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Changes in Summit coming next year when Akron transit center opens
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Sep 05, 2008
Metro bus riders in Summit County: Prepare for changes next year.
Nearly all routes and timetables will change on Jan. 18, with the opening of Metro Regional Transit Authority's $17 million transit center in downtown Akron.
The glass and steel facility at South Broadway and East Bartges Street is where all bus transfers will be made.
Metro has scheduled public hearings next week to unveil the new routes and timetables.
For decades, nearly all of Metro's routes have involved buses traveling down South Main Street and lining up along Main for passengers.
Beginning Jan. 18, these long lines will disappear and buses will travel down Main, High Street and Broadway on their way to the new terminal.
''It's going to be an education process'' for passengers, Metro spokeswoman Molly Becker said.
The hope is for a more convenient transportation system, said Kirt Conrad, Metro's planning director.
The new terminal will feature assigned places for buses. Passengers ''won't be running up and down the street trying to find a connecting bus,'' Conrad said.
Metro broke ground for the terminal on the 8.4-acre site in October.
About $14.3 million of the cost is being paid with federal and state funds. The balance is coming from local sources.
Akron provided the land, appraised at about $2.3 million.
The new facility will have public restrooms, a small retail area, vending machines and a taxi stand. Metro officials are negotiating with a possible tenant for the retail space.
Metro's ridership has spiked with increases in gasoline prices.
In July, Metro recorded 444,852 passenger trips, up nearly 20 percent from the same time last year.
The public hearings on the changes will be:
• Monday — 2:30 and 7 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron.
• Wednesday — 2:30 p.m. at Cuyahoga Falls Public Library, 2015 Third St., Cuyahoga Falls.
• Thursday — 2:30 p.m. at the Maple Valley branch of Akron- Summit County Public Library, 1187 Copley Road, Akron, and 7 p.m. at the Barberton Library, 602 W. Park Ave., Barberton.
For more information about the changes, visit http://www.akronmetro.org.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Metro bus riders in Summit County: Prepare for changes next year.
Get the full article here.
