RTA Pilot Shuttle Service In Solon Has Few Riders – Will End This Month

RTA Pilot Shuttle Service In Solon Has Few Riders. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has announced the end of its MicroTransit pilot shuttle service in Solon, citing low ridership as the primary reason. The service, which was introduced as a last-mile transportation solution for workers commuting to Solon’s offices, manufacturing businesses, and Amazon warehouses, will conclude at the end of August 2024.

The MicroTransit Program

In December 2022, the RTA launched an ambitious pilot program at the Southgate Transit Center in Maple Heights. The initiative, backed by a $102,000 investment, aimed to streamline the commute for workers heading to Solon. The concept was simple: provide a convenient shuttle service that would transport employees from the transit center directly to their workplaces, thereby solving the perennial issue of the first and last mile of a commute.

The program was part of RTA’s broader strategy to support economic development in the Cleveland area by enhancing transportation accessibility for both residents and businesses.

The Promise And Potential Of The Program

At its inception, the MicroTransit program was hailed as a forward-thinking solution to a common problem faced by many commuters. The program paired four existing bus lines with a dedicated paratransit vehicle to offer workers a seamless connection to their jobs in Solon. RTA’s CEO, India Birdsong-Terry, expressed optimism about the program’s potential to boost local employment and business growth during the ribbon-cutting ceremony in December 2022.

“Transportation is not just buses and trains,” Birdsong-Terry remarked. “We’re economic development. We’re an engine that is supposed to support the Cleveland area, the citizens that live within it, and also the businesses that support it.”

Decline In Ridership And Business Participation

Despite the initial enthusiasm, the program struggled to gain traction among Solon’s employers. The RTA’s Organizational, Services, and Performance Monitoring Committee revealed that ridership had stagnated over time, with fewer companies participating in the service. By the time the decision to end the program was made, only five employers were actively involved, including Primrose Schools, Wrap-Tite, Pile Dynamics, Birdigo Chicken & Custard, and an Amazon warehouse.

Wrap-Tite emerged as the most significant user of the service, accounting for approximately 50 to 70 rides per week since March 2023. However, even their participation could not sustain the program in the long term.

Solon Mayor Edward Kraus acknowledged the financial challenges faced by companies when deciding to participate. “It was just hard to get companies to sign up,” Kraus said. “They had to pay initially for employees, which led to little interest.”

Conclusion

The RTA’s MicroTransit pilot shuttle service in Solon was an innovative attempt to solve the last-mile commute problem for workers. However, the program’s low ridership and limited business participation ultimately led to its discontinuation. While the service will end this month, it provided valuable insights into the challenges of implementing new transit solutions in suburban job hubs.