METRO FACTS:

METRO’s fleet totals approximately 132 active passenger revenue vehicles, 72 of which were wheelchair accessible and 40 low floor. The average age of the large buses is 6.9 years; and for small buses, the average age is 4.2 years. In the fall of 1999, METRO attained 100 percent accessibility for its entire fleet. All METRO buses are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs up to 30 inches by 48 inches and a combined weight of 600 pounds. (ADA minimum requirements)

Funding

METRO receives funding from federal and state government sources and locally through a continuing .25 percent sales tax. Capital funds help METRO buy new equipment or build new facilities. Operating funds assist METRO in maintaining current equipment as well as assist in daily operations.

In FY ‘03/04 METRO’s actual operating expenses were $27,497,149 and operating revenues were $28,320,334. This includes passenger fares. The .25 percent sales tax (implemented in 1991) generated $17,721,830 or 62.5 percent of total revenue. Of 2003/2004 expenses, labor accounted for 46.8 percent of total expenses. Other expenses included fringe benefits at 26.8 percent, materials and supplies were 4.1 percent, purchase transportation was 3.8 percent and casualty and liability insurance 10.8 percent. Revenue form the federal level accounted for 16.9 percent, state 3.2 percent, and farebox and ticket sales at 10.4 percent.

Human Resources

Human Resources department at METRO consists of the following responsibilities: recruitment, safety, benefits and training. METRO’s training department is one of the best in transportation.

METRO currently employs 315 persons.

Each year, METRO spends more than 6,100 hours training employees in a variety of venues.

METRO is governed by a 12-member board of trustees; six of whom are appointed by the City of Akron; three by Summit County; and, one each from the cities of Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls and Stow.

Customer Service

METRO’s customer service center averages 241,212 yearly information calls in addition to administrative calls. The department maintains and services approximately 250 schedule racks through the Summit County area. Customer service also provides travel training that teaches passengers about the bus system such as how to ride the buses and how to read a bus schedule.

Maintenance

METRO’s maintenance department consists of 35 mechanics and maintenance employees. 18 employees wash and fuel the entire METRO fleet on a daily basis. The average mileage between road calls is 3859.

Line Service

Line service consists of buses traveling along predetermined routes on a set schedule. METRO’s line service consists of 37 routes (including fixed routes, Neighborhood Circulator routes, grocery bus services, and two express routes into Cleveland). Neighborhood Circulator routes focus on taking passengers around neighborhood areas and do not travel into downtown Akron. Express routes make fewer stops and focus on helping passengers reach a destination in the fastest time possible.

Fares on line service are $1.25 for adults and 50 cents for passengers over age 65 or passengers with disabilities. To pay the 50-cent fare, the passenger must show the operator a Medicare card, SCAT identification or Disability and Senior (D & S) card. For larger discounts, passengers can buy a monthly pass for general adult fare at $50.00; a D & S monthly pass at $30.00; or, a SCAT service ticket good on all services at the cost of $20.00. Fare for the North Coast Express service to Cleveland is $4.00 each way or $33.00 for a 10-ride ticket. Discounts for older adults and persons with disabilities are available.

SCAT Service

METRO SCAT is personalized, prearranged transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. This is referred to as demand-response transportation. To be eligible for SCAT, passengers must live in Summit County, have a SCAT I.D. card and meet at least one of the following requirements:

1) 62 years of age or older

2) have a disability that prohibits the passengers from using the regular line service

SCAT operates Monday through Friday. Hours of operation vary by community. Passengers are permitted one round-trip per day. Additional medically-related trips are permitted on a trip-by-trip basis. Trips for groceries or food are limited to the grocery store or nutrition center nearest to the passenger’s home. Trip reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.

ADA Complementary Paratransit

ADA Complementary Paratransit is specialized transportation for people with disabilities and it complements the regular fixed-route service. This service is available at the times when METRO fixed-routes operate, with pick-up and drop-off no farther than three-fourths of a mile from a fixed route.

To be eligible for ADA Paratransit, the passenger must have a disability that prevents them from using regular bus service. This means that because of a disability, the passenger cannot board, ride or exit an accessible vehicle that is part of regular service. Passengers may also qualify if their disability prevents them from accessing a bus stop. Eligibility may be permanent or temporary depending on the disability. Some individuals may be eligible only for certain trips or may qualify only during certain times of the year. There are no limits on the number of trips a passenger can take each day, but trips must be scheduled at least one day in advance. The fare for Paratransit is $2.00 each way. Paratransit performance numbers are tracked under SCAT services.

Special Services

Board of Education

METRO contracts with the Akron Board of Education to transport students traveling to schools outside their immediate neighborhood. This service is over and above those students paying to ride the service. The service operated 7,602 hours with 13,422 trips traveling 97,743 miles in 2003/2004.

PASSPORT

This service, contracted through the Area Agency on Aging, transports low-income older adults to medical, socialization and other types of appointments. The purpose of the PASSPORT program is to allow older adults to live within the community, avoiding institutionalization. This service provides approximately 19 trips per month.

Title III

This service, contracted through the Area Agency on Aging, transports older adults (60 and over) for nutrition, medical and adult day care programs. The service is funded by the Older Americans Act. This service averages 968 trips per month.

Emergency Medical Transport (EMT) Service

This contracted EMT service provides transportation to individuals covered under Medicaid through the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS). This service is reimbursed on a per-mile rate and is for passengers requiring access to emergency medical services such as dialysis, etc. In 2003, METRO averaged 1,800 passenger trips and 6,000 EMT vehicle miles under this service per month.

Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC)

METRO, in conjunction with the DJFS, provides transportation services to Ohio Works First (OWF) clients as part of Summit County’s Welfare-to-Work program. Monthly, METRO provides over 60,000 rides to OWF clients on the fixed routes and another 12,800 rides to OWF clients that can not get to their work, training or child care provider by the regular fixed routes through specialized services.

Innovative Programs

METRO is involved in a number of innovative programs, such as:

• Cool Rider (a children’s mascot) presentations have introduced safe bus riding to more than 3,000 students in the Akron area each year.

• The ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) project was instituted in early 2000. This project be uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) to track bus positions to make dispatching and sheduling of SCAT trips more efficient. Currently, there are 70 METRO RTA buses that have this technology.

• METRO offers a complete speakers’ bureau that includes facility tours; transit/METRO history presentations; economic development lectures; and customer training, which includes ride training for older adults and persons with disabilities.

• In past years, METRO RTA along with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, has provided a Sunday service that gives passengers a reduced fare to ride the railroad each summer and in the fall.