Case Study: Akron Metro RTA cuts subcontracted trips and boosts operational efficiency with Ecolane

Akron Metro RTA - Customer Case Study

Akron Metro RTA, which operates roughly 1,000 paratransit trips per weekday with an 80-vehicle fleet, was struggling with an outdated paratransit/AVL system that could not handle demand and forced the agency to outsource nearly 40% of trips to subcontractors. Seeking a more agile, automated platform to improve scheduling, capacity and customer service, Akron Metro RTA selected Ecolane and its Ecolane DRT solution to prioritize trips on the agency’s own fleet before routing to overflow providers.

Ecolane implemented Ecolane DRT in 2012, delivering automated scheduling and dispatching, route optimization, Android MDTs with turn-by-turn navigation, SMS notifications, web self-service booking and advanced reporting. As a result, Ecolane helped Akron Metro RTA reduce overflow trips to under 10%, increase rides per hour from a scheduled 2.15 to 2.28, achieve on-time performance above 93% (reaching ~95%), cut no-shows by 50%, complete the project on time and on budget, and recoup software costs in less than a year.

Akron Metro RTA

Bambi Miller

Director of Customer Service