Public Transit in Lakewood#

Lakewood is served by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which operates bus routes and rapid rail service through the city. While transit access exists, coverage is uneven, and “last mile” connectivity remains a challenge.

Current Service#

Bus Routes#

Lakewood is served by six RTA bus routes:

Route	Corridor	Key Destinations
25	Madison Avenue	Lakewood Park to Parma Transit Center
26	Detroit Avenue area	Local connections
43	Local service	Neighborhood connections
55	Clifton Boulevard	Downtown Cleveland to North Olmsted (55B to Bay Village, 55C to Crocker Park)
78	Local service	Cross-city connections
83	Local service	Additional connections

Rapid Rail#

Two RTA Red Line rapid transit stations serve Lakewood residents, both on the city’s eastern border:

W. 117th Station — On the boundary with Cleveland
Triskett Station — Slightly east, providing access to the Red Line

These stations connect Lakewood to downtown Cleveland, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and other Red Line destinations.

Last Mile Challenge#

The most significant transit issue in Lakewood is the “last mile” gap — the distance between a bus or rail stop and a rider’s actual destination.

In 2024, the city hired Iteris Inc. to study options for closing this gap, using nearly $150,000 in county-awarded American Rescue Act funds. As Council President Sarah Kepple noted: “Connecting the dots between the existing broader RTA infrastructure in Lakewood is what we’ve heard from residents is needed.”

The study came roughly 15 years after the Lakewood Community Circulator was discontinued. The circulator had provided local transit connections within the city. Current options are limited to a transportation van serving senior citizens and people with disabilities.

History#

Pre-1893: Horse and Foot#

Before streetcar access, Lakewood was a rural area of farms and estates. Transportation was limited to horse-drawn vehicles and walking along Detroit Road.

1893–1916: Streetcar Era#

The streetcar system defined Lakewood’s development:

1893: Detroit Avenue line opened
1903: Clifton Boulevard line opened
1916: Madison Avenue line opened

Streetcar lines drove population growth from roughly 3,000 in 1900 to over 41,000 by 1920.

Mid-20th Century: Streetcar Removal#

Like most American cities, Cleveland’s streetcar system was dismantled in favor of buses and automobiles. The transit corridors remained as bus routes, but service levels declined over time.

2013: Enhanced Transit Environments#

RTA planned enhanced transit waiting environments for Routes 55 (Clifton) and 25 (Madison) — improvements to bus stops and shelters along these key corridors.

2024: Last Mile Study#

The city commissioned the Iteris study to evaluate local transit options, the first formal analysis of this kind since the circulator was discontinued.

Advocacy Organizations#

RTA Riders Alliance — Advocacy for improved regional transit service
Bike Lakewood — Advocates for multimodal connections including transit access
LakewoodAlive — Community development organization engaged in mobility discussions

Key Statistics#

Metric	Value	Source
RTA bus routes serving Lakewood	6	RideRTA
Nearby rapid rail stations	2 (W. 117th, Triskett)	RideRTA
Car commute share	77%	City of Lakewood
Walk/transit commute share	~10%	City of Lakewood
Last mile study funding	~$150,000	Ideastream

Last updated: February 2026