Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority

Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority
Founded	1972
Headquarters	4 South Main St, ; Dayton, Ohio
Service area	Montgomery County and Greene County, Ohio
Service type	bus service, trolleybus, express bus, paratransit
Routes	18
Stops	+2,500
Hubs	Eastown Shopping Center ; Westown Shopping Center ; Northwest ; South (Dayton Mall) ; Wright Stop Plaza (Downtown Dayton)
Stations	Maintenance Facilities, ; 600 Longworth St, Dayton
Fleet	260
Daily ridership	25,400 (weekdays, Q4 2024)
Annual ridership	6,234,400 (2024)
Fuel type	Diesel, Electric and Hybrid
Operator	350
Website	i-riderta.org

The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, formerly known as the Miami Valley RTA, is a public transit agency that generally serves the greater Dayton, Ohio area. The GDRTA serves communities within Montgomery County and parts of Greene County, Ohio, USA. There are 18 routes. RTA operates diesel and electric trolley buses seven days a week, 21 hours a day, and provides services to many citizens within the area. RTA's current CEO is Bob Ruzinsky.^[3] In 2024, the system had a ridership of 6,234,400, or about 25,400 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Greater Dayton RTA is Ohio’s fourth-largest public transit system,^[4] serving Dayton and 23 surrounding communities in Montgomery County and parts of Greene County.

History

The Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority (now the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, or RTA) took over public transit operations in November 1972. In 2003, its board of trustees voted to change the transit agency's name to the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.^[5]

Trolley buses

One notable feature of the GDRTA system is its use of electric trolley buses. Only five cities in the United States currently have electric trolley buses: Boston, Dayton, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.^[6] The first electric trolley bus (ETB) operation in Ohio occurred in Dayton, on April 23, 1933, when the Linden–Salem line was converted from streetcars to trackless trolleys — or trolley buses, as they are most commonly known today. The RTA renewed its commitment to electric transit with a board of trustees vote to continue the trolley bus service in 1991, and the purchase of a new fleet of ETBs from Electric Transit, Inc., a joint venture of the Czech company Skoda and the U.S. company AAI Corporation, based on Skoda's model 14Tr. Final assembly of the vehicles took place in Dayton in 1995–98. In 2014, the system added its first low-floor trolley buses, with four dual-mode prototypes purchased from Vossloh Kiepe (now Kiepe Electric) and using bodies from Gillig, for testing and evaluation. In January 2018, RTA placed an order with Kiepe for 26 production-series dual-mode trolleybuses of the same design as the prototypes, with Gillig low-floor bodies, for delivery starting in 2019.^[7]

Electric streetcar service in Dayton had started in 1888, and it continued through to, and indeed beyond, the start of the trolley bus service. Therefore, electric transit service has been operated continuously in Dayton since 1888, which is longer than in any other city in the United States.^[6]

Hybrid buses

With the addition of environmentally friendly hybrid buses in 2010 to the GDRTA's fleet, the GDRTA is Ohio's greenest transit fleet.^[8]^{[failed verification]} In September 2010 RTA was designated the only 5-star Ohio Green Fleet by Clean Fuels Ohio.

Hubs

The RTA operates five bus "hubs", or transit centers. Each hub serves as a connection to many suburban bus routes around Dayton. The one in downtown Dayton is named Wright Stop Plaza and opened for service on September 1, 2009 (after a ceremonial opening earlier).^[9]^[10]

Operation

The RTA operates with diesel and electric trolley buses. Dayton is the smallest city in the United States to operate electric trolley buses still.^[6] The trolley buses travel at least five miles on RTA routes serving Dayton and some neighboring suburbs. The routes include: Route 1, Route 2, Route 4, Route 7 and Route 8. Bus service to Dayton International Airport from downtown Dayton began on 11 August 2013. After three years of heated negotiations between the Regional Transit Authority, City of Beavercreek, Leaders for Basic Equality and Action in Dayton (LEAD) and the Dayton Branch NAACP, service was expanded to stops on Pentagon Boulevard in Beavercreek, allowing access to the Fairfield Commons Mall and Soin Medical Center, on January 12, 2014.^[11]

Contributions

The RTA has been involved in helping the city of Dayton through its contributions to the Dayton Dragons, The Schuster Center, and the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

In addition, RTA passed a resolution to make smoother connections to its regional hubs and prevent misuse of transfers. In January 2007, RTA created an established proposal to make all buses serve regional businesses, establish transfer points in designated areas and streamline previously neighborhood routes. The RTA added two routes to serve areas frequently used by passengers. RTA discontinued eight routes in response to overlapping and low passenger counts.

Regular route list

1 Pentagon Blvd-Wright State University-Third St-Westown TC-Drexel
2 Linden Ave-Eastown TC-Otterbein-Lexington-Northwest TC
4 Townview-Hoover-Delphos-Xenia Ave./Linden Ave.-Eastown TC-Westown TC
6 Centerville-Kettering-Downtown Dayton-Far Hills
7 North Main St-Shiloh-Downtown Dayton-Watervliet
8 Northwest TC-Salem Ave-Lakeview-Westown TC
9 Northwest TC-Greenwich Village-Derby Rd-Westown
12 Five Oaks-Valerie Arms-Forrer Blvd-Dorothy Lane
16 Union-Englewood-Kettering-Whipp & Bigger-Clyo Rd.
17 Vandalia-South TC
18 Huber Heights-Moraine-West Carrollton-Miamisburg
19 Huber Heights-Moraine-Miamisburg-South TC
22 Keowee-Northridge-Job Center-Miller Ln-Gateway
28 Kettering-Dorothy Ln-Kettering Medical Center-Stroop Rd-Kettering Rec Center
43 Dayton International Airport, Vandalia
North Connector Trotwood-Miller Ln.-Northwest TC-Westbrook Rd.-MVCTC

Active Bus Fleet

Year	Manufacturer	Model	Fleet Numbers	Engine	Transmission	Notes
2010	Freightliner	S2 32'	A31-A38	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2010	Freightliner	S2 HEV 32'	A39-A46	Cummins ISL9	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2010	New Flyer	XDE40'	A47-A64	Cummins ISL9	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2024	Freightliner	S2 32'	60-66	Cummins B6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2008	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	401-408	Cummins ISM	Allison B400R
2009	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40'	409-433	Cummins ISL	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2011	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	700-724	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
2012	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40'	725-734	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2024	Gillig	BRT HEV 35'	735-742	Cummins L9	Allison eGen Flex H 40 hybrid system
1994	Orion	V CNG (05.501)'	801-827	Cummins L10G	ZF 4HP590
1996	Orion	V CNG (05.501)'	828-842	Cummins L10G 836-842 Cummins C8.3G	Allison B400R
2024	Gillig	Low Floor Plus HEV 35'	901-921	Cummins L9	Allison eGen Flex H 40 hybrid system
2023	Freightliner	S2 HEV 32'	922-928	Cummins L9	Allison eGen Flex H 40 hybrid system
2004	Freightliner	FB65 32'	929-935	Caterpillar C7	Allison 2400 PTS
2005	Freightliner	FB65 32'	936-950	Caterpillar C7	Allison 2400 PTS
2006	Freightliner	FB65 32'	951-965	Caterpillar C7	Allison 2400 PTS
2007	Freightliner	S2 32'	966-980	Cummins ISB	Allison 2200 PTS
2010	Gillig	Low Floor 29'	981-986	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
2010	Gillig	Low Floor 35'	987-1000	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
2010	Gillig	BRT HEV 40'	1001-1010	Cummins ISL9	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2010	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	1011-1049	Cummins ISL9	Allison B500R
2011	Gillig	BRT HEV 40'	1050-1059	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2011	NABI	40 LFW'	1101-1140	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
2011	Freightliner	S2 32'	1141-1145	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2011	NABI	42 BRT HEV'	1146-1159	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2012	NABI	40 LFW HEV'	1160-1200	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2012	Gillig	BRT HEV 29'	1201-1204	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2012	Gillig	BRT HEV 35'	1205-1210	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2012	New Flyer	XDE40'	1211-1214	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2013	NABI	40 LFW'	1301-1328	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R
2013	NABI	40 LFW HEV'	1329-1345	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2013	New Flyer	XDE40'	1346-1355	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2013	Gillig	BRT Plus ETB 40'	1401-1404	Vossloh Kiepe		Only for routes 1, 2, 4, 7, 8.
2013	New Flyer	XDE40'	1405-1429	Cummins ISB6.7	BAE Systems HDS 200 hybrid system
2014	New Flyer	XD60'	1430-1446	Cummins ISL9	Allison B500R
2014	New Flyer	XDE40'	1447-1458	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2007	MCI	D4500CT'	1501-1503	Caterpillar C13	Allison B500R
2011	MCI	D4500CT'	1504-1508	Cummins ISX11.9	Allison B500R
2015	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40'	1509-1518	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2016	Freightliner	S2 32'	1519-1548	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2016	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	1601-1624	Cummins ISL9	Allison B500R
2016	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40'	1625-1650	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2017	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	1701-1725	Cummins L9	Allison B500R
2017	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40'	1726-1747	Cummins L9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2017	Gillig	Low Floor CNG 29'	1748-1752	Cummins Westport ISL G NZ	Voith D864.6
2018	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	1801-1824	Cummins L9	Allison B500R
2018	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 35'	1825-1830	Cummins L9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
2018	Gillig	Low Floor 29'	1831-1834	Cummins L9	Voith D864.6
2019	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	1901-1917	Cummins L9	Allison B500R
2019	Freightliner	S2 32'	1918-1950	Cummins B6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2019	Gillig	BRT Plus ETB 40'	1951-1971	Vosslon Kiepe		Only for routes 1, 2, 4, 7, 8.
2020	Gillig	BRT 35'	2031-2037	Cummins L9	Voith D864.6	Only use for the Flyer service
2020	Freightliner	S2 32'	2038-2050	Cummins B6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2020	Gillig	BRT Plus ETB 40'	2051-2070	Vosslon Kiepe		Only for routes 1, 2, 4, 7, 8.
2008	Freightliner	S2 60'	2071-2100	Cummins ISL	Allison B500R
2021	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	2101-2111	Cummins L9	Allison B500R
2009	Freightliner	S2 60'	2201-2237	Cummins ISL	Allison B500R
2019	Freightliner	S2 60'	2238-2274	Cummins L9	Allison B500R
2023	Gillig	Low Floor 29'	2331-2358	Cummins L9	Voith D867.8 NXT
2015	Freightliner	S2 32'	2359-2367	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison 2200 PTS
2017	Gillig	Low Floor CNG 35'	2368-2400	Cummins Westport ISL G NZ	Voith D864.6
2018	Gillig	Low Floor CNG 29'	2401-2404	Cummins Westport L9N	Voith D864.6
2021	Gillig	Low Floor CNG 29'	2405-2407	Cummins Westport L9N	Voith D864.6
2022	Gillig	Low Floor CNG 29'	2408-2411	Cummins Westport L9N	Voith D864.6
2023	Gillig	BRT CNG 29'	2412-2415	Cummins Westport L9N	Voith D867.8 NXT
2024	Gillig	BRT 29'	3201-3210	Cummins L9	Voith D867.8 NXT
2025	Gillig	BRT HEV 35'	3211-3220	Cummins L9	Allison eGen Flex H 40 hybrid system
2014	Gillig	BRT HEV 29'	4101-4138	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
1999	New Flyer	L30LF'	4139-4145	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B300R
2000	New Flyer	L30LF'	4146-4154	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B300R
2001	New Flyer	L30LF'	4155-4163	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	Allison B300R
2002	New Flyer	L30LF'	4164-4175	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	Allison B300R
2004	StarTrans	Replica Trolley 30'	5001-5007	Cummins ISB	Allison B300R
2006	StarTrans	Replica Trolley 30'	5008-5014	Cummins ISB	Allison B300R
1997	NABI	40 LFW LNG'	6001-6180	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B400R
1998	New Flyer	C35LF'	6181-6195	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B400R
1999	New Flyer	C35LF'	6196-6210	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B400R
2000	NABI	40 LFW LNG'	6211-6255	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B400R
2000	New Flyer	C30LF'	6256-6262	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B300R
2001	NABI	40 LFW CNG'	6262-6281	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	Allison B400R
2002	NABI	40 LFW LNG'	6282-6381	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	Allison B400R 6377 Allison B500R
2000	New Flyer	D60HF'	7001-7016	Cummins ISM	Allison B500R
2000	New Flyer	D35LF'	7017-7030	Cummins ISC	Allison B400R
1999-2000	MCI	102-DWA3 CNG'	7031-7077	Detroit Diesel Series 60G	Allison B500R
2000	NABI	40 LFW CNG'	7078-7100	Cummins C8.3G	Allison B400R
2001	New Flyer	D60LF'	7101-7120	Cummins ISL	ZF 5HP602C	Originally Had Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR Engines
2006	MCI	D4500CL'	7121-7187	Caterpillar C13	Allison B500R
2002	NABI	40 LFW'	7188-7200	Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR	Allison B400R
2002	New Flyer	D30LF'	7201-7202	Cummins ISC	Allison B300R
2002	New Flyer	D35LF'	7203-7210	Cummins ISC	Allison B400R
2002	New Flyer	D60LF'	7211-7225	Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR	Allison B500R
2003	New Flyer	D30LF'	7301-7308	Cummins ISL	Allison B300R
2004	New Flyer	D60LF'	7401-7413	Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR	Allison B500R
2005	New Flyer	D60LF'	7501-7525	Caterpillar C9	Allison B500R
2006	New Flyer	D60LFR'	7601-7612	Caterpillar C9	Allison B500R
2006	New Flyer	DE60LFR'	7613-7620	Caterpillar C9	Allison EP50 hybrid system
2007	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	7701-7725	Cummins ISM	Allison B400R
2008	New Flyer	D60LFR'	7800-7807	Cummins ISM	Allison B500R
2008	New Flyer	DE60LFR'	7808-7810	Cummins ISL	Allison EP50 hybrid system
2009	Gillig	Low Floor 40'	7900-7909	Cummins ISM	Allison B400R
2020	ENC	EZ RIDER BRT 32'	8235-8236	Cummins B6.7	Allison B300R
2021	ENC	EZ RIDER BRT HEV 32'	8531-8560	Cummins L9	Allison H 40 EPTM hybrid system
1996	Orion	V (05.501)'	9601-9606	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R
1996	Orion	V (05.505)'	9607-9615	Cummins C8.3	Allison B400R
1997	Orion	V (05.505)'	9701-9718	Cummins C8.3	Allison B400R
1998	New Flyer	D60HF'	9801-9825	Cummins M11E	Allison B500R
1999	Orion	V (05.505)'	9900-9902	Cummins ISM	Allison B400R
1999	Orion	V (05.504)'	9903-9905	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R
1999	Orion	V (05.501)'	9906-9917	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R
2022	New Flyer	XN60'	22701-22762	Cummins Westport L9N	Allison B500R
2023-2024	New Flyer	XN60'	23701-23756	Cummins Westport L9N	Allison B500R
2009	New Flyer	DE41LFR'	40225	Cummins ISL	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2010	New Flyer	DE40LFR'	40226-40227	Cummins ISL9	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2012	New Flyer	XDE40'	40228	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system

References

^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ "Executive Leadership: Bob Ruzinsky, Chief Executive Officer". GDRTA. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
^ "Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products Announces Partnership with Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority". Business Wire. September 29, 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
^ "History". GDRTA. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
^ ^a ^b ^c "A Brief History of Electric Transit in Dayton". GDRTA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
^ Trolleybus Magazine No. 339 (May–June 2018), p. 117. ISSN 0266-7452.
^ "Dayton becomes Ohio's greenest fleet". Retrieved 2010-04-21.
^ "New RTA Transit Center opens". Dayton Daily News. September 1, 2009. p. 3.
^ Trolleybus Magazine No. 288 (November–December 2009), p. 144. ISSN 0266-7452.
^ "New RTA Stops on Pentagon Blvd. Now in Service". WHIO.com.

External links

[APTAdaily-1] "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.

[APTA_Ridership_Report-2] "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[3] "Executive Leadership: Bob Ruzinsky, Chief Executive Officer". GDRTA. Retrieved 2021-10-15.

[4] "Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products Announces Partnership with Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority". Business Wire. September 29, 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-02.

[rta-history-5] "History". GDRTA. Retrieved 2019-06-01.

[aboutETB-6] "A Brief History of Electric Transit in Dayton". GDRTA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2011.

[tm339-7] Trolleybus Magazine No. 339 (May–June 2018), p. 117. ISSN 0266-7452.

[8] "Dayton becomes Ohio's greenest fleet". Retrieved 2010-04-21.

[9] "New RTA Transit Center opens". Dayton Daily News. September 1, 2009. p. 3.

[tm288-10] Trolleybus Magazine No. 288 (November–December 2009), p. 144. ISSN 0266-7452.

[11] "New RTA Stops on Pentagon Blvd. Now in Service". WHIO.com.

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v t e Public transit in Ohio
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