10/22/2026
An Apology to Our Transit-Loyal Riders
METRO wants to apologize and be upfront and honest with our community and riders about the service issues you may have experienced over the past few weeks. We understand how frustrating it is to wait for a bus that does not arrive, especially when you depend on public transportation to get to important destinations. We know we have fallen short of the reliable service you have come to expect and deserve, and we are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.
Some trips on METRO Direct routes have not been served due to continued Operator call-offs, especially on Fridays and weekends. Within the past two weeks, we have had as many as 59 Operators call off in a single day, equating to 33% of Operators, this is not including previously scheduled and approved time off.
Here is how we are addressing the situation:
- Hiring additional operators: Following our recent hiring event, METRO has extended offers to 50 individuals. We are working to strengthen our operator workforce, recognizing that recruiting, training, and preparing new operators for service takes time.
- Providing additional coverage: METRO administrative team members who hold Commercial Driver’s Licenses are stepping in to help cover service when possible.
Working additional shifts: Many operators are voluntarily working overtime and taking extra shifts to help keep buses on the road. We appreciate their efforts and commitment to our riders.
- Addressing attendance and reliability: We are working with all the parties involved to address the recurring attendance challenges that have contributed to these disruptions and improve our ability to deliver the service our community depends on.
We encourage riders to call our Customer Care Center at 330-762-0341 for updates, use the Transit app for real-time tracking, or use the text-to-ride feature at their bus stop to check when the next bus is arriving. We know these tools do not replace a bus arriving as scheduled, but they can help riders make informed decisions while we work to improve reliability.
METRO is committed to providing dependable public transportation seven days a week, 365 days a year. We recognize the impact these disruptions have on the people and communities we serve, and we are working to improve service reliability.
We are sorry, we hear your concerns, and we are working to do better. Thank you for your patience as we work to address these challenges and deliver the reliable service you deserve. We know these tools do not replace a bus arriving as scheduled, but they can help riders make informed decisions while we work to improve reliability.
METRO RTA
