What do Citilink’s route changes mean for Southeast Fort Wayne?

This story is part of Moving Fort Wayne Forward, a year-long reporting effort to engage residents, employers, and community leaders of Greater Fort Wayne around the possibility of a more modern, multimodal transportation system. Read the full series here.

Citilink, like so many organizations, is finding creative solutions to do more with less. Earlier this month, the public transportation provider introduced significant route changes, spurred by fiscal challenges and a commitment to better serve the community.

According to a Feb. 24 press release, several route changes and renaming took effect March 2. Route 5 was retired. Routes 7 and 7A have been combined into a single updated Route 7. Route 6, previously known as” McKinney”, was renamed “Southeast.” Service coverage in Southeast Fort Wayne will continue through updated Routes 3, 6, and 7.

Citilink General Manager/CEO John Metzinger says these decisions aim to preserve ridership while optimizing resources amid a projected structural deficit of $2.7-$3.9 million over the next four years. Specifically, Citilink anticipates these shifts will save a projected $980,000 per year. While the changes do not eliminate the deficit, they help address long-term sustainability amid stagnant state funding, rising costs, and the expiration of temporary federal COVID-era relief funding.

“The changes really came about as Citilink is learning to do with less,” Metzinger says. “This is after legislative changes that limit local funding, 13 years of flat state funding, and growing costs. We’re scaling for sustainability to make sure that we can continue to meet needs within the operating budget that we can find.”

These adjustments were informed by the results from an automated passenger counting system, which tracks where riders board and exit buses using GPS data. This system, introduced in 2021, has provided Citilink with a clearer picture of ridership patterns. It’s standard technology nationwide and allows users to track average passenger loads, times of service, and more.

“We collect really rich data on ridership patterns, and we can use that data to make informed choices about where routing is located and where bus stops are located,” Metzinger says.

The data revealed that Routes 5 and 7 had overlapping service areas and lower productivity compared to other parts of the system. By consolidating and redesigning these routes, Citilink can improve reliability, reduce duplication, and strengthen service where demand is highest.

“We found that we could discontinue that service but align adjacent routes and still provide the same basic network of coverage with fewer buses at a greater value for taxpayers,” he explains.

Citilink also announced some updates related to expanded coverage. Routes 3 and 6 will provide enhanced access along Hanna Street, Fairfield Avenue, Calhoun Street, Pontiac Street, and Lafayette Street, according to the press release. Service will continue to connect key apartment communities and Bowen Health. A new direct connection from Pontiac Street Market to Central Station will improve access to fresh food and essential services across the city.

Metzinger emphasizes that these decisions weren’t made in isolation, stressing the importance of public feedback in shaping these changes.

“Whenever we make any major service changes or changes to fares, we want to engage the public. We held a series of public meetings late last year and received lots of feedback that did impact these changes.”

Many of these meetings were held in the southeast area, where residents expressed concerns about being underserved. In response, Metzinger says that Citilink reassures the community that the area will still have seven buses per hour, maintaining a strong level of service.

“We know that the southeast has many vulnerabilities, and public transportation is vitally important there. The changes we’re making are very mindful of those needs.”

To help ease the transition, Citilink deployed transit ambassadors and supervisory staff to assist riders during the first week the changes took effect. On specified days, Citilink had transit ambassadors on board the buses and at Central Station to help riders who had questions or needed additional help.

While these changes address immediate fiscal and operational challenges, Citilink is also planning for the future. A long-range plan, set to begin this year, will explore what an ideal transit network could look like for Fort Wayne, drawing inspiration from cities like Ann Arbor, Mich., and Indianapolis.

“The community of Fort Wayne deserves a public transportation system that truly works for the community,” Metzinger says. “Considering that about one out of every four or five citizens doesn’t drive, whether due to age, disability, economic reasons, or choice, we need to accommodate their mobility needs.”These changes follow the city’s June 2024 announcement that it was awarded $3.8 million through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to enhance transportation in the city’s southeastern quadrant. The project will focus on four major roads — South Anthony Boulevard, Paulding Road, Fairfield Avenue, and East Tillman Road — and include road narrowing, lower speed limits, and improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to increase safety and accessibility.

Thanks to our Presenting Partner, Parkview Health, our Lead Sponsors, WindSwell Foundation and Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, and to our sponsor, Citilink, for making this story possible.