RTA Expanding Bus Route Into Solon's Retail District

SOLON, OH — The Greater Cleveland RTA is expanding a bus route into Solon's Central Retail District this month.

Starting March 20, bus route No. 41 will extend onto SOM Center Road. The lengthened route will provide better access to riders looking for work in the Central Retail District, the city said on social media.

"We want to connect people who need jobs to good jobs here in Solon. By expanding the RTA service to SOM Center Road, which is our busiest thoroughfare, it also helps riders reach our core shopping areas. It's more convenient and safer," said Angee Shaker, the city's economic development director.

RTA's Director of Service Management Joel Freilich echoed Shaker's statements, adding that RTA is always looking for ways to improve its service to customers.

"This makes transit more convenient to people who might be working or shopping at those stores along SOM Center Road," he said.

The expanded bus route will include new stops on Solon Road, Bainbridge Road, SOM Center, and Aurora Road. However, the stop on Station Street, at Melbury Avenue, and the stop on Melbury at Aurora Road will no longer be served.

The stop on Melbury had been the most-used in Solon, Shaker told Patch, but many of its riders were walking from nearby shopping plazas on SOM Center. RTA and Solon decided to push the bus route to where people were actually going.

Here are the new planned stops on route No. 41:

• Solon Road — New stop east of Station Street
• Bainbridge Road — New stop at SOM Center Road
• SOM Center Road — New stop north of Aurora Road
• Aurora Road — New stop east of Melbury Avenue

Shaker shared one final message to the Solon community about the route change: "Pay attention to the Route 41 bus schedule. I'd ask our business community to be understanding if workers arrive a little later than usual as people adjust to new schedules, new routines."