"[6] The GCRTA was established on December 30, 1974,[7] and on September 5, 1975 assumed control of the Cleveland Transit System, which operated the heavy rail line from Windermere to Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the local bus systems, and Shaker Heights Rapid Transit (the descendant of a separate streetcar system formed by the Van Sweringen brothers to serve their Shaker Heights development), which operated the two interurban light rail lines from downtown to Shaker Heights.

In 1994, a walkway and skyway was added from the Tower City station to the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex and the Blue and Green lines were extended to the North Coast Harbor area by 1996.

Naming rights for the line were purchased by the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals for twenty-five years.

[11] GCRTA's S200s will include steps at the front right door for boarding at street-level stations on the Blue, Green, and Waterfront.

Only a portion of the line along Clifton Boulevard–from the western terminus of Cleveland Memorial Shoreway to Webb Road in Lakewood– includes a dedicated bus-only lane.

All outbound trips originate from the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center near Cleveland State and travel through downtown to Public Square before entering the west shoreway.

Shortly after reaching the Lakewood border, the line divides into three sub-routes: The 55 base route runs 7 days a week from early A.M. though the evening.

However, an elevator connection is permitted between the station lobby and street level, at Prospect Avenue via the south-side doors.

When RTA was formed, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 1% county-wide sales tax, which constitutes about 70% of its operating revenue.

In recent years, RTA has undertaken great efforts to improve efficiency and eliminate unnecessary costs.

These efforts have included mergers with the two remaining autonomous transit agencies in Cuyahoga County, the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line and Maple Heights Transit, and the redesigning of its routes in the suburban areas southeast, west, and south of Cuyahoga County.