Greater Cleveland RTA

GCRTA honored the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Charles P. Lucas Jr. with the unveiling of a new commemorative plaque at Shaker Square Station, a place that holds special significance in the story of his service. For those who knew him well, Shaker Square was a place where you were sure to see Rev. Dr. Lucas. As a member of the GCRTA Board of Trustees from 2016–2025, he was a dedicated rider advocate who championed improvements to make the station more accessible for people with disabilities, an effort he took great pride in seeing through. His service to GCRTA reflected his unwavering belief in the dignity and value of every person. He cared deeply about riders, remained committed to improving the communities we serve and was remembered as a true champion for the community. Now, at a station he knew well and worked to improve, his plaque serves as a lasting tribute to a legacy of advocacy, service and care for others.

We are devastated and heartbroken by the passing of our treasured friend and colleague, Dr. Floun’say Caver, GCRTA Deputy General Manager of Operations.⁣ ⁣ For more than two decades, Dr. Caver served GCRTA and the Greater Cleveland community with extraordinary leadership, dedication and care. His impact on our organization, our employees, our customers and the public transportation industry is immeasurable.⁣ ⁣ Our hearts are with his wife, children, family, friends and all who knew and loved him during this incredibly difficult time.⁣ ⁣ The honor to work alongside Dr. Caver was ours. He will be missed.

Driving Connections was created to bring riders closer to the people, projects, and conversations shaping public transit in Greater Cleveland. In this snippet, GCRTA GM & CEO India L. Birdsong Terry shares how that vision came to life, from recognizing the talent within our own workforce to creating a space where those conversations can happen. The studio itself is a reflection of the people behind our service. Built by GCRTA employees, it showcases the craftsmanship, pride, and collaboration that made this project possible while making thoughtful use of existing resources. 🎙️ Watch the full episode at RideRTA.com/Podcast.

🎙️ Driving Connections is now live! We're excited to launch Driving Connections, GCRTA's new podcast designed to bring listeners closer to the people, stories, and conversations shaping public transit in Greater Cleveland. Our premiere episode, We Hear You, features GCRTA GM & CEO India L. Birdsong Terry and host Ron Allen as they introduce the podcast and explore the perspectives that inspire meaningful conversations about our transit system and the community we serve. Visit rideRTA.com/podcast to listen to Episode 1 and explore the new home for every episode of Driving Connections.

How do you create more meaningful conversations with the people you serve? For GCRTA, one answer is Driving Connections, our new podcast launching July 27. Originally shared during our recent Town Hall, this behind-the-scenes preview features GCRTA GM & CEO India L. Birdsong Terry and host Ron Allen as they discuss the vision behind the show, the importance of meeting audiences where they are, and creating a new platform to explore the topics that matter to our riders and our community. As a money handler at GCRTA, Ron brings a unique perspective to the role. Combined with his background in broadcast radio, his experience reflects the talent and diverse skill sets that exist throughout our organization, making him a natural fit to help lead these conversations. Tune in for the premiere of Driving Connections on Monday, July 27, at rideRTA.com/podcast!

Congratulations to Tony Richardson, GCRTA's Senior Manager of Service Quality, on being recognized with the COMTO Cleveland Chapter Trailblazer Award. With decades of service to public transportation, Tony has helped shape the rider experience through his leadership of our Integrated Communications Center (ICC), the team that works around the clock to support service operations, coordinate real-time response across our system, and help keep our buses and trains moving safely and reliably. Accepting the award, Tony reflected on the importance of legacy, investing in the next generation of transit professionals, and building a strong future through succession planning. Those principles continue to guide the work of his team every day. We're also proud to support COMTO Cleveland Chapter through the leadership of GCRTA employees who serve as the chapter's president and vice president, helping strengthen our industry and develop tomorrow's transportation leaders. Congratulations, Tony, on this well deserved recognition.

Discover Driving Connections!   🎙️ Launching July 27.   Driving Connections is GCRTA's new podcast, where you'll go behind the scenes of public transit and meet the riders, employees, and community partners who help keep Greater Cleveland moving. From inspiring stories to conversations about the work happening across our system, you'll discover a new side of transit and the connections that bring our community together. Stay tuned!

👏 Congratulations to Nick Miller on completing the American Public Transportation Association Emerging Leaders Program, a nationally recognized leadership development program that brings together emerging transit professionals from across North America. Over the past year, Nick collaborated with peers from transit agencies and industry partners, developed leadership skills, and helped tackle real-world challenges facing public transportation. He concluded the program by presenting a capstone project, "Every Stop Counts," at APTA's Mobility Conference. We're proud to celebrate Nick's accomplishment and grateful for the knowledge, perspectives, and connections he brings back to GCRTA as we continue serving Greater Cleveland.

Congratulations to Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas on receiving COMTO's Community Impact Trailblazer Award.   This recognition honors her advocacy for transit-dependent riders and the positive impact she continues to make throughout our region. We're proud to celebrate this recognition alongside our partners in the COMTO Cleveland Chapter and the leaders working to advance transportation across Northeast Ohio. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! https://lnkd.in/gukSj7yv