Medina County Public Transit extends Ace Taxi contract and reports steady ridership, efficiency gains

Shannon Rhine, director of Medina County Public Transit, told commissioners the board approved a contract extension with Ace Taxi to continue providing out-of-county and JFS-contracted trips under a third-year option.

Rhine said the February ridership figures were steady and the system is making scheduling changes that raised passengers per revenue hour to 2.48. She reported that trip denials were zero in February and said the team is focused on maintaining efficient service while the county transitions to different reporting requirements as a rural operator under ODOT and retains federal reporting for the Federal Transit Administration and the National Transit Database.

Rhine also described preliminary talks with neighboring systems and noted the Brunswick MC Flex service remains strong. She told commissioners the county has chosen to keep micro-transit operations in-house rather than outsource them and cited public-transportation cost advantages such as lower insurance rates and fuel tax exemptions for the public system.

Why it matters: The Ace Taxi extension preserves a contracted option for JFS trips and out-of-county rides while the transit division works to improve efficiency and comply with evolving reporting requirements.

What the record shows: The board approved the contract extension during the meeting (vote recorded). Rhine described operational metrics, the goal of zero trip denials and ongoing conversations with neighboring transit providers about potential connections.