RTA Adding Buses to Lakewood Routes

More buses will start rolling through Lakewood on Sunday, thanks to a better financial outlook for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority in 2012.

The RTA announced that it will increase the frequency of the No. 55 bus route on Clifton Boulevard and the No. 26 route on Detroit Avenue.

Mary McCahon, the spokeswoman for RTA, said the improvements were made because of overcrowding during peak hours.

That means a bus will arrive every 10 minutes for the No. 26 route, she said, and the No. 55 will see frequency of every 10 minutes between 8:50 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

McCahon said the No. 55 route is used by students heading downtown to classes or people who begin work at 10 a.m.

“(It’s) later than our typical morning rush, but clearly a busy time for commuting between Lakewood and Cleveland,” she added.

“Adding buses and increasing frequency will benefit customers.”

McCahon also said that an additional bus on the No. 26 route will be added on Saturdays.

It’s not just Lakewood getting a boost in service.

Starting on Sunday, there will be a 4 percent increase in service on 21 bus routes in Cuyahoga County.

Joe Calabrese, RTA CEO and general manager, said in a statement that the increases come from increased ridership and sales tax figures and will decrease overcrowding and offer needed services to customers. 

“This is a great way to start the New Year,” Calabrese said. “It’s our holiday gift to our loyal riders, who stayed with us through some turbulent years. We are also looking forward to adding several new services later this year, including more frequency on rail routes.”