RTA Cuts 40 Routes, Cleveland Commutes Face Overhaul | The Locally Times
Major lines like the Red and Blue, plus dozens of bus routes, face cuts starting April 13, 2026, forcing thousands to rethink their daily travel.
Cleveland's public transit system is about to shrink dramatically. Starting April 13, 2026, the Greater Cleveland RTA will cut service on 40 routes, fundamentally altering daily commutes and access for thousands of residents. These proposed reductions, detailed in a recent RTA posting, will impact major transit lines such as the Red Line, Blue Line, Waterfront Line, and Green Line, in addition to numerous bus routes. This extensive list includes bus lines such as St. Clair (Route 1), East 79 (Route 2), Superior (Route 3), HealthLine, Monticello (Route 7-7A), Cedar - Buckeye (Route 8), Mayfield - Hough (Route 9), East 105 - Lakeshore (Route 10), Quincy - Cedar (Route 11), Kinsman (Route 14-14A), Union - Harvard (Route 15), East 55 (Route 16), West 98 - Garfield (Route 18), Broadway (Route 19-19A-19B), Lorain (Route 22), Madison - Clark (Route 25), Detroit (Route 26-26A), Euclid (Route 28-28A), St. Clair - Babbitt (Route 31), East 200 - Green (Route 34), Lee Blvd. - East 123 (Route 35), Hayden - East 185 (Route 37), Lakeshore (Route 39), Lakeview - Lee (Route 40), Warrensville (Route 41-41F), Ridge - Fulton (Route 45), East 131 (Route 48), East 116 (Route 50), MetroHealth Line (Route 51-51A), MetroHealth Line - Broadview (Route 53-53A), Brookpark - Rockside (Route 54), Clifton (Route 55-55B-55C), Pearl - Tiedeman (Route 71), Brecksville (Route 77), West 117th - Puritas (Route 78), Warren - West 130 (Route 83), Rocky River Dr. - Bagley (Route 86), Broadway - Libby (Route 90), East 260 - Richmond (Route 94), and Strongsville Park-N-Ride (Route 251). The RTA's document does not specify the reasons for these reductions or the exact number of riders who will be impacted. ## Beyond Transit: Local Updates on Waste and Schools While transit changes loom, other local entities are also implementing significant adjustments. Chardon residents will see a new waste hauler, Dumpster Bandit LLC, take over beginning June 2, 2026. A City of Chardon posting from June 2026 revealed this transition, which followed a competitive bidding process, will reduce monthly costs for trash and recycling from $20.01 to $18.01. Trash-only service will cost $13.92 monthly. Dumpster Bandit bins are scheduled for delivery in the weeks of May 18 and May 25, 2026, ahead of the service start. Meanwhile, the Mentor Exempted Village Schools Board of Education voted to place a five-year, 4.9-mill levy on the upcoming May 2026 Primary Election ballot. ## Get Involved: Local Boards and Programs Seeking Residents Local organizations are actively seeking community involvement for various roles and programs. The Mentor Board of Education is looking for applicants for a Mentor Public Library Board of Trustees position, with a term expiring December 31, 2027, as detailed in a Mentor Exempted Village Schools posting. In Fairview Park, the city was accepting letters of interest for a vacancy on its Shade Tree Advisory Committee (STAC), with a term expiring December 31, 2028. A City of Fairview Park posting from March 10, 2026, indicated the deadline for submissions was March 27, 2026. Separately, the City of Brooklyn's Senior Grass Cutting program is currently accepting applications for its $100 service, which runs through the week of August 17, 2026. This program, open to individuals aged 65 and older or with a disability, is limited to the first 340 applications, a City of Brooklyn posting from February 26, 2026, confirmed. ## Key Questions **Which RTA routes are being cut?** The Greater Cleveland RTA's proposed service reductions, set to begin April 13, 2026, will affect 40 routes. These include major lines like the Red, Blue, Waterfront, and Green Lines, as well as numerous bus routes such as St. Clair, HealthLine, and Lorain. **When will Chardon residents see changes to their waste service?** Chardon will transition to Dumpster Bandit LLC as its new waste hauler starting June 2, 2026. New bins are scheduled for delivery in the weeks of May 18 and May 25, 2026. **What is the Mentor Schools levy for?** The five-year, 4.9-mill levy on the May 2026 Primary Election ballot for Mentor Exempted Village Schools aims to generate $13.5 million annually to support the district's general operating budget and day-to-day costs.