Program Host, John Pribonic told us that part of his happiness comes from the guidance in his life provided by the Four-Way Test.  John feels the message of the Four-Way Test provides a moral code for personal and business relationships. The test can be applied to almost any aspect of life.  A plaque of the test in his office serves as his reminder of 'the things we think, say or do.'

 

He introduced our speaker, Dawn Distle, the CEO of METRO Transit.  She began her career as a bus operator thirty years ago! She explained that METRO is trying to rebrand and wants to be a real mobility option for members of our communities.  Services differ for urban (Akron) areas, compared to services for surburban (Stow, Boston Heights, etc.) areas.  If transportation options are not suiting current situations, METRO is trying to make changes that will work to better serve the Great Akron community.  The METRO organization is trying to 'think outside of the bus' with the development and implementation of their fluid, 5 to 10-year strategic plan.  One interesting part of the plan is Flex-ride -- a business can purchase rides for a month for employees from their homes to the business at a fixed fee.  Another change is increasing use of the circulator service's low ridership.  Now, instead of a bus just circling a route over and over, Metro-Connect can receive calls from bus stops, the riders explain their transportation situation, and just like that, the drivers respond promptly. 

 

The METRO team is continually reviewing community needs and seeing if buses and other transit vehicles are efficiently serving the public's needs. The entire METRO team wants to serve, and serve well!

 

Dawn talked about life for the transit system during the pandemic. Working closely with the Summit County Health Department, they created as safe an environment for their riders as possible.  Busses went from carrying 60 riders to a maximum capacity of 10 riders.  Operators and passengers are required to wear masks; hand sanitizer is available in all busses and facilities.  Service was down to 50% and now is up to about 72% as we slowly return to 'normal' life.  

 

School transportation is a significant service avenue for METRO.  Students, grades 8 - 12, can swipe their school IDs for a bus ride.  METRO counts their student riders and is reimbursed by Akron Public Schools --- 450,000 rides per year!  Sources of revenue are county sales tax collections, the farebox, federal and state money, and grants. 

 

Dawn certainly provided a wonderful presentation and discussion of a much-needed community resource.  Thank you for your passion for bus transportation!