Jessica Olson, communications manager for the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, said "The Flyer" will make it simpler for UD students, downtown workers, residents and visitors to get to destinations like the Oregon District, RiverScape and Brown Street while avoiding parking hassles.
The free circulator bus service was launched on Friday Nov. 9.
Olson said there is a need for the service.
“We think the city of Dayton is in a period of regrowth,” she said. “I think it is a really good time to capitalize on that growth.”
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WHEN CAN YOU RIDE THE BUS?
The specially designed buses will run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to midnight.
WHERE WILL IT GO?
Olson said there will be 70 stops on the route — one on each side of the street.
Three will follow a route that loops from Main Street to Front Street, Monument Avenue to Main, Main to Fifth Street and Fifth to Jefferson Street.
Jefferson becomes Warren Street. Warren soon after becomes Brown Street.
From Brown, The Flyer loops from Irving Avenue to Frericks Way to Lowes Street and back to Brown Street.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Credit: RTA
Credit: RTA
Trips on the eco-friendly buses eqquiped with television screens are free of charge.
HOW OFTEN WILL A BUS COME?
Olson says the buses will come every 10 minutes. Riders will be able to plan trips using RTA's website and Transit App.
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WHO IS EXPECTED TO USE THE SHUTTLE MOST?
Olson said ridership is expected to be similar to that of CBUS, Central Ohio Transit Authority’s downtown circulator that travels from Columbus’ brewery district, its downtown and Short North Arts District.
Riders are expected to be mostly students, residents of downtown and its surrounding historic neighborhoods and business people, she said
CareSource and Premier Health are sponsors of the Flyer.
Employees of those large downtown employers will be encouraged to use the shuttles from parking lots, Olson said.
The vast majority of the cost to operate the shuttles — 23-seat buses previously used to transport seniors — will be covered by RTA. Newer buses are now used for the senior service.
Olson said the city, Downtown Dayton Partnership and the University of Dayton have also been involved in the project.
UD is stressing that it wants students to experience more than campus life while in Dayton, Olson said.
Credit: RTA
Credit: RTA
WHAT AREAS WILL BE CONNECTED?
The Flyer shuttles will provide links between CareSource’s headquarters; Victoria Theatre; the Schuster Center; Courthouse Square; Dayton Convention Center; Dayton Dragon games at Fifth Third Field; the Dayton Arcade; the Levitt Pavilion at Dave Hall Plaza; Miami Valley Hospital
Premier Health’s headquarters; RiverScape MetroPark; Sinclair Community College; The University of Dayton; the historic South Park neighborhood and the historic Oregon District.
The Flyer shuttles will not travel down Fifth Street in the Oregon District, but will still make accessing the neighborhood’s restaurant, bars and nightlife easier, officials said.
There will be stops near Fifth and Jefferson and Sixth Street and Jefferson at the start of the entertainment area.
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