Demand for public transit rising in Medina County

MEDINA — The demand for public transportation is increasing in Medina County, and it can be a challenge to meet that need sometimes, Transit Director for Medina County Public Transit Shannon Rine said to the Medina County Commissioners on Tuesday. MCPT currently has 22 revenue vehicles, one support vehicle and 37 drivers, he said. There are fixed routes in Medina, Brunswick and Wadsworth, and a countywide demand service system where customers reserve an appointment to different destinations such as work, shopping or medical appointments. For the average month in 2021, there were 5,052 riders in total, he said. Last month, there were 5,497 customers. The number of people utilizing the demand services has also increased, Rine said. The monthly average of people using this service in 2021 was 2,376 customers while in August 2022 there were 2,867. "There's more demand service than ever being asked for, especially at our busiest days and our busiest times," he said. More people are traveling to work using public transportation, he said. Previously, medical trips like going to dialysis centers and doctors appointments occurred more frequently than work trips. In August, 42 people seeking demand service were denied, Rine said. It happens when there is not room at the time the customer wants to go. MCPT tries to negotiate times for trips that do not need to happen at a specific time as an attempt to meet the demand. "It's not a lot, but it's 42 too many for me," he said. "I talk to the customers; we really connect with them. They need us, and sometimes it's just not possible with our service." In MCPT's strategic planning process, there have been areas identified as being underserved, he said. In the western part of the county like Lodi and Spencer there are not many pickup and drop-off occurrences. "We're not offering as many services in the area, and maybe there's not as much awareness," Rine said. Fleet availability and the number of drivers are factors that make it difficult to meet the demand for services, he said. It can also be hard to transport someone to where they need to go on time for demand services. "We have 22 revenue vehicles that provide service to the entire county, the 422 square miles and 180,000 (people)," he said. As part of the strategic plan, MCPT is looking at the demand to make sure there are ways to meet the need, Rine said. "We will be sharing more with the public in the future, but the strategic planning process is underway," he said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.