July 18 METRO RTA committees meeting
Covered by Documenters Christina Brunson (see her notes here)
METRO RTA reported a 25.6% increase in ridership year over year through May. Members of the transportation group’s leadership team presented these findings during committee meetings held July 18 at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center in Akron.
When compared to the same time period in 2022, the increase in ridership this year is 46%.
“Several factors have contributed to recent changes,” Director of Planning Nathan Leppo told Signal Akron in an email. “The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in ridership nationwide. However, as society adapts to a new normal, transportation organizations are witnessing a gradual yet steady increase in ridership.”
Leppo also said that METRO RTA has experienced a more substantial rebound in ridership compared to the national average.
“We implemented a comprehensive network redesign about a year ago, [the culmination of] years of effort,” he said. The effort focused on core users, increasing frequency, and streamlining services.
Data shared by METRO RTA shows increases across the board for weekday trips as well as trips on Saturday and Sunday.
| Fixed route by day of the week | January 2024 | May 2024 | % increase, year over year* | % increase, January to May 2024 |
| Weekday | 13,221 | 16,595 | 37% | 26% |
| Saturday | 7,667 | 9,035 | 33% | 18% |
| Sunday | 4,046 | 5,257 | 31% | 30% |
The benefits of public transportation to a community are many, including increasing road safety, reducing gasoline usage and saving money for individuals and families, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
For example, public transportation riders can save up to $13,000 per year, based on a national study the group produced in 2023.
Other performance updates
Miles between preventable accidents was below target, the committee reported, but for the year, four of five months are near or above the 150,000-mile goal. In 2023, only two months met or exceeded the agency’s goal.
On-time performance for fixed routes (predetermined routes on a predetermined schedule) dipped to 81% in May, the lowest rate this year. January was the highest with an 84% on-time rate. May’s on-time rate was slightly higher than a year ago.
On-time performance for demand-response (SCAT, METRO Connect, Call-A-Bus) dropped to 89% last month from a high of 94% in March. May’s numbers were lower than any month in 2023, which never dipped below 90% in any single month.
See more information about each committee’s report here:
- Customer Experience and Service Performance Committee
- Internal and External Engagement
- Safety, Equity and Planning
- Finance and Technology
Other agency items
- Nearly 100 people attended a job fair in June. METRO RTA reached out to 64 people to apply for positions. They have until Aug. 2 to finish paperwork to start Aug. 12.
- METRO RTA reported 264 current employees with a target of 292 employees.
- METRO RTA is planning a “Backpack Adventure” event for Akron Public Schools’ students on Aug. 21 and 22. Students will be able to ride for free and get school supplies.
Up next
METRO RTA committees meet Aug. 15 and the full board gathers Aug. 27. The board voted to cancel the July 30 meeting. All meetings are held at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center at 631 S. Broadway St. Go here to learn more about attending the meetings, including how to attend remotely.