CINCINNATI — Before Metro begins testing changes to its routes, officials want to inform and hear from riders.
Changes to bus stops will be tested in a pilot program starting in March. Metro announced its FAStops project at the end of 2018. The goal of the project is to evaluate how it can speed up service which could result in fewer stops per route.
The process is called "stop balancing."
"If we're not stopping as frequently, we're going faster," Metro spokesperson Brandy Jones told WCPO last year. "It's not even that we're just taking away stops. There might be stops that are too far apart. We're looking at each stop, and the ideal space between each bus stop is no more than a quarter-mile. That's about a five-minute walk."
READ MORE: Could fewer bus stops mean faster trips on Cincinnati Metro?
There are more than 4,000 bus stops across Metro’s network of roughly 50 local and express routes.
Metro riders are encouraged to attend one of the following informational sessions to learn more and provide feedback:
- Jan. 22 - UC Tangeman Center: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Jan. 23 - Walnut Hills Library: Noon - 2 p.m.
- Jan. 24 - Price Hill Library/Rec Center: Noon - 2 p.m.
- Jan. 28 - Clifton Public Library: Noon - 2 p.m.
- Jan. 28 - Cheviot Public Library: 4-6 p.m.
- Jan. 29 - Oakley Public Library: Noon - 2 p.m.
- Feb. 4 - Northside Public Library: Noon-2 p.m.
- Feb. 5 - Bond Hill Public Library: 4-6 p.m.
- Feb. 6 - College Hill Library: Noon - 2 p.m.
- Feb. 7 - Government Square: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Feb. 11 - Oakley Transit Center: 8-10 a.m.
- Feb. 12 - Glenway Crossing Transit Center: 3-5 p.m.
Riders unable to attend an information session can email comments to RouteComments@go-metro.com.
PROJECT TIMELINE:
Metro is in Phase 3 of the FAStops project. The agency will gather public and operator feedback through May of this year. It will conduct a system-wide bus stop spacing analysis from June until July, according to Metro’s website.
WCPO’s Pat LaFleur contributed to this report.
