Cleveland RTA Adjusts Service Amid Budget Pressure
Cleveland RTA proposes eliminating B-Line trolley and cutting bus routes to address $78M shortfall
Cleveland RTA Plans $2.5M Service Cuts
Cleveland's Regional Transit Authority plans to cut several bus routes and trolley services to save $2.5 million annually, officials said. The proposed reductions would eliminate the B-Line downtown trolley and scale back the Waterfront Line to special events only, along with reducing frequency on multiple bus routes. RTA officials said the changes address a $78 million budget shortfall driven by employee medical insurance costs that jumped from $34 million in 2024 to $56 million in 2026.
Budget Crisis Drives Proposed Reductions
The service modifications stem from rapidly escalating healthcare expenses that've strained RTA's budget, according to agency officials. The proposed cuts would result in about a 3% reduction in overall service, RTA officials stated. The B-Line downtown trolley currently averages only 3.3 riders per trip, while the Waterfront Line averages less than one rider per direction per day on non-event days, making them primary targets for elimination or reduction. Transit agencies typically review underperforming routes when facing budget constraints, prioritizing resources for higher-ridership services.
Multiple Routes Face Frequency Cuts
The proposed changes include decreasing weekday frequency on Route 78 (West 117th-Puritas) and Route 86 (Rocky River Dr.-Bagley), officials said. Weekend service would be reduced on Routes 3 (Superior) and 10 (East 105-Lakeshore). The agency also plans to discontinue the 19B Broadway Fargo branch entirely and realign Route 77 (Brecksville). RTA officials didn't provide specific details about how much frequency would be reduced on affected routes or what the new schedules would look like.
Decision Timeline and Public Input
RTA held three public hearings on April 13, 15, and 16, 2026, at their main office at 1240 West 6th Street in Cleveland. The public comment period closes April 27, 2026, with a final decision expected May 7, 2026. If approved, the service changes would take effect August 16, 2026. Transit advocacy group Clevelanders for Public Transit organized a rally and march to protest the cuts, with co-chair Jenna Thomas expressing concerns that the reductions would disproportionately affect low-income riders and communities dependent on public transportation.
Rider Impact and Long-Term Funding
The proposed cuts would affect riders who depend on the eliminated and reduced routes, particularly those using weekend service and the downtown trolley connections. RTA officials stated they don't anticipate layoffs from the service reductions. The agency is also discussing the possibility of seeking a sales tax increase to address long-term funding issues, though no decision has been made yet. Riders can track real-time service updates and plan alternative routes using Moovit's trip planning tools for Cleveland's transit system.
