Local bus services reshaped as RTA alters routes affecting Kettering
The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will introduce a series of network changes from Sunday, 6 September, that include the discontinuation of the North Community Connector and the removal of Route 28 — the circular service that serves parts of Kettering including the Greene Town Center and the main campus of Kettering Health.
One local stop due to close with the changes is on East Dorothy Lane at Delco Park Drive, in front of the City Barbeque restaurant. The RTA says other stops will also be withdrawn as part of the reshaping of services.
An RTA spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for further comment, but the authority has indicated that some routes will be adjusted and a new route added. The changes follow the 2023 introduction of the North Community Connector, which linked communities from Trotwood to Brandt Pike and intersected with ten other routes. That connector will now be discontinued.
Which services change and what Kettering will lose
The most immediate impact for Kettering residents is the elimination of Route 28, which currently operates as a loop providing connections between the Greene Town Center and Kettering Health’s main campus. The RTA has said it will modify remaining routes to "preserve access in portions served by the discontinued routes where demand is strongest."
Specific changes announced so far include:
- Route 28 — eliminated; several bus stops in Kettering will close.
- North Community Connector — discontinued; route originally ran from Union Road and Main Street in Trotwood, along Shiloh Springs, Shoup Mill and Needmore roads, ending near Kroger on Brandt Pike.
- Route 6 — will run along Shroyer and Stroop roads to access State Route 48; it will no longer operate on SR 48 between Stroop and Shroyer.
- Route 12 — will travel down Free Pike, cease the one-way trip on Curundu Avenue, loop around Delco Park, run north–south on Woodman Drive, and extend along Stroop Road to serve the Kettering Recreation Centre, laying over at the Meijer off Stroop and Wilmington Pike. These updates will cover part of the area currently served by Route 28.
- Route 17 — will no longer serve SR 48 between Stroop Road and Alex Bell Road.
Practical consequences and local response
The loss of Route 28 will affect people travelling to retail, health and leisure destinations served by the loop. For some residents, RTA says the altered routes will preserve access in the busiest sections of the discontinued services, but where stops are closed, passengers will face longer walks or the need to change services.
Community transport users and representatives for those with limited mobility often rely on consistent, nearby stops when attending appointments or shopping trips. With changes concentrated around Stroop Road, Woodman Drive and the Delco Park area, many regular users of Route 28 will need to check the revised timetables and revised stop locations.
“Other routes will be modified to preserve access in portions served by the discontinued routes where demand is strongest,”
is the RTA’s stated intention. The authority has not provided further explanation in response to local enquiries at the time of publication.
Quick reference: how the revised services relate to Kettering
| Route | Change | Effect on Kettering |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Eliminated | Loop serving Greene Town Centre and Kettering Health removed; several stops close |
| 12 | Rerouted | Will serve Kettering Recreation Centre and Meijer on Stroop/Wilmington Pike; covers part of Route 28 area |
| 6 | Rerouted | Changes to SR 48 section; uses Shroyer and Stroop for SR 48 access |
| 17 | Service withdrawn on section | Will no longer serve SR 48 between Stroop and Alex Bell Road |
Passengers are advised to consult the RTA website or contact the authority for updated timetables and stop maps before travelling from 6 September. Local community groups and transport charities may also offer guidance for people who require step-free or closer access to services in light of the changes.
The RTA first described the North Community Connector as the initial element of several planned community connector routes when it launched the service in 2023. The authority’s decision to withdraw it and to remove the Route 28 loop marks a substantial reshaping of local bus provision that will be felt across parts of Kettering and the wider Dayton-area network.
