The Lorain County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 21 approved changes to county transit planning and an interim agreement to add intercity GO Bus service with a stop in Elyria.

The board amended an earlier resolution to extend the period of performance for the county's transportation development plan with RLS & Associates. The agenda text listed an extension to "05/31/1926," but Transit Director Karen Perkins told commissioners the correct new completion date is May 31, 2026, and said the agency is now fully staffed to support the consultant. Perkins said the first public step will be an online and community survey to gather input and that VIA, the county's microtransit vendor, will participate so microtransit and fixed routes complement each other rather than duplicate service.

Perkins said the goal is "to better use our transit dollars by providing a hybrid service between microtransit and our fixed routes," and that staff will do outreach and marketing to maximize public input.

Separately, commissioners approved an interim memorandum of understanding with Hocking‑Athens‑Perry Community Action and Behrends Bus (GoBus) to provide GO Bus service with a stop at the Lorain County Transportation and Community Center at 40 East Avenue in Elyria and routes to Athens, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. County staff said there will be two stops per day at the Elyria center and that the service is funded with federal and state dollars; the county's participation allows the bus to stop in Elyria but "is no county dollars," Perkins said. Fare estimates discussed in the meeting ranged from about $15 average to higher fares for longer trips.

Commissioners voted to approve the transit amendment and the interim GO Bus MOU; staff said exact stop times will be determined as routes are finalized, and the public survey will be posted on the commissioners' website.