METRO Regional Transit Authority

METRO Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA), also known as Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority, is the public transit agency serving Summit County, Ohio and the city of Akron. It operates a number of local routes, and also operates one route into downtown Cleveland.^[4] Akron Metro transports passengers to/from school, work, grocery stores, malls and jobs all across Summit County. METRO RTA's fleet consists of about 200+ vehicles running on diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and as of 2022/2023, two fully electric Gillig vehicles, compressed natural gas fuels. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 5,340,700, or about 18,600 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

METRO RTA

Founded	1969[1]
Headquarters	416 Kenmore Blvd.
Locale	Akron, Ohio
Service area	Summit County, Ohio
Service type	bus service, paratransit, express bus service
Daily ridership	18,600 (weekdays, Q4 2024)[2]
Annual ridership	5,340,700 (2024)[3]
Website	www.yourmetrobus.org

METRO Regional Transit Authority previous logo style

Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center

Metro Bus lineup

Route names

Since spring 2021, Metro developed a new transit plan to improve frequency of service in the Akron and Summit County areas called “Reimagine Metro”. The plan went into effect on June 4, 2023. Here’s a list of the previous routes. Routes up to date as of 9/4/23.

Route Name	Terminal 1	Terminal 2	via	Length	notes
1 West Market	Downtown Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center	Fairlawn Market Square at Montrose (Rothrock Rd)	West Market Street, Medina Road, Hollythorn Drive	12.5 miles (20.1 km)	15 Minute Frequent Service Route. Connects with Medina County Public Transit Route 18 at Rothrock Rd. Inbound trips changes to Route 2 at RKP Transit Center Monday-Saturday.
2 Arlington	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Green Interstate Parkway	East Exchange Street, South Arlington Road	9.1 miles (14.6 km)	15 Minute Frequent Service Route. Inbound trips changes to Route 1 at RKP Transit Center Monday-Saturday.
3 Copley/Barberton	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Barberton 2nd St & Tuscarawas Ave	Copley Road, South Hawkins Avenue, Vernon Odom, Romig Road, State Street, 5th Street, Snyder Avenue, Van Buren Avenue, Wooster Road, 2nd Street	12.2 miles (19.6 km)
6 East Exchange/Canton Rd	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Lakemore Tri-County Plaza	East Market Street (OH-18), Canton Road (OH-91), Mogadore Road, High Grove Blvd, Ellet Avenue	9.5 miles (15.3 km)	15 Minute Frequent Service Route in conjunction with Route 19 along East Exchange Street.
8 Barberton-Norton/Wooster	Norton Norton Plaza (8N) Norton JR Wheel (8W) Barberton 2nd St & Tuscarawas Ave (8W)	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Wooster Road, Kenmore Blvd, Norton Avenue	(8N) 9.6 miles (15.4 km) (8W)10.8 miles (17.4 km) (To Jr Wheel)	Limited trips Monday-Saturday start/end in Barberton as the 8W.
9 East Ave/Battles	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Rolling Acres Romig Road Transit Center	East Avenue, Vernon Odom Blvd	6.9 miles (11.1 km)
10 Howard/Portage Trail	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Cuyahoga Falls Independence Transit Center	North Howard Street, Portage Trail	10.3 miles (16.6 km)
13 Grant/Firestone Park	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Firestone Park Brown St & Giant Eagle	Grant Street, Firestone Blvd, East Archwood Avenue	5.7 miles (9.2 km)	15 Minute Frequent Service Route.
15 Brown/Inman	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Firestone Park Brown Street & Giant Eagle	Brown Street, Inman Street	7.8 miles (12.6 km)
16 Euclid/Vernon Odom	Downtown RKP Transit Center	West Akron South Hawkins & Diagonal	Akron General Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Vernon Odom, Diagonal	4.1 miles (6.6 km)	15 Minute Frequent Service Route.
19 E. Exchange/Eastland	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Cuyahoga Falls Independence Transit Center	Eastland Avenue, East Exchange Street	6.9 miles (11.1 km)	15 Minute Frequent Service Route in conjunction with Route 6 along East Exchange Street.
20 Tallmadge/Brimfield	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Brimfield Cascade Plaza (Brimfield Walmart)	Main Street, Tallmadge Avenue, Brittain Road, Independence Transit Center, West Avenue, East Avenue	10.7 miles (17.2 km)	Connects with PARTA Route 90 at Brimfield Walmart & Meijer's on weekdays only. Route 20 runs 7 days
22 Howe/Stow-Kent	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Stow Target Plaza Kent Kent Central Gateway (service on hold)	Main Street, Glenwood, Evans, Home, Howe, Independence Transit Center, Brittain Road, Munroe Falls Avenue, Darrow Road (OH-91), Graham Road, Fishcreek Road, Kent Road (OH-59)	Stow Trips 16.0 miles (25.7 km) Kent Trips 19.1 miles (30.7 km)	Connects with PARTA Route 30 from Fishcreek/Graham to Target Plaza in Stow Monday-Saturday. Service to Kent Central Gateway currently on hold.[5]
23 Goodyear Heights/Gilchrist	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Mogadore Mogadore Rd & Cleveland Ave	East Market Street (OH-18), Goodyear Blvd, Eastwood Avenue, Darrow Road (OH-91), Gilchrist Road, Mogadore Road	12.9 miles (20.7 km) (reroute distance)	Route currently on long-term reroute using East Market, Sieberling, Brittain, & Malasia before connecting to Goodyear Blvd.
25 Kelly/Triplett	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Ellet Akron Fulton Airport (at Triplett & Massillon)	East Thornton Street, Spicer Street, Johnston Street, Inman Street, Lovers Lane, Arlington Street, 7th Avenue, Kelly Avenue, Triplett Blvd	6.4 miles (10.3 km)
26 Delia/White Pond	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Wallhaven Summa Health White Pond Medical Center	West Exchange Street, Frank Boulevard, White Pond Road	7.2 miles (11.6 km)	Now provides all day 7-day service
27 West Exchange/Merriman Valley	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Merriman Valley Weathervane Circle	West Exchange Street, West Market Street (OH-18), Bryden, North Hawkins Avenue, Thurmont Road, Treeside Drive, Cromwell Drive, Zahn Drive, Fairfax Road, Garman Road, North Portage Path, Merriman Road, Weathervane Lane	9.3 miles (14.9 km)
29 South Main/Machester	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Portage Lakes Manchester Acme	South Main Street, Waterloo Road, Manchester Road, Robinson Street, Cormany Road, Carnegie Avenue, Cory Avenue	Outbound Trips 6.0 miles (9.6 km) Inbound Trips 8.0 miles (12.8 km)	All inbound trips loop via Carnegie, Cory, & Waterloo.
31 Cuyahoga Falls/Macedonia	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Maple Heights Southgate Transit Center Stow Gilbert & Quail Creek	Main Street, Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Front Street, 2nd Street, Graham Road, State Road, Steels Corners Road, Wyoga Lake Road, Akron-Cleveland Road, Chittenden Road, Hines Hill Road, OH-8, South Bedford Road, Aurora Road (OH-82), Olde Eight Road, Northfield Road (OH-8)	Southgate Trips 31.9 miles (51.3 km) Stow Trips 8.3 miles (13.3 km)	Monday-Saturday trips operate to/from Southgate Transit Center, connecting with GCRTA 19A, 40, 41, 90, & PARTA 100. Limited weekday & all Sunday service starts/ends in Stow. One weekday trip starts/ends in Cuyahoga Falls.
32 Hudson/Twinsburg	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Maple Heights Southgate Transit Center	Main Street, Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Front Street, 2nd Street, Hudson Drive, Commerce Drive, Darrow Road (OH-91), Aurora Road (OH-82), Highland Road, Valley View Road, Olde Eight Road, Northfield Road (OH-8)	34.1 miles (54.8 km)	Monday-Saturday service only. Connections at Southgate Transit Center with GCRTA 19A, 40, 41, 90, & PARTA 100.
40 Manchester/West Thornton	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Sherbondy Hill West Thornton/La Croix	South Main Street, West Thornton Street, Russell Avenue, Rhodes Avenue, Manchester Road	2.4 miles (3.8 km)
55 Roo Express	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Middlebury Butchel & Spicer	Broadway Street, High Street, East Exchange Street, Sherman Street, East Thornton Street, Brown Street, University Avenue, Fir Hill, Butchel Avenue, East Market Street (OH-18)	5.7 miles (9.1 km)	Weekday Only Service. Loop service through University of Akron.
61 Northcoast Express	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Cleveland Veterans Health Administration	I-77, Ghent Road, Prospect Avenue, Lakeside Avenue, Euclid Avenue, East 105th Street	44.6 miles (71.8 km)	Weekday Limited service only
91 Kent Express	Downtown RKP Transit Center	Kent Kent Central Gateway	East Exchange Street, East Market Street, I-76, S. Water Street (OH-43), OH-261, Campus Connector Drive, Summit Street, Depeyster Street	15.9 miles (25.5 km)	Monday-Saturday service only. Service is currently on hold.[5][6]

Facilities

Head Office

Address: 416 Kenmore Boulevard, Akron

Coordinates: 41°02′58.6″N 81°32′26.8″W

Facilities: Head office, administration, vehicle storage and maintenance

Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center

Address: 631 South Broadway Street, downtown Akron^[7]

Coordinates: 41°04′10″N 81°31′23″W

Facilities: Terminus for local bus routes, suburban routes, X61 North Coast Express bus service to Cleveland,^[8] intercity Greyhound services, and Stark County & Portage County connecting buses.^[9][10] Youngstown’s WRTA route 81 serves as the Akron Youngstown express

Opened: 18 January 2009

Rolling Acres Transit Center

Address: 2340 Romig Road, Akron

Facilities: Connector hub for routes 3 and 9 serving West Akron and Barberton, Ohio. This hub is in the former Rolling Acres Mall parking lot. The mall has been shut down since 2008.

Independence Transit Center (Chapel Hill)

Serving North Akron/Cuyahoga Falls and routes 10, 19, 20 & 22, "Independence Transit Center" is similar to Rolling Acres Transit Center which also has no public restroom but does have indoor waiting shelter facilities.^[11]

Connecting services

METRO RTA service offers a number of connection opportunities to other area transit agencies.

GCRTA, a neighboring transit agency, provides connecting services between Cuyahoga County, Ohio (Greater Cleveland) and Akron METRO RTA. The two systems connect with two lines in Maple Heights at Southgate Transit Center (31 & 32), near the Southgate USA plaza. GCRTA does not serve METRO RTA's Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center.^[12]

METRO RTA's "North Coast Express" route 61 connect with GCRTA routes in downtown Cleveland.

PARTA, a neighboring transit agency, offers services between Portage County, Ohio (Kent/Ravenna) and Akron, including service to METRO RTA's Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center (90), along with connections in Stow(30), and in Maple Heights (100).^[13]

SARTA, a neighboring transit agency, operates one hourly weekday and Saturday route between Canton and Akron starting at 6:00am, 6:45am and every :45 until 8:45pm. This route, 81 Canton Akron Express, connects with METRO RTA. SARTA route 81 also serves Downtown Canton, Akron-Canton Regional Airport, Belden Village Transit Center in North Canton, Ohio, & Staples on Arlington Road in Akron from both Akron and Canton. SARTA's route services METRO RTA's Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center. Effective in 2018, SARTA also operates a direct express route in the fall and spring directly from Akron Metro Transit Center to Stark State College in North Canton Ohio. This route is named the 88 Stark State Express and runs five times a day and services Akron Metro's RKP Downtown Transit Center Stark State College and Belden Village Transit Center respectively.

See also

• List of bus transit systems in the United States
• Stark Area Regional Transit Authority