Release Date: January 21,2025
METRO RTA Launches New Service in Southern Summit County
January 21, 2025, AKRON — METRO Regional Transit Authority is proud to announce the launch of METRO NEXT, a pilot program designed to bridge the gap between southern Summit County communities and METRO Direct fixed-line routes and offering curb-to-curb service within the Service Zone. METRO NEXT will provide convenient travel options allowing passengers to book rides in advance by phone or through an app, improving access to public transit. This pilot program will run weekdays from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The launch of METRO NEXT is a crucial step in expanding our transit network to better serve the needs of our community members,” said Nathan Leppo, Director of Planning and Strategic Development, “By offering an on-demand service to more residents of Summit County, we are ensuring they have access to public transportation when they need it most.”
Each trip is five dollars for passengers traveling with in the Service Zone, with an option to transfer to METRO’s fixed-route service. METRO NEXT will provide more frequent, reliable, and accessible transit options to southern Summit County residents with improved connectivity to work, school, doctors' appointments, grocery stores, and other essential destinations.
METRO NEXT is a piloted service and will be re-evaluated after 12 months of service. For more details on METRO NEXT, visit yourmetrobus.org/NEXT.
METRO RTA is the public transportation provider in Summit County. METRO enhances the quality of life for our community by providing innovative transportation solutions that are safe, equitable, dependable, cost-effective, and customer-focused, now and into the future. In 2024, METRO passengers took for than five million trips using METRO services.