3-C Crossroads: Urban Exploring With Transit
3-C Crossroads: Urban Exploring With Transit
By Giles Kennedy
Family and Travel Columnist
Hate traffic; want low cost to free parking and explore Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati?
Look no further than the the Greater Cleveland RTA’s Rail Service, Columbus’ COTA C-Max Express Bus service and the City of Cincinnati’s Connector Streetcar lines/
Let’s start with the only city in the state of Ohio that offers light/heavy rail transit service for more than 50 years.
The Greater Cleveland RTA Rail Lines
Did you know you can get a “tourist” Cleveland RTA Pass for just $5?
I normally park and ride at the Brookpark RTA Station; near the Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
Park and Ride lots at stations offer free parking.
https://www.riderta.com/routes/rail
Bit of a downside..all RTA Rail Service is suspended due to rebuilding and maintenance until late July- early August
2025.
However, from the Brookpark RTA station and several other key Park and Ride Stations; free shuttle service to key points of the city are being offered.
See Greater Cleveland RTA’s website for details.
With the recent reboot of Superman, DC Studios filmed many of the scenes in Downtown Cleveland. This included Public Square, the Leader Building, portions of the Flats and Playhouse Square.
(There will be a more in depth exploring Downtown Cleveland article; there is so much to see and do!)
If visiting Cleveland for the day; any RTA ticket kiosk or sales outlets can dispense these passes.
If visiting longer for such as checking out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Zoo, the Great Lakes Science Center and many other attractions; you can get a Cleveland 5-Day pass for just $10.
See our previous visits to said attractions in these articles
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/exploring-clevelands-natural-and-food-sights
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/exploring-clevelands-lakefront
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/3-c-crossroads-zoo-adventures-along-the-3-c-corridor
Let’s head south to an innovative and cost effective way to explore Columbus.
The COTA C-MAX line was a ground breaker for later Bus Rapid Transit lines coming in 2027-28.
https://www.cota.com/services/cmax/
The larger CMAX station stops have nearby free parking. Some lots near downtown offer paid parking garages and lots.
The service started in 2018. Ridership has grown for commuters and visitors alike. With more comfortable seats, select stops between Westerville and Downtown Columbus, plus charging ports for devices.
Day passes go from $4.50; and like its counterpart in Cleveland, you can pay by a physical paper pass at select vendors. You also can use the Transit app; a world wide transit source for transit systems across the world.
We have featured many places to explore in Columbus before. Here are some you might want to check out.
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/crossroads-travels-revisited
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/exploring-downtown-columbus
Heading south to Cincinnati; many Cincinnati attractions line the City of Cincinnati Streetcar line aka the Connector.
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar/
Even if you have to pay for parking; the Connector service is fare free due to a benevolent group of donors financing the line.
A YouTube video from Crossroads OVR; gives a thorough tour of the line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2D7YCOLITM&t=814s
We have been to Cincinnati dozens of times. We hope to visit the Samuel Adams Taproom and other lesser known haunts in the future.
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/queen-city-crossroads-revisited
https://www.columbus-wired.com/post/cincinnati-hidden-gems-of-the-queen-city
Summer is here. Life is an adventure; get out there and live it!
