METRO Regional Transit Authority

Last updated
METRO RTA
METRO Regional Transit Authority logo.svg
Akron METRO Gillig Advantage 2307.jpg
Founded1969 [1]
Headquarters416 Kenmore Blvd.
Locale Akron, Ohio
Service area Summit County, Ohio
Service type bus service, paratransit, express bus service
Daily ridership14,400 (weekdays, Q3 2023) [2]
Annual ridership3,673,700 (2022) [3]
Website www.yourmetrobus.org
METRO Regional Transit Authority previous logo style METRO Regional Transit Authority old logo.svg
METRO Regional Transit Authority previous logo style
Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center AkronRTA.jpg
Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center
Metro Bus lineup Metrobus in station parking lot (Akron, Ohio - 26 03 2009).jpg
Metro Bus lineup

METRO Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA), also known as Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority, is the public transit agency serving Summit County, Ohio and the city of Akron. It operates a number of local routes, and also operates one route into downtown Cleveland. [4] Akron Metro transports passengers to/from school, work, grocery stores, malls and jobs all across Summit County. METRO RTA's fleet consists of about 200+ vehicles running on diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and as of 2022/2023, two fully electric Gillig vehicles, compressed natural gas fuels. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 3,673,700, or about 14,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

Contents

Route names

Since spring 2021, Metro developed a new transit plan to improve frequency of service in the Akron and Summit County areas called “Reimagine Metro”. The plan went into effect on June 4, 2023. Here’s a list of the previous routes. Routes up to date as of 9/4/23.

Route NameTerminal 1Terminal 2viaLengthnotes
1 West MarketDowntown
Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center		 Fairlawn
Market Square at Montrose (Rothrock Rd)		West Market Street, Medina Road, Hollythorn Drive12.5 miles (20.1 km)15 Minute Frequent Service Route. Connects with Medina County Public Transit Route 18 at Rothrock Rd. Inbound trips changes to Route 2 at RKP Transit Center Monday-Saturday.
2 ArlingtonDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Green
Interstate Parkway		East Exchange Street, South Arlington Road9.1 miles (14.6 km)15 Minute Frequent Service Route. Inbound trips changes to Route 1 at RKP Transit Center Monday-Saturday.
3 Copley/BarbertonDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Barberton
2nd St & Tuscarawas Ave		Copley Road, South Hawkins Avenue, Vernon Odom, Romig Road, State Street, 5th Street, Snyder Avenue, Van Buren Avenue, Wooster Road, 2nd Street12.2 miles (19.6 km)
6 East Exchange/Canton RdDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Lakemore
Tri-County Plaza		East Market Street (OH-18), Canton Road (OH-91), Mogadore Road, High Grove Blvd, Ellet Avenue9.5 miles (15.3 km)15 Minute Frequent Service Route in conjunction with Route 19 along East Exchange Street.
8 Barberton-Norton/Wooster Norton
Norton Plaza (8N)

Norton JR Wheel (8W) Barberton 2nd St & Tuscarawas Ave (8W)

Downtown
RKP Transit Center		Wooster Road, Kenmore Blvd, Norton Avenue(8N) 9.6 miles (15.4 km)
(8W)10.8 miles (17.4 km) (To Jr Wheel)		Limited trips Monday-Saturday start/end in Barberton as the 8W.
9 East Ave/BattlesDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Rolling Acres
Romig Road Transit Center		East Avenue, Vernon Odom Blvd6.9 miles (11.1 km)
10 Howard/Portage TrailDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Cuyahoga Falls
Independence Transit Center		North Howard Street, Portage Trail10.3 miles (16.6 km)
13 Grant/Firestone ParkDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Firestone Park
Brown St & Giant Eagle 		Grant Street, Firestone Blvd, East Archwood Avenue5.7 miles (9.2 km)15 Minute Frequent Service Route.
15 Brown/InmanDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Firestone Park
Brown Street & Giant Eagle		Brown Street, Inman Street7.8 miles (12.6 km)
16 Euclid/Vernon OdomDowntown
RKP Transit Center		West Akron
South Hawkins & Diagonal		Akron General Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Vernon Odom, Diagonal4.1 miles (6.6 km)15 Minute Frequent Service Route.
19 E. Exchange/EastlandDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Cuyahoga Falls
Independence Transit Center		Eastland Avenue, East Exchange Street6.9 miles (11.1 km)15 Minute Frequent Service Route in conjunction with Route 6 along East Exchange Street.
20 Tallmadge/BrimfieldDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Brimfield
Cascade Plaza (Brimfield Walmart)		Main Street, Tallmadge Avenue, Brittain Road, Independence Transit Center, West Avenue, East Avenue10.7 miles (17.2 km)Connects with PARTA Route 90 at Brimfield Walmart & Meijer's on weekdays only. Route 20 runs 7 days
22 Howe/Stow-KentDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Stow
Target Plaza

Kent
Kent Central Gateway (service on hold)

Main Street, Glenwood, Evans, Home, Howe, Independence Transit Center, Brittain Road, Munroe Falls Avenue, Darrow Road (OH-91), Graham Road, Fishcreek Road, Kent Road (OH-59)Stow Trips

16.0 miles (25.7 km) Kent Trips 19.1 miles (30.7 km)

Connects with PARTA Route 30 from Fishcreek/Graham to Target Plaza in Stow Monday-Saturday. Service to Kent Central Gateway currently on hold. [5]
23 Goodyear Heights/GilchristDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Mogadore
Mogadore Rd & Cleveland Ave		East Market Street (OH-18), Goodyear Blvd, Eastwood Avenue, Darrow Road (OH-91), Gilchrist Road, Mogadore Road12.9 miles (20.7 km) (reroute distance)Route currently on long-term reroute using East Market, Sieberling, Brittain, & Malasia before connecting to Goodyear Blvd.
25 Kelly/TriplettDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Ellet
Akron Fulton Airport (at Triplett & Massillon)		East Thornton Street, Spicer Street, Johnston Street, Inman Street, Lovers Lane, Arlington Street, 7th Avenue, Kelly Avenue, Triplett Blvd6.4 miles

(10.3 km)

26 Delia/White PondDowntown
RKP Transit Center		Wallhaven
Summa Health White Pond Medical Center		West Exchange Street, Frank Boulevard, White Pond Road7.2 miles (11.6 km)Now provides all day 7-day service
27 West Exchange/Merriman ValleyDowntown

RKP Transit Center

Merriman Valley

Weathervane Circle

West Exchange Street, West Market Street (OH-18), Bryden, North Hawkins Avenue, Thurmont Road, Treeside Drive, Cromwell Drive, Zahn Drive, Fairfax Road, Garman Road, North Portage Path, Merriman Road, Weathervane Lane9.3 miles

(14.9 km)

29 South Main/MachesterDowntown

RKP Transit Center

Portage Lakes

Manchester Acme

South Main Street, Waterloo Road, Manchester Road, Robinson Street, Cormany Road, Carnegie Avenue, Cory AvenueOutbound Trips

6.0 miles (9.6 km) Inbound Trips 8.0 miles (12.8 km)

All inbound trips loop via Carnegie, Cory, & Waterloo.
31 Cuyahoga Falls/MacedoniaDowntown

RKP Transit Center

 Maple Heights

Southgate Transit Center Stow Gilbert & Quail Creek

Main Street, Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Front Street, 2nd Street, Graham Road, State Road, Steels Corners Road, Wyoga Lake Road, Akron-Cleveland Road, Chittenden Road, Hines Hill Road, OH-8, South Bedford Road, Aurora Road (OH-82), Olde Eight Road, Northfield Road (OH-8)Southgate Trips

31.9 miles (51.3 km) Stow Trips 8.3 miles (13.3 km)

Monday-Saturday trips operate to/from Southgate Transit Center, connecting with GCRTA 19A, 40, 41, 90, & PARTA 100. Limited weekday & all Sunday service starts/ends in Stow. One weekday trip starts/ends in Cuyahoga Falls.
32 Hudson/TwinsburgDowntown

RKP Transit Center

 Maple Heights

Southgate Transit Center

Main Street, Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Front Street, 2nd Street, Hudson Drive, Commerce Drive, Darrow Road (OH-91), Aurora Road (OH-82), Highland Road, Valley View Road, Olde Eight Road, Northfield Road (OH-8)34.1 miles

(54.8 km)

Monday-Saturday service only. Connections at Southgate Transit Center with GCRTA 19A, 40, 41, 90, & PARTA 100.
40 Manchester/West ThorntonDowntown

RKP Transit Center

Sherbondy Hill

West Thornton/La Croix

South Main Street, West Thornton Street, Russell Avenue, Rhodes Avenue, Manchester Road2.4 miles

(3.8 km)

55 Roo ExpressDowntown

RKP Transit Center

Middlebury

Butchel & Spicer

Broadway Street, High Street, East Exchange Street, Sherman Street, East Thornton Street, Brown Street, University Avenue, Fir Hill, Butchel Avenue, East Market Street (OH-18)5.7 miles

(9.1 km)

Weekday Only Service. Loop service through University of Akron.
61 Northcoast ExpressDowntown
RKP Transit Center		 Cleveland
Veterans Health Administration 		I-77, Ghent Road, Prospect Avenue, Lakeside Avenue, Euclid Avenue, East 105th Street44.6 miles (71.8 km)Weekday Limited service only
91 Kent ExpressDowntown

RKP Transit Center

 Kent

Kent Central Gateway

East Exchange Street, East Market Street, I-76, S. Water Street (OH-43), OH-261, Campus Connector Drive, Summit Street, Depeyster Street15.9 miles

(25.5 km)

Monday-Saturday service only. Service is currently on hold. [5] [6]

Facilities

Head Office

Address: 416 Kenmore Boulevard, Akron
Coordinates: 41°02′58.6″N81°32′26.8″W / 41.049611°N 81.540778°W / 41.049611; -81.540778
Facilities: Head office, administration, vehicle storage and maintenance

Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center

Address: 631 South Broadway Street, downtown Akron [7]
Coordinates: 41°04′10″N81°31′23″W / 41.06944°N 81.52306°W / 41.06944; -81.52306
Facilities: Terminus for local bus routes, suburban routes, X61 North Coast Express bus service to Cleveland, [8] intercity Greyhound services, and Stark County & Portage County connecting buses. [9] [10] Youngstown’s WRTA route 81 serves as the Akron Youngstown express
Opened: 18 January 2009

Rolling Acres Transit Center

Address: 2340 Romig Road, Akron
Facilities: Connector hub for routes 3 and 9 serving West Akron and Barberton, Ohio. This hub is in the former Rolling Acres Mall parking lot. The mall has been shut down since 2008.

Independence Transit Center (Chapel Hill)

Serving North Akron/Cuyahoga Falls and routes 10, 19, 20 & 22, "Independence Transit Center" is similar to Rolling Acres Transit Center which also has no public restroom but does have indoor waiting shelter facilities. [11]

Connecting services

METRO RTA service offers a number of connection opportunities to other area transit agencies.

GCRTA, a neighboring transit agency, provides connecting services between Cuyahoga County, Ohio (Greater Cleveland) and Akron METRO RTA. The two systems connect with two lines in Maple Heights at Southgate Transit Center (31 & 32), near the Southgate USA plaza. GCRTA does not serve METRO RTA's Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center. [12]

METRO RTA's "North Coast Express" route 61 connect with GCRTA routes in downtown Cleveland.

PARTA, a neighboring transit agency, offers services between Portage County, Ohio (Kent/Ravenna) and Akron, including service to METRO RTA's Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center (90), along with connections in Stow(30), and in Maple Heights (100). [13]

SARTA, a neighboring transit agency, operates one hourly weekday and Saturday route between Canton and Akron starting at 6:00am, 6:45am and every :45 until 8:45pm. This route, 81 Canton Akron Express, connects with METRO RTA. SARTA route 81 also serves Downtown Canton, Akron-Canton Regional Airport, Belden Village Transit Center in North Canton, Ohio, & Staples on Arlington Road in Akron from both Akron and Canton. SARTA's route services METRO RTA's Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center. Effective in 2018, SARTA also operates a direct express route in the fall and spring directly from Akron Metro Transit Center to Stark State College in North Canton Ohio. This route is named the 88 Stark State Express and runs five times a day and services Akron Metro's RKP Downtown Transit Center Stark State College and Belden Village Transit Center respectively.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton, Ohio</span> City in Ohio, United States

Canton is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio, United States. It is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) south of Cleveland and 20 miles (32 km) south of Akron in Northeast Ohio on the edge of Ohio's Amish Country. As of the 2020 census, the population of Canton was 70,872, making Canton eighth among Ohio cities in population. It is the largest municipality in the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area, which includes all of Stark and Carroll counties, and was home to 401,574 residents in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron–Canton Airport</span> Airport in Green, Ohio

Akron–Canton Airport is a commercial airport in the city of Green, in southern Summit County, Ohio. The airport is located about 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Akron and 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Canton. It is jointly operated by Summit County and Stark County. The airport is a "reliever" airport for Northeast Ohio and markets itself as "A better way to go", emphasizing the ease of travel in comparison to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Just under 90% of its traffic is general aviation. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTA Rapid Transit</span> Public transit network in Cleveland, Ohio

RTA Rapid Transit is a rapid transit and light rail system owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority</span> Public transit agency for the city and suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, USA

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is the public transit agency for Cleveland, Ohio, United States and the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, with a ridership of 19,104,900, or about 70,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, formerly known as the Miami Valley RTA, is a public transit agency that generally serves the greater Dayton, Ohio area. The GDRTA serves communities within Montgomery County and parts of Greene County, Ohio, USA. There are 18 routes. RTA operates diesel and electric trolley buses seven days a week, 21 hours a day, and provides services to many citizens within the area. RTA's current CEO is Bob Ruzinsky. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 5,656,600, or about 20,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Line (RTA Rapid Transit)</span>

The Green Line is a light rail line of the RTA Rapid Transit system in Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio, running from Tower City Center downtown, then east to Green Road near Beachwood. 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of track, including two stations, are shared with the rapid transit Red Line; the stations have low platforms for the Green Line and high platforms for the Red Line. The Green Line shares the right-of-way with the Blue Line in Cleveland, and splits off after passing through Shaker Square. All RTA light rail lines use overhead lines and pantographs to draw power.

Lorain County Transit(LCT) is the public transportation provider for Lorain County, Ohio. It is a division of the Lorain County Commissioners, and its offices are in downtown Elyria. Robert Wickens, Board Chairman in the 1970s, successfully led the effort to begin fixed route transit service in the county. The current manager of LCT is Richard Enty

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance station</span>

Alliance station is an Amtrak train station in Alliance, Ohio, United States. Located at 820 East Main Street, the station consists of an uncovered platform on the south side of the east-west tracks, with a shelter and a small parking lot nearby.

Laketran is the transit agency that serves Lake County, Ohio, the county northeast of Cleveland. It is the third-largest transit system in Northeast Ohio, serving Mentor, Painesville, Willoughby, Wickliffe. Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Madison and other Lake County destinations. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 537,000, or about 2,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stark Area Regional Transit Authority</span>

SARTA, (Stark Area Regional Transit Authority), is a public sector transit agency servicing Stark County, a county in Ohio containing Canton, Alliance, and Massillon. In addition to its regular line service within Stark County, SARTA runs one bus route (with multiple times) between Canton and downtown Akron, connecting to Akron's METRO RTA bus system and also serving the Akron-Canton Regional Airport from both cities and one route to Cleveland starting March 4, 2013. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 1,221,400, or about 5,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Lakefront Station</span> Railway station in Cleveland

Cleveland Lakefront Station is an Amtrak train station at North Coast Harbor in Cleveland, Ohio. The current station was built in 1977 to provide service to the Lake Shore Limited route, which was reinstated by Amtrak via Cleveland and Toledo in 1975. It replaced service to Cleveland Union Terminal. Lakefront Station is located in downtown Cleveland near the Lake Erie waterfront, adjacent to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway and in the immediate vicinity of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum and Cleveland Browns Stadium. The station has had little to no renovation since its opening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airport station (GCRTA)</span> Rapid transit station in Cleveland

Airport station is a station on the RTA Red Line in Cleveland, Ohio. It is the western terminus of the Red Line and is located off the lower level below the middle of the baggage claim level of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority</span> Cincinnati, Ohio area public transit operator

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is the public transport agency serving Cincinnati and its Ohio suburbs. SORTA operates Metro fixed-route buses, bus rapid transit, microtransit, and paratransit services. SORTA's headquarters are located at the Huntington Building in Cincinnati’s Central Business District. The agency is managed by CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley along with a 13-member board of trustees. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 9,664,000, or about 42,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Road station</span> Rapid transit station in Cleveland

Green Road station is a station on the Green Line of the RTA Rapid Transit in Shaker Heights, Ohio, located in the median of Shaker Boulevard at its intersection with Green Road, after which the station is named. It is the eastern terminus of the Green Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West 65th–Lorain station</span> Rapid transit station in Cleveland

West 65th–Lorain station is a station on the RTA Red Line in Cleveland, Ohio. It is located between Lorain Avenue and Madison Avenue at West 61st Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority</span>

The Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority, commonly referred to as PARTA, is a transit agency serving Portage County, Ohio. It is headquartered in Franklin Township just outside the Kent city limits. PARTA was formed in 1975 from an agreement between the city of Kent and Franklin Township and has since expanded to include routes over much of Portage County. It operates several local routes including circulator and suburban routes in Kent, and an interurban route connecting Ravenna, Kent, and Stow. PARTA also offers express routes including services into downtown Cleveland, Akron as well as weekday service to the rural Portage County communities of Windham, Garrettsville and Hiram. In addition, PARTA includes Kent State University's Campus Bus Service, which it acquired in 2004, and a dial-a-ride service. A proposed plan to acquire Lorain County Transit to serve better bus service in Lorain County. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 633,800.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron metropolitan area</span> Metropolitan area in Ohio, United States

The Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, sometimes referred to as Greater Akron, is defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget as an area consisting of two counties, Summit and Portage, in Northeast Ohio and anchored by the city of Akron. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 702,219. The Akron MSA is also part of the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 3,633,962 people as of the 2020 census, the largest metropolitan area in Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HealthLine</span> Bus rapid transit line in Cleveland, Ohio

The HealthLine is a bus rapid transit (BRT) line run by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority in Cleveland and East Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The line runs along Euclid Avenue from Public Square in downtown Cleveland to the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. It began operation on October 24, 2008. Its current name was the result of a naming rights deal with the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland. The HealthLine is denoted with a silver color and abbreviated simply as HL on most RTA publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Cleveland</span>

The transportation system of Cleveland is a network that includes several modes of transportation including sidewalks, roads, public transit, bicycle paths and regional and international airports.

References

  1. ↑ Metro's History
  2. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Akron Metro". METRO RTA.
  5. 1 2 "PARTA May 25th Board of Trustees Meeting" (PDF). partaonline.org. 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  6. ↑ "System Map (Prior to Kent Service being put on hold)" (PDF). Reimagine Metro. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  7. ↑ "Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center". METRO RTA.
  8. ↑ North Coast Express to Cleveland, Routes X61
  9. ↑ "Akron Metro Transit Center FAQs". METRO RTA.
  10. ↑ "Greyhound.com : Locations : Akron, Ohio". Greyhound Lines.
  11. ↑ "Akron Metro". METRO RTA.
  12. ↑ "Out-of-County Connections". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2009-04-10.
  13. ↑ "PARTA". Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.