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Board approves one-year microtransit extension; funds transportation development plan
Summary
The board approved a one-year interim contract extension with RiverNorth Transit (a Via subsidiary) to continue microtransit in Elyria and Lorraine and authorized $48,000 for a transportation development plan to guide future service expansion and integration with fixed routes.
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year interim agreement with RiverNorth Transit LLC, a subsidiary of Via Transportation Inc., to continue microtransit service in the cities of Elyria and Lorraine and approved a related contract to fund a transportation development plan.
The interim microtransit agreement authorizes up to $2.2 million for services Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., effective July 15, 2025, through July 31, 2026. Commissioners also approved up to $48,000 to hire Via Mobility LLC to assist in preparing a transportation development plan (TDP) that will evaluate operations and recommend fiscally responsible short-term strategies for sustaining and expanding microtransit while aligning it with fixed routes.
Why it matters: commissioners and transit staff said the TDP and continued microtransit are intended to stabilize service, attract partner funding from cities and foundations and make routes more efficient. Staff said cities of Elyria and Lorraine have committed funds; the county is pursuing additional foundation grants and applying to the Ohio Department of Transportation for workforce-mobility grant opportunities.
Board and staff discussion: Transit staff reported ongoing outreach to the City of Elyria, the City of Lorraine, the Community Foundation, the Ford Foundation and state grant programs. They said the NOACA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency) planning work and an RLS consultant study will inform how microtransit and fixed routes work together. Commissioners noted the grant mix includes non-reimbursable grants and that transit professional-services funds would cover the TDP payment; staff said they expect a tight 12 months for transit budgeting and asked to display fund-account numbers in future agenda items to aid oversight.
Outcome: both the interim agreement extending microtransit and the contract for the transportation development plan were approved by roll call.
