.gif){kind=spacer}
Euclid–East 120th (RTA Rapid Transit station)
Encyclopedia
Euclid–East 120th is a station
on the RTA
Red Line
in Cleveland, Ohio
, USA. It is located along Euclid Avenue (U.S. Route 20
) at the corner of Coltman Road, near the western end of Lake View Cemetery
.
The station has the fewest passenger boardings of any station on the RTA Red Line. It receives meager use because there is little commercial or residential development around the station and no immediate parking. RTA plans to close the station and open a new station at Mayfield Road in 2010.
railroad station. The lobby building of the railroad station was located on the other side of the tracks along the south side of Euclid Avenue. That railway station was removed as part of the Cleveland Union Terminal project and replaced by the East Cleveland station adjacent to today's Superior Rapid Transit station
.
When the Cleveland Transit System Rapid Transit was constructed in the early 1950s, it used the original right-of-way
laid out for the Van Sweringen brothers
' rapid transit system in 1928. The original right-of-way included passenger tunnels and stairways at Mayfield Road (U.S. Route 322
), but CTS decided not to place a station there because the buses running on Mayfield Road were those of Redifer Bus Co., not CTS, and CTS did not want to provide an interconnection for a competing bus line.
Therefore, the Mayfield station was eliminated in favor of the Euclid-East 120th station. The station opened with the opening of the CTS Rapid Transit on the east side on March 15, 1955.
When originally opened, the entrance to the station along Euclid Avenue was in the middle of the railroad bridge over the street. The station was not very visible, and this may have contributed to its disuse. A further tunnel was constructed under the tracks to provide a more visible entrance at the east side of the bridge.
As ridership on the rapid transit system declined, RTA examined the economic viability of maintaining stations that had minimal rider counts. As few as 70 people a day used Euclid–East 120th Station, making it the least used station on the system, and a policy was proposed to allow closing the station.
The Plain Dealer endorsed the station closing as part of an overall program to control costs on the rapid transit system.
Despite protests from city and union officials, RTA adopted the policy.
However, opposition to closing the station increased,
and the station has remained open. In September 2007, RTA announced plans to begin construction of a new station at Mayfield Road (U.S. Route 322
) to replace the East 120th station.
Originally, plans called for construction to start in 2009 and be completed in 2010.
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
on the RTA
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is the public transit agency for Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, providing over 44 million trips to residents and visitors of the Cleveland area in 2010...
Red Line
Red Line (Cleveland)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line of the RTA Rapid Transit in Cleveland, Ohio, running from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport northeast to Tower City in downtown Cleveland, then east and northeast to Windermere...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, USA. It is located along Euclid Avenue (U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
) at the corner of Coltman Road, near the western end of Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery is located on the east side of the City of Cleveland, Ohio, along the East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights borders. There are over 104,000 people buried at Lake View, with more than 700 burials each year. There are remaining for future development. Known locally as "Cleveland's...
.
The station has the fewest passenger boardings of any station on the RTA Red Line. It receives meager use because there is little commercial or residential development around the station and no immediate parking. RTA plans to close the station and open a new station at Mayfield Road in 2010.
Notable places nearby
- Lake View CemeteryLake View CemeteryLake View Cemetery is located on the east side of the City of Cleveland, Ohio, along the East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights borders. There are over 104,000 people buried at Lake View, with more than 700 burials each year. There are remaining for future development. Known locally as "Cleveland's...
- Little Italy
- Case Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
(northern campus)
History
The station is near the site of the old Nickel PlateNew York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
railroad station. The lobby building of the railroad station was located on the other side of the tracks along the south side of Euclid Avenue. That railway station was removed as part of the Cleveland Union Terminal project and replaced by the East Cleveland station adjacent to today's Superior Rapid Transit station
Superior (RTA Rapid Transit station)
Superior is a station on the RTA Red Line in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It is located on Superior Avenue at the intersection of Emily Street, approximately 1½ blocks west of Euclid Avenue...
.
When the Cleveland Transit System Rapid Transit was constructed in the early 1950s, it used the original right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
laid out for the Van Sweringen brothers
Van Sweringen brothers
Oris Paxton Van Sweringen and Mantis James Van Sweringen were brothers who became railroad barons in order to develop Shaker Heights, Ohio. They are better known as O.P. Van Sweringen and M.J. Van Sweringen, or by their collective nickname, the Vans...
' rapid transit system in 1928. The original right-of-way included passenger tunnels and stairways at Mayfield Road (U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322 is a long, east–west United States Highway, traversing Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The road is a spur of U.S. Route 22 and one of the original highways from 1926...
), but CTS decided not to place a station there because the buses running on Mayfield Road were those of Redifer Bus Co., not CTS, and CTS did not want to provide an interconnection for a competing bus line.
Therefore, the Mayfield station was eliminated in favor of the Euclid-East 120th station. The station opened with the opening of the CTS Rapid Transit on the east side on March 15, 1955.
When originally opened, the entrance to the station along Euclid Avenue was in the middle of the railroad bridge over the street. The station was not very visible, and this may have contributed to its disuse. A further tunnel was constructed under the tracks to provide a more visible entrance at the east side of the bridge.
As ridership on the rapid transit system declined, RTA examined the economic viability of maintaining stations that had minimal rider counts. As few as 70 people a day used Euclid–East 120th Station, making it the least used station on the system, and a policy was proposed to allow closing the station.
The Plain Dealer endorsed the station closing as part of an overall program to control costs on the rapid transit system.
Despite protests from city and union officials, RTA adopted the policy.
However, opposition to closing the station increased,
and the station has remained open. In September 2007, RTA announced plans to begin construction of a new station at Mayfield Road (U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322 is a long, east–west United States Highway, traversing Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The road is a spur of U.S. Route 22 and one of the original highways from 1926...
) to replace the East 120th station.
Originally, plans called for construction to start in 2009 and be completed in 2010.