METRO’s new 107,000-square-foot Maintenance & Operations Facility marks a major investment in the future of public transportation for our region. Featuring 28 maintenance bays and three times the space of the previous facility, this state-of-the-art building provides the room and resources needed to keep METRO moving forward!
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The $61.6 million facility was made possible in part by $37.8 million in federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment supports METRO’s commitment to modernizing its facilities and strengthening public transportation for Summit County.
Notable Features
- Dedicated Body Shop and Paint Booth
- State-of-the-Art Maintenance Systems
- Dispatch Center
- Dedicated Safety and Training Space
- Employee Wellness Enhancements
- LEED Gold Sustainability
Local Impact
The project involved 43 different contractors, including 35 from Ohio. Of those, 12 were from Summit County, accounting for approximately $29 million in project costs.
The Marble Fields of METRO
METRO's property is located on the former disposal grounds for many glass and ceramic factories that were located in and around Akron, Ohio. While excavating the property, to make room for the Maintenance & Operations Facility, a treasure trove of bottles, dishes, teapots, marbles, and so much more were unearthed. The constant movement and vibration from the buses traversing the property has disturbed the ground enough for the marbles to surface. Due to their small size, the marbles pop up from time-to-time. Because of this we have casually named this area the Marble Fields of METRO. In fact, many team members have marbles in their offices that they've found and collected.
The Marble Fields have even garnered the attention of the University of Akron. Archeology professors are considering offering a class for their students to research the history and provenance of the area and the objects found within.
Take a look at a rendering of the Maintenance & Operations Facility
Learn more about the groundbreaking for this facility
Click here to learn more about how funding was secured for this building!