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 with RLS & Associates, described the transit development plan that will inform longer‑term changes. "This is a transportation, or transit... development plan. So it's a 5‑year plan," Brown said, describing maps the team is using to match population, poverty and job locations and to identify priority areas for service.

Sarj, who leads Midwest partnerships for the Via operator, said the community’s ridership uptake has been unusually fast. "This community has truly embraced microtransit in a way that we don't see very frequently," Sarj said, and added that vehicle‑hour productivity in the pilot compares favorably with peer services.

County staff provided usage and budget figures from recent rider surveys and contract work: - Via LC top trip purposes: 45% of surveyed trips for work, 17% for education and 24% for shopping. Officials said Lorain County Community College was the single top destination in the pilot data. - Riders reported low car access: about 79% of respondents said they do not have access to a personal vehicle. Staff also said 71% of respondents reported household income below $50,000 and that about 30% of riders said they would not have made their trip without the pilot. - Contract and operating numbers presented by staff: the full pilot contract cost for July 2024–July 2025 was given as approximately $2,104,500; the second‑year contract figure presented was $2,062,060. County staff said they plan a county contribution split across partners and listed proposed county contributions of about $398,678 for one city contract and $963,000 for another city contract; staff said adding Saturday service would cost roughly an additional $300,000 and that a fully expanded footprint was estimated in the low millions.

City officials and community speakers described individual impacts. Kevin Brumaker, mayor of Elyria, described a rider who used Via LC to get to a job and said the city is committed to partnering with the county on the pilot. Keanna McIntosh, who oversees wraparound resources at Lorain County Community College, said the college referred students and staff to the service and that the college is offering to be a transfer hub. A rider identified as Russell told the group that Via LC had "kept me off the street the last few months," and another rider, Shanetta Johnson, described app and vehicle‑capacity problems she encountered when booking rides.

County staff stressed the data role in future planning. Karen (last name not given), who presented contract and survey results, said the microtransit operator’s platform provides near‑real‑time data that planners will use to adjust zone boundaries, add transfer points and identify where fixed‑route service or targeted transfers could be more efficient. She asked municipal and private partners to help fill operating gaps and said the county’s current strategy is to divide costs among county, municipal and private partners if possible.

No formal vote or binding commitment was taken at the summit. Officials framed the funding discussions as requests and next steps: continue the pilot, analyze the transit development plan, pursue grants and local partnerships, and seek contributions from municipalities and employers to cover ongoing operating subsidies. Commissioner Moore and staff said they are already incorporating pilot data into the county’s budget planning for 2026 and 2027.

Officials also noted service limitations: the pilot’s current hours (service ending in the evening) do not cover many third‑shift work times, and some riders reported late or missed trips. County and operator staff said they are exploring schedule and zone adjustments and possible transfer points to reduce long one‑way travel within certain municipal footprints.

The summit included multiple requests for outreach and marketing to increase awareness—staff said not all potential riders have smartphones or social media access—and asked local employers and large private entities to consider direct contributions to help sustain service.

Looking ahead: the transit development plan team expects to present alternatives and recommendations within roughly a month, staff said, and the county is identifying short‑term boundary adjustments and transfer points it can make using pilot data. County leaders have not scheduled a binding funding vote; they said any long‑term operating subsidy plan will require partner commitments or grants before major expansion of hours or service area.

[Reporting based on remarks at the Lorain County transit summit by Commissioner David Moore; Dave Reesman, head of community development and special projects for Lorain County; Laura Brown, RLS & Associates; Sarj, Via partnerships lead; Karen (county transit staff); Mayor Kevin Brumaker; Keanna McIntosh, Lorain County Community College; and public commenters Russell and Shanetta Johnson.]