaker Heights | Park and ride: 25 spaces
| ||
| Onaway | Park and ride: 28 spaces
| |||
| Ashby | Park and ride: 29 spaces
| |||
| Lee–Van Aken |
|
RTA Bus: 40
| ||
| Avalon | Park and ride: 95 spaces
| |||
| Kenmore | Park and ride: 50 spaces
| |||
| Lynnfield | Park and ride: 157 spaces
| |||
| Farnsleigh |
|
July 30, 1930[9] | Park and ride: 140 spaces
| |
| Warrensville–Van Aken |
|
RTA Bus: 14, 14A, 41, 41F
|
History
| Rail service was extended from Attleboro to Courtland | The Moreland division of the rapid opened, along with the private right-of-way to downtown | Cleveland Union Terminal opened to Shaker trains, both rail divisions were extended east to Warrensville Center Road | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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