Greater Cleveland RTA turns 50: A look back at the city’s long ride with public transit

Before there were buses or rapid trains, there were rails in the street — and electric lines overhead. For generations, Clevelanders have relied on public transportation to move through the city.

This year, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) marks its 50th anniversary. But the history of public transit in Cleveland goes back much further.

“Although the car had been invented the principle way to get around in the 20's and 30's was by public transportation,” said Joel Freilich, RTA’s manager of service management.

Decades ago, streetcars rattled through city streets — powered by electricity and packed with passengers. The peak came during World War II, when gas rationing made public transit essential. In 1946, Cleveland recorded 493 million transit rides. In comparison, RTA served about 25 million riders last year.

“A whole lot of the transit was on rail buried in the street,” Freilich said.

Eventually, electric streetcars gave way to gasoline-powered buses. But rail service made a comeback in the 1950s with the launch of Cleveland’s Rapid Transit trains.

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