RTA to hold public hearings seeking customer feedback regarding proposed changes to service and fares

March 14, 2022

For Immediate Release

MEDIA CONTACT:  Jessica Olson (937) 425-8352, Communications Manager

(DAYTON, OHIO)… The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA), will hold public hearings to collect customer feedback regarding proposed plans to change service schedules and hours, routing, route frequencies, and fares.

The service changes align with RTA’s system redesign and long-term service planning efforts, where customer feedback was received in the development of the plans. The plans were determined based on an analysis of ridership on routes and duplicative service coverage. In addition, the proposed changes will address RTA’s current workforce shortage by improving driver schedules to facilitate RTA’s hiring efforts. While initially, the adjustments may result in more connections and longer travel times for some customers, these options impact the least amount of riders, and prepare RTA for the future to grow service as more drivers are hired.

The agency is proposing the following changes:

Service Schedule and Hour Adjustment:

All services would operate Monday through Sunday 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. This will simplify services for RTA customers and help meet the changing work schedules of riders, who are increasingly working weekend shifts and need the same transit access 7 days a week.

Route Realignments:

Routes 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 34, and 43. RTA will be looking at changes to better serve employment centers and other popular destinations. 

Route Frequencies:

The most heavily-used routes would have buses run more frequently as demand increases.

Route Eliminations:

Routes 3, 5, 23, 24, 64, 65, 66, X1A, X1B, and X5. These routes were temporarily eliminated due to COVID-19 and driver shortages. Based on the low usage of each, RTA is proposing focusing resources into more used services.

Fare Adjustments

While RTA has been offering promotional fare rates under its new fare system Tapp Pay, the RTA is looking to update its fare structure to reflect the increasing costs of providing services, while continuing to offer affordable daily and monthly caps on the rates charged.

		Current Fare Rate	Proposed Rate
Regular	Single Trip	$                       2.00	$                       2.50
	Daily Cap	$                       4.00	$                       5.00
	Monthly Cap	$                     55.00	$                     75.00
		Current Fare Rate	Proposed Rate
Reduced	Single Trip	$                       1.00	$                       1.25
	Daily Cap	$                       2.00	$                       2.50
	Monthly Cap	$                     32.00	$                     37.50
		Current Fare Rate	Proposed Rate
Paratransit	Single Trip	$                       3.50	$                       5.00
	Daily Cap	$                       7.00	$                     10.00
	Monthly Cap	$                   115.00	$                   150.00

The RTA encourages individuals, groups, agencies, and private providers of transportation to comment on the proposed changes. Those wishing to comment may do so verbally or in writing at the public hearing. The public hearing dates are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Time: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Location: Dayton Metro Library - Downtown Branch

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Dayton Metro Library - Northwest Branch

Date: Thursday, March 24, 2022

Time: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Dayton Metro Library - Miami Township Branch

Individuals unable to attend the in-person public hearings are invited to attend RTA’s virtual public hearing on Friday, March 25, 2022 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Facebook Live.

Individuals wishing to comment on the route realignments may do so using the interactive map found at this link: https://platform.remix.com/map/953ceed9?latlng=39.7339,-84.25473,9.952&public=true. Click on the “post comment” button in the top right corner, then click on the map to leave a comment. You must leave a comment, name, and email for the comment to post.

Individuals can also submit written comments via email at @email, by calling (937) 425-8339, or by mail to the Greater Dayton RTA, Attn: Planning & Service Development, 4 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402 on or before 5 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2022 and will be made part of the official record of the public hearing process.