MANSFIELD — Richland County Transit (RCT) is inviting the public to learn more about its upcoming RCT Flex service at a series of open house sessions and preview rides on Tuesday, April 14.
The events offer residents, workers, and community stakeholders an opportunity to experience the new service firsthand and provide feedback before the official launch on May 4, 2026.
Two open house sessions will be held April 14 at the RCT Transit Center, 74 S. Diamond Street, in Mansfield.
Attendees can pick up schedules, review route maps, ask questions, and speak directly with RCT staff about how the service will operate. Sessions are scheduled from 6 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
In addition to the open houses, RCT will offer free preview rides of the new Flex routes. These guided tours will give participants a chance to ride the routes, see key destinations, and better understand how the service connects neighborhoods and job centers. Preview rides are scheduled April 14 as follows:
- Route 17 (North-South): 9:15 a.m.
- Route 18 (East-West): 10:30 a.m.
Advance reservations for the preview ride are requested by calling 419-522-4504.
RCT Flex is a one-year pilot program designed to expand transit access during hours when traditional fixed-route service is not available.
Beginning May 4, the service will operate Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and 6:15 to 11:15 p.m., targeting workers with early morning, late evening, and overnight shifts. The service is also open to the public for school, shopping, social, medical or other needs.
The pilot includes two routes operating on one-hour loops.
Route 17 runs north to south, from the Mansfield Industrial Park area to Cook Road, including neighborhoods with several apartment complexes.
Route 18 runs primarily east to west between Home Road and Newman Street, serving areas along Longview Avenue as well as key destinations such as grocery stores and OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
Transfers are available at the RCT Transit Center, with an additional connection point at Longview and Main.
RCT Flex also introduces added flexibility for riders through a “deviation” option, which allows buses to travel up to a quarter-mile off route to pick up passengers closer to their homes. This service must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and is available for a small additional fee of $2 per trip.
Like all RCT routes, Flex service will use “flag stops,” allowing riders to board from anywhere along the route by signaling the driver from the correct side of the street.
The service area was designed to be compact and efficient, focusing on areas with high transportation need and employment density.
U.S. Census data indicates that approximately 16,800 jobs and 31,800 residents are located within a half-mile of the Flex routes, including many households without access to a vehicle.
In conjunction with the Flex service, RCT is also adding additional mid-day trips to Route 15 (Airport) to improve connections to the Airport Industrial Park during key shift changes.
Fares for RCT Flex will remain consistent with standard RCT service, with one-way trips set at $2 and half-price rates available for youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Day and monthly passes are also available.
Riders may pay with cash or through the EZFare mobile app, which supports credit and debit cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The RCT Flex pilot is fully funded for one year through a Federal Transit Administration research grant awarded via the University of Minnesota’s Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program.
The project is one of only four urban transit pilots selected nationwide and includes a formal evaluation of its impact on riders, employers, and the broader community.
Development of the service reflects more than 18 months of planning and community engagement.
A local steering committee — including Richland County Transit, the Richland County Regional Planning Commission, the North End Community Improvement Collaborative, and RLS & Associates — worked closely with a broader group of stakeholders, including employers, educators, elected officials, and residents, to design a service that responds to real transportation needs.
RCT encourages all interested community members to attend the April 14 events, experience the new routes, and help shape the future of transit in Mansfield.
For more information or to reserve a seat for a preview ride, call 419-522-4504 or follow RCT on Facebook for updates.