CLEVELAND — Monday’s eclipse brought thousands of travelers to the greater Cleveland area, and parking downtown during high attendance events can be a challenge.

What You Need To Know

  • The GCRTA has now announced a new active webpage that is providing updates on their Railcar Replacement Program, which will "replace GCRTA’s 40 heavy rail cars and 34 light rail cars with 60 common railcars that can access both heavy and light rail platforms"

  • The $393 million budget also includes upgrades to infrastructure

  • According to the new site, the cost for the design and construction of each rail car sits at $5.17 million

  • The program’s estimated completion time will be in fall 2027

But many didn’t need to worry about that, as riders packed the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) train cars Monday bound for various viewing destinations around the city. Crowds of viewers were able to reach their destinations without clogging parking garages and roadways.

The GCRTA has now announced a new active webpage that is providing updates on their Railcar Replacement Program, which will "replace GCRTA’s 40 heavy rail cars and 34 light rail cars with 60 common railcars that can access both heavy and light rail platforms," according to a press release.

“Having a common railcar provides the benefits of reduced inventory and maintenance costs, streamlined mechanic and operator training, and increased rail route flexibility and customer access,” the release reads.

The $393 million budget also includes upgrades to infrastructure. These railcars are narrower, so platforms will need to be modified to accommodate them.

According to the new site, the cost for the design and construction of each rail car sits at $5.17 million. The cars will include 52 seats, four mobility parking areas and two bike racks.

According to the GCRTA, 58.5% of the funding comes from federal grants, 15.3% from the state, 20.1% from RTA and 6.1% from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA).

Siemens Mobility was chosen by the GCRTA to replace the Red Line cars, according to information posted to the new site.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided our customers the opportunity to make necessary updates to their cities’ infrastructure,” said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens Mobility Rolling Stock in North America, in a press release. “We are grateful to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for selecting us as their partner as they continue to enhance their community with reliable, safe, and sustainable transportation. With this updated fleet of LRVs we are proud to offer passengers enhanced accessibility, technology, and safety, making their daily commutes easier and more enjoyable.”

The program’s estimated completion time will be in fall 2027.

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