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Morrow County fixed‑route ridership surges as transit staff expand routes and outreach
Summary
County transit staff reported a 23% quarter‑to‑quarter increase in total ridership and a sharp rise in fixed‑route trips after launching new routes and community outreach; staff said the changes reduce per‑ride costs and they plan further outreach and partnerships with local agencies
Morrow County transit staff reported a sharp increase in fixed‑route ridership after launching new routes and intensifying community outreach, and the Board of Commissioners approved a transit advisory committee appointment.
A transit presenter told the board third‑quarter demand‑response trips fell to 371 but fixed‑route rides rose from 40 in the previous quarter to 252 in the last quarter; overall ridership increased by about 23 percent. The presenter said those changes were expected as resources were redirected to fixed routes because of the large cost difference between door‑to‑door service and buses that carry multiple riders.
The presenter described early results after launching new routes: in the first 30 days after the routes began, the service logged about 290 rides (noted as April data), with individual routes registering roughly 60–80 rides in that month. He said the county has added visibility by moving a transit office to Boardman, added a radio push‑to‑talk system for drivers and placed bus stop signage at partner locations such as Pioneer Memorial and local parks. Staff are also producing targeted outreach materials for summer programs and coordinating with the parks and recreation departments and veterans’ services.
Commissioners and staff discussed operational details, including continuing demand‑response vans for scheduled trips (for example, senior meal trips) and how to schedule vehicles in advance. The board approved the appointment of Diego Villegas to the county Transit Advisory Committee.
Transit staff said the growth likely reflects outreach and convenience: one example offered was a daily school rider who prefers the county service to the school bus because he carries an instrument. Staff estimated the county could eventually reach about 1,000 fixed‑route rides per quarter if community awareness and school/program integration increase, though they said that figure is a projection and not a firm commitment.
The presenter encouraged ongoing coordination with local partners to capture institutional trips — such as summer camp transportation — that could save partner agencies money and increase transit utilization.
