![RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese with member of the board during a December meeting. [Mary Fecteau / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d8759b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1094x581+0+0/resize/840x446!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F1%2F16%2Fcalabrese_web.jpg)
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority will start cutting bus service in March, the first in a series of cost-saving measures coming over the next year.
At RTA’s board meeting Tuesday, General Manager Joe Calabrese announced reduced frequencies along 15 routes.
“We understand the need for service," said Calabrese. "We understand the pain that this may result in for some of our customers. But I assure you that as we see this with the big picture this, at this time, is what would inflict the least amount of pain.”
The changes vary, but along some routes, buses that came every 15 minutes will be 20 or 30 minutes apart.
The changes take effect March 11 and are expected to save $4 million.
Transit advocates like Gloria Aron urged the board to reconsider this cut and the ones that are coming.
“Now, cutting our resources is not the only alternative you have," said Aron.
RTA’s board could put a sales tax increase on the ballot, but have yet to start the process. Board members emphasized lobbying state legislators for increased funding.
In March, the board will consider the rest of the plan to reduce the agency’s budget by $20 million.
