Cleveland, OH - The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is partnering with Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland to provide All Day passes good for a free ride on bus, rail and paratransit to the Wolstein Center and vaccination sites throughout the county.
Thanks to a $773,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s "Rides to Community Immunity" program, RTA is able to provide All Day passes between March 17 and May 8, which will be distributed through hundreds of Cuyahoga County and City of Cleveland social service agencies and community centers. The grant will also make it possible for RTA to provide free shuttle service to parking lots near the Wolstein Center.
Free rides are available with an All Day pass only obtained through the County. RTA is not distributing the passes. For information on obtaining a free pass to a vaccination center, contact the United Way’s 211 line or visit the Cuyhoga County website.
Last week, Governor DeWine announced that the Wolstein Center would be used to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine from 8 a .m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
“RTA has ample service to the Wolstein Center, every day and all day. With more than 50+ bus routes and three rail lines, RTA makes it easy for customers to get to many of the vaccination centers across the county,” said RTA’s CEO and General Manger, India Birdsong. "We are pleased to work in concert with Cuyahoga County and City of Cleveland to distribute All Day passes to anyone who makes an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination during the promotional period."
ODOT’s "Rides to Community Immunity Program" will also help fund free paratransit services on RTA, said RTA Board of Trustees Vice President Charles Lucas. "For those who rely on us the most, we are pleased that we can make paratransit rides free to any vaccination site." Only existing paratransit customers are eligible for the free rides. To obtain a free paratransit ride, paratransit customers must schedule their vaccination between March 17 and May 8.
For those choosing to drive to the Wolstein Center, RTA is providing free shuttle service from five parking lots south of the Wolstein Center. The Ohio National Guard is overseeing the parking services, and the RTA shuttles will operate every 15 minutes.
RTA is encouraging customers to access the trip planning information on RTA’s website when they are making their appointment at any of a vaccination sites throughout the county.
"Throughout the pandemic the health and safety of our passengers has been a priority," Birdsong said. "We are proud to be an essential service and an integral part of helping the community access the vaccination sites throughout the County."
Photo courtesy of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
(Copyright, iHeartMedia, 2021)
Listen to WTAM news at the top and bottom of the hour