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36-488: Higbee's was founded by Edwin Converse Higbee and John G. Hower on September 10, 1860, as Higbee & Hower Dry Goods. The first day of business saw $ 100 in sales. It was reorganized as The Higbee Co. in 1902 after the death of Mr. Hower and relocated from its original Public Square location to a new five-story Playhouse Square Center store, directly across from its sworn arch-rival Halle Brothers Co. In 1929 it

72-518: A 17-day strike in July 1970. City and county leaders concluded that a regional approach was the only way to save it. A month after its formation, RTA assumed control over the suburban bus systems operated by Maple Heights , North Olmsted , Brecksville , Garfield Heights and Euclid . The RTA had to undertake a number of renovations to the rail system, as the Shaker Heights lines (renamed

108-474: A century later Public Square was the height of modernity, when in 1879 it became the first street in the world to be lit with electric street lights , arc lamps designed by Cleveland native Charles F. Brush . The square was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1975. A parking lot now faces the northwest quadrant of the square. A 12-story building, which was built on

144-577: A joint venture of Dillard's and Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. who planned to combine Higbee's with an intended acquisition of Horne's . The deal was cancelled abruptly, resulting in several years of litigation. In 1992 Dillard's bought out DeBartolo's shares and rebadged Higbee's and five of the Northern Ohio Horne's stores with its name. During the 1990s, several inner-ring stores were closed while new far-flung locations opened or expanded. The 192-foot-tall, 11-story Public Square flagship store

180-557: A maximum limit of two per car) at all times, although operators have discretion to refuse bicycles if a train is overcrowded. Bicycles are not allowed access to/from the Public Square/Tower City Station through the shopping areas of Tower City Center. However, an elevator connection is permitted between the station lobby and street level, at Prospect Avenue via the south-side doors. Bicycles are also allowed to transfer between trains at Tower City Station. There

216-624: A redesign of the square. In October 2011, Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson proposed his plan to redevelop the square, which included closing Superior Avenue and Ontario Street to create a large green space in the center. On October 23, 2014, the Cleveland Landmarks Commission approved a plan which closed Ontario Street but kept Superior Avenue open to bus traffic, and kept the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument prominent. The project began construction on March 9, 2015, and

252-559: A revised master plan, Transit 2025, in which several rail extensions, bus line improvements and transit oriented developments are discussed. RTA's major predecessor, the Cleveland Transit System , was the first transit system in the western hemisphere to provide direct rapid transit service from a city's downtown to its major airport. In 2007, RTA was named the best public transit system in North America by

288-479: A second bus rapid transit to serve the western suburbs of Cleveland as well as a larger portion of downtown, including Cleveland State University . Cleveland State purchased naming rights to the route. The line carries a "55" designation, the same bus route number used by the BRT's predecessor. All passengers must pay or swipe/dip their farecards on board the bus. Only a portion of the line along Clifton Boulevard–from

324-513: A separate streetcar system formed by the Van Sweringen brothers to serve their Shaker Heights development), which operated the two interurban light rail lines from downtown to Shaker Heights. CTS had been formed when the city of Cleveland took over the old Cleveland Railway Company . However, with Cleveland's dwindling population over the previous two decades, its revenue dwindled significantly. The problem really manifested itself with

360-593: Is no additional charge for taking bicycles on RTA. When RTA was formed, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 1% county-wide sales tax , which constitutes about 70% of its operating revenue. This funding source has helped RTA maintain a higher level of service than other transit agencies in comparable cities and it also helps RTA retain some degree of political autonomy. However, it also makes RTA unusually susceptible to economic downturns. In recent years, RTA has undertaken great efforts to improve efficiency and eliminate unnecessary costs. These efforts have included mergers with

396-580: The American Public Transportation Association , for "demonstrating achievement in efficiency and effectiveness." The GCRTA was established on December 30, 1974, and on September 5, 1975 assumed control of the Cleveland Transit System, which operated the heavy rail line from Windermere to Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the local bus systems, and Shaker Heights Rapid Transit (the descendant of

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432-635: The Connecticut Land Company . The historical center of the city's downtown, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The 9.5-acre (3.8 ha) square is centered on the former intersection of Superior Avenue and Ontario Street . Cleveland's four tallest buildings, Key Tower , Huntington , Sherwin Williams , and the Terminal Tower , face the square. Other landmarks adjacent to Public Square include

468-586: The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland . The building was again renamed, becoming the Jack Cleveland Casino and reopening on May 11, 2016 after Rock Gaming LLC took over management. Public Square, Cleveland Public Square is the central plaza of Downtown Cleveland , Ohio . Based on an 18th-century New England model, it was part of the original 1796 town plat overseen by city founder General Moses Cleaveland of

504-827: The North Coast Harbor area by 1996. Seventy-five Cleveland Transit System PCC streetcars were sold in 1952 to Toronto to be used by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The last of the Cleveland PCC models operated for 30 years in Toronto, until 1982. Cleveland Transit also sold eight Marmon-Herrington TC44 trolleybuses in 1963 to the TTC. In 2005, RTA began building a bus rapid transit line along Euclid Avenue from Public Square to University Circle and then to East Cleveland . This

540-867: The RTA ) 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, with a ridership of 22,431,500, or about 78,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. RTA owns and operates the RTA Rapid Transit rail system (called "The Rapid" by area residents), which consists of one heavy rail line (the Red Line ) and three light rail lines ( Blue , Green , Waterfront ). The bulk of RTA's service consists of buses , including regular routes, express or flyer buses, loop and paratransit buses. In December 2004, RTA adopted

576-423: The 125-foot-tall (38 m) Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and a statue of Moses Cleaveland. Public Square was part of the Connecticut Land Company 's original plan for the city, which were overseen by Moses Cleaveland in the 1790s. The square is signature of the layout for early New England towns, which Cleveland was modeled after. While it initially served as a common pasture for settlers' animals, less than

612-478: The 1855 Old Stone Church and the former Higbee's department store made famous in the 1983 film A Christmas Story , which has been occupied by the Jack Cleveland Casino since 2012. Originally designed as four separate squares bisected by Superior Avenue and Ontario Street, the square was redeveloped in 2016 by the city into a more pedestrian-friendly environment by routing most traffic around

648-676: The Ameritrust building across the square were scrapped. Other buildings that face the square include 55 Public Square (1958), 75 Public Square (1915), the Society for Savings Building (1890), Metzenbaum Courthouse (1910), the former May Company department store (1914), the Park Building (1903), and the Hotel Cleveland (1918). The demolished Cuyahoga Building (1893) and Williamson Building (1900) formerly stood on

684-587: The Blue and Green lines) had not been significantly renovated since their creation in 1920. They were largely rebuilt by 1981 and the downtown station at Cleveland Union Terminal, later renamed Tower City Center , was heavily rebuilt by 1987. In 1994, a walkway and skyway was added from the Tower City station to the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex and the Blue and Green lines were extended to

720-603: The GCRTA announced the acquisition of sixty Siemens S200 light rail vehicles to replace the system's entire existing rail fleet. Twenty-four such cars will replace the Tokyu heavy rail trains used on the Red Line , with an option to acquire 36 additional units to replace the Breda light rail vehicles used on the Blue , Green , and Waterfront lines. GCRTA's S200s will include steps at

756-535: The brand MetroHealth Line. On December 3, 2017, the rebranded MetroHealth Line began service with 20 new vehicles, fully branded with the MetroHealth logo. More than 400 bus-stop signs and 37 shelters also display the new logo along the routes. Unlike the other named lines, it features no BRT features. RTA has equipped all of its mainline buses with bicycle carriers . Each bus can carry two to three bicycles . Bicycles are also allowed on rapid transit trains (with

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792-530: The company was reorganized and flourished under their guidance for many years. The 1960s and 1970s saw the addition of several stores in suburbs as well as expansion to Akron and Canton , all under the watch of president Herbert Strawbridge , who also saw the value of giving new life to The Flats district in Downtown Cleveland . In 1984, Industrial Equity , a subsidiary of Brierly Investments , acquired Higbee's, selling it three years later to

828-541: The front right door for boarding at street-level stations on the Blue, Green, and Waterfront. Once the acquisition is approved by the GCRTA's board, S200s are expected to begin service in Cleveland in 2026. In 2023, the GCRTA bus system had a ridership of 17,707,700, or about 65,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. • 66R Red Line (during Red Line train shutdowns) • 67R Blue/Green Line (during Blue and Green Line train shutdowns) In December 2014, RTA opened

864-571: The line were purchased by the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals for twenty-five years. The BRT route, originally named the "Silver Line", which serves the two major health industry employers in Cleveland, is named the HealthLine . As sections were completed, they were opened to traffic; the entire stretch within the project area was open by October 24, 2008 as part of its grand opening October 24–26, 2008. In January 2023,

900-441: The northern and southern ends. In total, ten U.S. and state routes meet at Public Square. It is the northern terminus of SR 3 , SR 8 , and SR 43 ; the western terminus of US 322 , US 422 , SR 14 , and SR 87 ; and the northeastern terminus of US 42 . US 6 passes through the square on Superior, and US 20 enters from the west on Superior and leaves via Euclid Avenue . US 21 also terminated at Public Square until that route

936-474: The original design. These barriers were removed on March 25, 2024. An episode of NBC's American Ninja Warrior was held in Public Square and aired in July 2017 A privately operated cafe, Rebol, located in the southwestern area of Public Square, opened in July 2016. Public Square is bounded by East Roadway and West Roadway at the western and eastern ends and by Rockwell Avenue and South Roadway at

972-629: The site of 200 Public Square. Public Square is often the site of political rallies and civic functions, including a free annual Independence Day concert by the Cleveland Orchestra . At the Balloonfest '86 , close to 1.5 million balloons rose up from Public Square, engulfing the Terminal Tower and setting a world record. In collaboration with landscape architect James Corner , the city in 2009 began to explore concepts for

1008-438: The spot in 1913, was demolished in 1990 to make way for the new Ameritrust Center, an 1,197-foot (365 m) skyscraper designed by New York's Kohn Pedersen Fox . Before construction began, Ameritrust was acquired by Society Bank , which was also planning to construct and subsequently relocate to a new building on Public Square—Key Tower (formerly known as Society Center). Because Society did not need two skyscrapers, plans for

1044-536: The square. The section of Ontario Street through the square was removed, while the section of Superior Avenue was rebuilt to only allow buses with stops for multiple bus lines of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority . The northern half of the square is mostly green space and includes a statue to reformist mayor Tom L. Johnson . The southern half is mostly a paved plaza area with a cafe and water feature adjacent to

1080-569: The west shoreway. Shortly after reaching the Lakewood border, the line divides into three sub-routes: The 55 base route runs 7 days a week from early A.M. though the evening. The 55B and 55C routes run Monday through Friday during the morning and evening rush hours only. B and C also travel to the Westlake Park-n-Ride. On September 21, 2017, RTA announced a partnership with MetroHealth to sponsor routes 51, 51A, 53 and 53A under

1116-626: The western terminus of Cleveland Memorial Shoreway to Webb Road in Lakewood – includes a dedicated bus-only lane. However, the bus-only designation only applies during rush hours: with the eastbound bus-only lane active during the morning rush, and with the westbound bus-only lane active during the evening rush. All outbound trips originate from the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center near Cleveland State and travel through downtown to Public Square before entering

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1152-667: Was acquired by the Van Sweringen brothers , who moved the store to their new $ 179 million Terminal Tower complex on Public Square, partly in response to pleas from women who wished to occupy homes in their new suburb of Shaker Heights and ride the Vans' new railroads into the city for quality shopping. The store subsequently went bankrupt in 1935 as the Van Sweringen empire collapsed in the Great Depression , but thanks to store executives Charles P. Bradley and John Murphy,

1188-724: Was famous for its tenth-floor Silver Grille restaurant. It closed in January 2002. The Main Floor, second and third floors were restored in 2007 to house the new offices of the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, while the Silver Grille was restored for special events. The building was again completely remodeled in 2011 and opened on May 14, 2012 as

1224-737: Was officially opened on June 30, 2016. Public Square's development was showcased during the Cleveland Cavaliers championship parade as a welcome sight with much of the construction materials removed to display the renovation. At first, buses did not run along Superior Avenue as planned, but in order to avoid a $ 12 million repayment of grants to the Federal Transit Administration , the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority agreed to run buses along it by March 2017. The city installed jersey barriers along Superior Avenue due to fears of terrorism, contrary to

1260-636: Was originally to be a subway line running under Euclid Avenue, but the high cost of such a project caused it to be reduced in scope, resulting in the current bus rapid transit project. Vehicles operate in an exclusive center median busway from Public Square to Stokes Blvd. and transition to curbside running through University Circle to the Windermere Rapid Transit Station in East Cleveland. The vehicles are low-floor, articulated 63 feet (19 m) buses. Naming rights for

1296-533: Was truncated to Marietta in 1967. Public Square is adjacent to the Tower City transit station , served by three RTA rail lines. The HealthLine , a bus rapid transit line that travels along Euclid Avenue , terminates at Public Square. Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (officially the GCRTA , but historically and locally referred to as

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