Just like the post office, neither snow nor rain nor cold nor gloom of night stays our buses from their appointed routes. When severe weather strikes, the Greater Dayton RTA is ready to roll. That’s why we suggest parking the car and letting us do the driving this winter.
Inclement weather is — and always has been — a challenge for the bus agency. But RTA plans in advance to face that challenge. No matter the weather, the transit agency promises to provide the same dependable transportation Dayton region residents have come to rely on.
“Most people don’t like to drive in poor weather conditions,” said Chief Operations Officer Jim Napier. “We suggest boarding an RTA bus on those days,” he said. “We’ll do our absolute best to make sure you get to where you’re going -- safely, on-time and in a climate controlled bus.”
Proactive planning and having the staff and equipment ready make all the difference, he said. The RTA Winter Weather Preparation and Response Plan is detailed and comprehensive. Reviewed annually for any necessary changes, the plan requires employees to step up in nearly every department to deal with the business of moving people throughout the Dayton region.
Because of the detailed plan, most snowy days are dealt with easily. Depending on the forecast, staffing levels are ramped up in most departments.
The RTA buildings and grounds crew and the line shop crew are responsible for snow removal and spreading the pre-treatment brine or the de-icing salt or calcium at all transit centers, often early in the morning. The dispatch center actively monitors police, emergency, and national weather service reporting agencies, then assists them if possible during a winter weather emergency. The operations department has drivers on call, ready to report to work when and if needed. Street supervisors are on-hand to take care of special situations when customers don’t make it onto their regular buses.
Barring extremely poor weather, RTA will continue to roll on all scheduled routes and honor all Project Mobility appointments. Service is continued to the fullest extent possible, with the safety of employees and customers always top-of-mind. Customers can sign up for route alerts at i-riderta.org or by following the RTA on Twitter at twitter.com/gdrta.
No matter what the day’s weather brings, the Greater Dayton RTA buses run every day of the year. While most days are dry and uneventful, some snowy days – like today – are treacherous for travel. But people still must arrive to work, school, and medical appointments. RTA employees will always do their best to make it happen.
