Lorain County officials tout Via microtransit pilot, seek partners to sustain expansion

Lorain County officials, city leaders and Via operators working on the county’s microtransit pilot said the service has seen rapid use since its July launch and that county leaders are asking public and private partners for money to sustain and expand service.

The pilot, branded Via LC, has recorded what officials described as about 50,000 completed rides since launch; county staff and operators said the service is carrying new transit riders to jobs, schools and grocery stores and is providing mobility for households without cars. County staff presented contract costs and a near‑term funding plan and asked municipalities and private partners to help cover operating subsidies if the service is to add evening, Saturday and extended cross‑city service.

Why it matters: Transit officials said microtransit is connecting riders to work and education in ways the prior fixed‑route system had not. County and city leaders framed the pilot as both a workforce development tool and an equity measure because a large share of riders reported no access to a personal vehicle and many reported household incomes under $50,000.

Commissioner David Moore, a longtime transit proponent, said the county advanced federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to start the service more quickly. "We advanced the funds so we don't have to wait," Moore said, adding that the pilot’s early results convinced city partners to commit financially. Moore summarized the county’s goal: use data from the pilot to make transit more efficient and to avoid seeking a countywide tax increase for ongoing operations.

Laura Brown, a consultant…