Special Regional Transit bus to honor Kettering

Kettering, Ohio – On October 11, 2021, the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) launched a new bus program to honor the communities the agency serves. RTA is calling the effort its “Proudly Serving” project. The project involves designing images for buses that showcase various points of interest within the Cities where RTA buses travel.

RTA launched the “Proudly Serving” project on October 11, 2021, with two buses that feature the communities of Kettering and Trotwood.

The “Proudly Serving” project was born from RTA CEO Bob Ruzinsky’s vision of honoring the communities that RTA services. In developing the project, Ruzinsky hoped to connect people to the communities RTA serves.

For free updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!

In a press release, Ruzinsky said, “Too often in our busy lives we overlook the great places all around us in the communities we each call home”. Ruzinsky went on to add, “These buses will highlight some of the great places in these diverse communities, and, we hope, foster increased community pride throughout Montgomery County.”

RTA says that each bus design will highlight points of interest for each community. RTA worked with a professional photographer who photographed around 130 locations throughout Montgomery County. RTA also says that the buses will have the year the community was founded, and its estimated population. In addition, each bus will also feature some fun facts about the community it is portraying.

The Kettering RTA bus features several colors associated with the City. The bus also has pictures of places such as the Kettering Recreation Complex, Fraze Pavilion, Kettering Government Center, Polen Farm, and Wenzier Park. In addition, the bus has a special depiction of Bart Simpson to honor Kettering native Nancy Cartwright, who provides the voice of the long-running animated character.

Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman said, “Greater Dayton RTA kept this under wraps (pun intended) for over a year to surprise all of us with a unique way to honor the communities they serve. Schwieterman added, “The truth is, this gesture reminds us of the terrific services RTA offers communities. We are humbled by the planning, coordination, and research that went into this project specific to each community. Residents will recognize things about their hometown on the buses and perhaps learn something new as well. Our sentiment is ‘Kettering is home,’ and this RTA initiative certainly enhances that feeling.”

So while it is very easy to ignore the details of RTA buses when you are walking or driving around Kettering, the next time you see an RTA bus, pay a little more attention because it just may be the one that is honoring our hometown of Kettering.