Release Date: August 7,2026
METRO RTA to Offer FREE Park & Ride Services and Power Stages for PorchROKR 2026
August 7, 2026, Akron, OH — This year, METRO RTA has officially partnered with the Highland Square Neighborhood Association to provide FREE Park & Ride services for 2026 PorchROKR attendees, utilizing METRO’s annual Free Fare Summer Weekends program. Thanks to the generosity of Akron Public Schools, attendees will be able to park their vehicles in the APS Administrative Building parking lot located at 10 N Main St, Akron, OH 44308 anytime between 6 am and 11:30 pm on the day of August 15, 2026. Once parked, attendees will find specially marked METRO Direct bus stops that indicate pick-up, drop-off, and return locations. The Route 1 will run on a 15-20 minute frequency, providing attendees all-day flexibility for easy transportation to and from the PorchROKR festival.
For the first time, METRO will provide three fully electric buses to serve as Cooling, Charging, & Wi-Fi Stations for festival attendees that can be found throughout the festival footprint. The three METRO buses will also serve as the sole power sources for the PorchROKR Main Stage, Yellow Brick Road Stage, and the Beer Garden Stage—providing electricity for lighting, sound equipment, and more. METRO Buses can be found parked at South Rose Blvd. & Augusta Ave., Jefferson Ave. & West Exchange St., and at the Main Stage between Elmore Ave. & Bloomfield Ave.
Due to the large draw and increased popularity of PorchROKR each year, parking and the August heat has sometimes been a challenge for attendees. “We’re excited to be a part of PorchROKR this year in a new way.” METRO RTA’s Chief Operations Officer, Eric Scott said. “Providing attendees with a place to recharge and cool down, while also leveraging the Free Fare Summer Weekends program to provide easy transportation is a simple way for us to support an amazing event in our community.” In regards to this year’s partnership, the Highland Square Neighborhood Association had this to say, “We are very grateful for METRO RTA's support!”
For more information on PorchROKR’s official Park & Ride service, visit the Highland Square Neighborhood Association’s website: www.highlandsquareakron.org/metro-park-and-ride
METRO RTA is the public transportation provider in Summit County. METRO enhances the quality of life for our community by providing innovative transportation solutions that are safe, equitable, dependable, costeffective, and customer-focused, now and into the future.