BCRTA Seeks Public Input on Proposed Middletown Route Changes
February 2, 2026
The Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) is inviting the public to provide feedback on proposed updates to Middletown’s fixed-route bus network and expansion to the R1 Hamilton-Middletown Connector.
The proposed changes mark the first major review of Middletown’s transit routes in decades. As the city has grown—with new businesses, shifting traffic patterns, and evolving community needs—BCRTA is committed to ensuring its transit system reflects today’s Middletown and its future growth.
BCRTA partnered with Kimley-Horn, design and planning consultants, to conduct a comprehensive review of the current route structure. The goal is to improve efficiency, expand accessibility, and reduce redundancies in the system while maintaining reliable connections for riders.
“We want this process to be shaped by the people who know the system best—our riders and the Middletown community,” said Shawn Cowan, BCRTA Director of Customer Care and Public Engagement. “Community feedback will help us design routes that truly serve Middletown’s needs, connecting residents to jobs, schools, healthcare, and opportunities across the city. Our goal is to create a network that moves with the community, not behind it.”
The community is invited to share feedback on the proposed route changes through several convenient options, including a digital survey available at butlercountyrta.com, paper surveys on BCRTA buses and at the Middletown Transit Station, and two upcoming public forums. An in-person forum will be held on February 16 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the MidPointe Library Community Room in Middletown, and a virtual forum is scheduled for February 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM via Microsoft Teams, with a link available on the BCRTA website. Survey feedback will help shape the final route design, which will be announced in early summer 2026, with implementation of the new routes planned for August 2026.
The survey will run from February 2 through February 28, 2026, and all participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of four $25 gift cards of their choice.
