CLEVELAND, Ohio -- RTA has an answer for white-knuckled citizens gridlocked by

and orange barrels downtown: Captain RTA.

A man wearing a Captain America suit will hand out free, one-day passes along the Detroit-Superior (Veterans Memorial) Bridge during the Tuesday morning rush hour.

Those stuck in traffic will hear the launch of a radio campaign too.

RTA Radio Ad Captain RTA will hand out free, one-day passes during the Tuesday morning rush hour.

The stunt, devised by the

and its advertising agency,

, seeks to pump ridership of RTA rails and buses as an alternative to cars.

Driving is hellish these days in and around downtown. On Friday, the West Shoreway closed for two weeks for the filming of

'

That's on top of repaving in the Warehouse District and road work on Ontario and East Ninth streets.

Captain RTA

Brokaw staff got snagged in hourlong traffic tie-ups Friday, said spokesman John McCauley. Thus inspired, they gathered with RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese and Marketing Director Stephen Bitto Friday afternoon to brainstorm ways to capitalize on the city's ongoing "carmageddon.''

Tuesday's four- to six-person team will hand out thousands of free, one-day passes, good for a ride on the rail or an express bus, McCauley said. (An all-day fare is $5.) They'll hand out passes to traffic stopped at the Detroit-Superior bridge, McCauley said.

"Right now, it's mainly people coming from the West Side who are suffering the most and trying to find another way,'' McCauley said. "They are coming off the Detroit-Superior Bridge and seeing the bottleneck.''

RTA and Brokaw have moved quickly before to capitalize on drivers' pain. Back in 2008, RTA handed out thousands of free passes when gas prices spiked. Ridership rose. Overall, RTA rides on buses, trains and trolleys has been rising for more than a year.

Brokaw's press release sounded a Captain America theme.

"The filming of Captain America has created monumental traffic tie ups in Downtown Cleveland, with commuters calling for their own superhero to avenge this dastardly driving dilemma,'' the release reads. "Captain RTA has heard their cries for help and will be on the ground starting tomorrow to make things right. He will be handing out FREE RTA Passes, perfect for trading in the road for the rail as the best way into town. He will be joined by superhero street teams from RTA—all this, to help commuters overcome evil traffic gridlock.''

McCauley said the Capt. RTA street team plans to hit other bottlenecks through the week.

They'll have the ear of hard-core car commuters like Lisa Empkey, 44, of Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood.

The West Shoreway closing has made for a “miserable’’ commute, said Empkey, who works at East 12th Street and Superior Avenue.BR>

“I’m 44 and have worked downtown for 22 years and have never encountered anything like this,’’ Empkey said.

"I dread driving home tonight,'' she said.

She’s ready to try RTA’s rapid line, “which would floor anyone who knows me,’’ Empkey said.