RTA is proposing eliminating or making significant reductions to fill a massive budget hole.
Passenger Anthony Shorter rides the 39 bus from Euclid to Downtown.
"I need this bus to go downtown so I can connect to another to go to my job in Maple Heights. If I can't get downtown, I might lose my job."
Tri-C student Sean White depends on the route to get home from college.
"If they stop it, I'll have to walk in the freezing cold everyday," he said.
Another nearby route would be extended to help riders who depended on Route 39.
RTA blames the need for cuts on declining sales tax revenue, fewer passengers and reduced state and Federal funding.
RTA General Manage Joe Calabrese spent Thursday testifying before Congress on the need for more money for operating expenses.
RTA Assistant Director of Service Management Joel Freilich helped decide what routes could face the chopping block.
"We prefer to keep people within a half mile of a bus stop. With the financial situation, we can't always do that. Part of the philosophy is to take people to a rapid station," he said.
RTA just posted placards on buses telling riders why the cuts are necessary.
Many riders don't understand the situation.
"They just raised the price to five bucks a day. They want to get rid of buses. It does not make sense," Sean White said.
There will be a series of public hearings in January to get comments about the proposed cuts.
A revised service cut plan will be made in February.
The cuts are likely to be implemented at the start of April.
RTA says it will work with individual riders to figure out alternative transportation plans after the cuts are made.
Information about possibly impacted routes, hearings and RTA's financial dilemma are its website.
WKYC-TV