To make the most of its resources and better connect a greater number of customers to job centers, medical centers, and more, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA)’s Board of Trustees approved winter service changes, which include a $480,000 increase in transit service.
Among the highlights are service every 30 minutes on routes 3, 10, 20 and 31 between the hours of 6:30-9:30 a.m. and 2:30-5:30 p.m. This ramp up in frequency on routes that run every 60 minutes at other times is in direct response to requests from TARTA customers and businesses along those routes.
The service enhancements, which take effect Sunday, January 25, impact every route in the system and reflect months of customer feedback, data analysis, and public engagement. The enhancements are funded through a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“This is a meaningful investment in the places and times where people rely on transit the most,” said TARTA CEO Laura Koprowski. “We looked closely at where people travel, when they travel, and how we can deliver more service while remaining fiscally responsible. This plan does exactly that.”
The approved changes are part of TARTA’s systemwide winter service update, publicly shared since September on the agency’s System Redesign (tarta.com/service change). Adjustments were made throughout the process based on rider and community feedback.
Additional changes include:
- Extending Route 2 to Lourdes University · Extending fixed-route and TARTA Move paratransit service later into the evening, from 10:49 p.m. to 11:19 p.m. · Launching the new Route 18, connecting TARTA’s Transit Hub to the Meijer on Alexis Road · Eliminating route letter branches (such as 31H, 20F, and 10L) to reduce rider confusion and simplify navigation · Eliminating Routes 14 and 52 · Adjusting evening service frequency after 6 p.m. to every 90 minutes
The removal of route letters was another request that came directly from TARTA passengers, many of whom stated that they felt new riders were confused by the route branches. TARTA customers and other community members were given the opportunity to view and make comments on these changes at a series of public and virtual meetings, including a breakout session following TARTA’s Community Update: Driving Possibility at the Glass City Center.
“We understand the impact that any changes can have on the day-to-day lives of the customers who depend on our system, and we heard from so many who are passionate about public transportation during the comment period,” Koprowski said. “I believe these changes put us on the road sustainability and modernization while still meeting the needs of our riders.
“Where and when people travel are always changing, and the mobility system that serves this area needs to change with it.”
Visit tarta.com/servicechange to view a route-by-route and turn-by-turn list of what’s changing, and be on the lookout for digital and in-person communications from TARTA personnel in the coming weeks as we fill riders in on what’s changing.