RTA050

Cleveland's Regional Transit Authority (RTA) provides rides in a 458-square mile area in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area. RTA says 57.3 million passenger trips were completed in 2007, or about 200,000 every weekday. The RTA website is as easy to use as the buses and rapids. If you're new to public transportation or new to Cleveland, start with RTA's primer for new riders, available at the website. The RTAnswerline (216.621.9500) answers more than a million calls annually. (It is staffed Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 6:30pm, and Saturdays from 8am to 4pm.) Rides are inexpensive, and children under 3 ride free. If you travel RTA often, it's smart to get one of the available passes, which offer discounted rides and are easy for both riders and drivers to manage. Rapid transit is the best way to travel the corridor between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Shaker Square, and to avoid parking hassles at University Circle destinations and downtown events, including Cleveland Indians games, exhibits at The Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock Hall, and more. The rapid schedule is posted at the website. Commuters, take note: even suburban dwellers can park and ride downtown from park and ride locations from Solon to Westlake.