Posted July 16, 200519 yr An interesting article from the Spring 2005 edition of the Ohio Transfer newsletter: Art in TARTA by Stephen D. Atkinson, Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority Art in TARTA is a partnership formed by the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) and the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT). Art in TARTA provides a format for public participation using funds from the 1% federally-mandated use of Section 5307 formula funds for transit enhancement projects. In this case, Toledo-area artists of all ages have a way to show their works of art throughout the Toledo region in the spirit of community pride and awareness of the arts. A poetry contest, chosen as the inaugural program for Art in TARTA, was conceived by Dr. Joel Lipman, University of Toledo, and Marc Folk, Artistic Director of the ACGT. Next, author Larry Levy of the Glass House Writing Project developed a curriculum and worked as a clinician once a week with members of the Young Artists at Work (YAAW) program. This six-week summer youth employment opportunity enables at-risk youths to benefit from an intense exposure to the arts. YAAW has been made possible by the ACGT for the past ten years. The YAAW program encourages expression, refinement, cross-cultural sharing, and the exchange of ideas. The opportunity provides exposure to the concept of art as a business, as well as the creation of public art for the greater Toledo community. The contest—Poetry in Bridges—challenged the YAAW subjects to create poetry expressing the individual’s thoughts and feelings about bridges. Sixty individuals in the YAAW program submitted over 150 poems. The bridge theme was inspired by the Maumee River Crossing (MRC). The MRC, currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2006, is the largest single project ever undertaken by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Another contributor to the initial program was the Bowling Green State University School of Art under the direction of Dr. Liz Cole. BGSU graphic design instructors Mary Dawson and Colin Gearing worked with their advanced design students to develop the Art in TARTA logo and posters. The BGSU design students created bus wraps based on the winning poems writen by YAAW. Six Gillig low floor 40-ft. buses were wrapped with different designs featuring the three first award winning poems. The remaining poems—eight runners-up, and eleven honorable mentions—are displayed as posters in every TARTA bus. The winners of the poetry contest were announced at the opening reception for the program December 12 at the ACGT Gallery. Over 300 guests attended the two-hour reception, featuring a string quartet from the Toledo School for the Arts. Future Art in TARTA projects include working with the Toledo School for the Arts in designing bus shelters and benches; community-wide participation in bus shelter mural projects; and a continuation of contests with YAAW in conjunction with the 2005 Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival. Toledo native Art Tatum was a famous and talented jazz pianist known for his improvisational style. ACGT Project Chair Pat Levey leads the Art in TARTA committee; TARTA Transit Planner Jason P. Binder is the staff lead for the project. More information about Art in TARTA is available at www.ARTinTARTA.org. http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans/News_Letter/Spring%202005/fs_news.html
September 11, 200519 yr From the 9/10/05 Toledo Blade: PHOTO: Donna Posey of Perrysburg, waiting for a bus on Erie St., says choosing whether to ride or drive, ‘depends on my budget.’ ( THE BLADE/LORI KING ) High gas prices a boon for TARTA ridership By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Yvette Phillips used to drive from her home in North Toledo to classes at the University of Toledo, but not this semester. With gasoline already past $2.50 a gallon, she decided to try the bus — a decision the $3 price shock that struck last week because of Hurricane Katrina only reinforced. “It’s just ridiculous,” Ms. Phillips said of the $25 to $30 it now costs her to fill her Dodge Stratus sedan, up from $15 early this year. “I really feel sorry for the people who drive SUVs,” she added. ............ http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050910/NEWS11/50910062/-1/NEWS
September 12, 200519 yr There have been similar ridership increases in Cleveland, Canton, Akron, Dayton. But COTA in Columbus is bleeding riders at a rate of 3%... at a time when they should be capitalizing on the public frustration with gasoline prices. Cleveland, Toledo and other RTA's have aggressively marketed themselves to attract new riders. COTA has done zip.
September 12, 200519 yr I haven't noticed a difference in Cinti on SORTA I take a fairly inner city trip, tho. Mark
September 13, 200519 yr The bus that goes by my house (#41 Crosstown) hasn't seen an increase in riders from what I can tell. Many times it goes by empty.
September 13, 200519 yr The bus that goes by my house (#41 Crosstown) hasn't seen an increase in riders from what I can tell. Many times it goes by empty. So if it averages a rider per bus and now it's carrying two, that's an astounding increase! :wink: KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 13, 200519 yr God, this COTA in Bustown must really suck. All I hear are bad things about it.... Actually, I enjoy using it. It's much better than some other cities in Ohio's bus systems. Granted, I live near campus and I use the bus religiously but hey, I lived in Columbus for three years without a car; I never complained. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 13, 200519 yr I used COTA any time I was hitting something on High St. It was only one block from my house.
September 14, 200519 yr I use to work for COTA, and I can tell you that the #2 (North High) route is the most heavily used and (thus) the easiest to travel. But even that service has been slowed during off-peak hours and connections to other routes are fair to poor. There are virtually no meaningful or fast cross-town or suburb-to-suburb routes. It's still pretty much a hub-and-spoke system that doesn't begin to address modern commuting patterns or the way that Columbus and it's burbs have grown (sprawled). Management at COTA is still so remote from the day to day operations that they have no clue about these deficiencies, much less the changing needs of riders. They've back-burnered what has become a pretty weak plan for light rail: too limited in its scope to appeal to any voter beyond the immediate North Corridor area, so it's doomed to fail at the polls. A friend who still works "on the inside" tells me that ridership is down 6% from a year ago at this time. Pretty sad, when other transit authorities are seeing ridership increases. He also tells me that another round of service cuts is planned for this January to deal with the prospect of a $4-million dollar deficit. These management twits at COTA have managed to succeed only at failing at a time when gasoline prices and other economic factors are literally driving people to look for options other than their car. How lame is that?
October 22, 200519 yr They're having high ridership levels, but they're losing a lot of potential profit on fuel. From the 10/20/05 Toledo Blade: TARTA ridership up, but high fuel costs burn profits By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER TARTA ridership grew sharply in September as gasoline prices rose, but the increase wasn’t nearly enough to cover the higher fuel prices that the bus system itself faces. Total ridership on Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority buses was up 9.5 percent for the first full month after Hurricane Katrina’s impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast sent the price of self-service, unleaded regular above $3 a gallon in the Toledo area for the first time. .......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051020/NEWS11/51020026/-1/NEWS
December 6, 200519 yr From the 12/2/05 Toledo Blade: PHOTO: Victor Evans of South Toledo says that higher costs will be a problem. ( THE BLADE/HERRAL LONG ) RIDING THE BUS TARTA board votes to up basic bus fare to $1; higher prices take effect Jan. 1 By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER The price to ride the bus in the Toledo area is going up next year. Facing rising fuel, maintenance, and health-benefit costs, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees voted unanimously yesterday to raise the basic bus fare in Toledo from 85 cents to $1, effective Jan. 1. Commuter token users will pay a dime more per trip, while monthly passes will increase from $35 to $40. Senior and disabled fares will rise from 40 to 50 cents; weekly passes will increase from $8.50 to $10, and Call-A-Ride service will go up a dime to 60 cents from 50. ............ http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/NEWS11/512020344/-1/NEWS
December 15, 200519 yr From the BG News, 12/9/05: PHOTO: Pimp my ride: A Toledo bus displays artwork and poetry chosen by University students. Two of the buses will stop at the School of Art Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. Photo Provided Art in motion BGSU students combine poetry with paint on Toledo’s bus line By Amanda Hooper ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR December 09, 2005 Vibrant red swirles pour from a saxophone that mingles with poetry, and as it rolls away, a bus takes riders to the next stop. Art created by four Bowling Green students now adorn those big TARTA buses chugging through Toledo. The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo and the Toledo Area Regional Transportation Authority collaborated to combine art and poetry to feature on buses. .......... http://www.bgnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/439909a53038d
March 4, 200619 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/NEWS08/60304006/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published March 4, 2006 Biodiesel fueling station for TARTA opens The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority yesterday marked the opening of a biodiesel fueling station at its Central Avenue main garage that will allow buses to be powered by french fry grease. With a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, TARTA has been converting its fleet to use a combination of soybean oil, cooking oil recycled from restaurants, and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The conversion is expected to reduce harmful bus emissions and lessen TARTA's vulnerability to high fuel prices.
April 3, 200619 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060403/NEWS11/604030335/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published April 3, 2006 Diesel fuels TARTA deficit Officials may ask Toledo taxpayers to dig deeper By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Toledo taxpayers soon could be asked to dig a little deeper to keep the local bus network running, as TARTA officials ponder whether to replace the agency's two property-tax levies with a consolidated levy, or perhaps replace one of the levies a year early. James Gee, the transit authority's general manager, said a levy decision likely will be made after two union contracts are resolved. An arbitration hearing for the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel, representing support staff, was held Thursday, while one for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 697, representing drivers and mechanics, is scheduled for April 14 and 15. ........
April 7, 200619 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/NEWS11/604070331/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published April 7, 2006 Perrysburg considering TARTA pullout A committee appointed by Perrysburg Mayor Nelson Evans to study ways to increase TARTA ridership in that city could end up recommending withdrawal from the regional transit system if growth prospects look poor. "I definitely don't think we get a million dollars' worth of service," Mayor Evans said yesterday, referring to $971,000 in property taxes that Perrysburg residents paid to the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority last year. ...........
April 7, 200619 yr Very Detroit-esque... "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 8, 200619 yr But that's one of the big problems almost every transit system has with trying to serve the suburbs. The RTA (pick your city) is so engrained in its "hub and spoke" system of buses that they either haven't been able to keep up with the growth (sprawl) or they haven't adequately addressed the fact that commuting patterns have chnaged over the years. People just aren't going from the burbs to downtown as much as they once did. They are looking for suburb to suburb routes or even circulator routes within their own communities. And those routes have to have frequent and timely service. Anything less and they flop. Ohio's RTA's have to start re-thinking how they provide transit services.
April 8, 200619 yr But it's sad to see this mayor in Perrysburg doesn't grasp the concept of regionalism. If his approach were applied to a family's home lifestyle, the oldest son would be demanding a share of his parents' income because their work schedules seldom allow them to drive him to soccer practice. I often hear people say that the transit ridership is in the suburbs. That's hogwash. Transit cannot effectively serve the suburbs, given the low density, lack of mixed uses or a pedestrian-friendly street grid, the scatter-graph of trips for work, school, shopping etc. as opposed to more linear-, corridor-, pipeline-type trips in parts of the metro area that do have those features where transit still gets used. The only way transit ridership can be increased in most suburbs is to change their land use patterns and/or change the cost structure (ie: make each mode's pricing reflect the true costs they incur). Until that happens, you can run a million buses everywhere in the suburbs and they still won't get used to the per-capita extent that they are in higher-density communities built along mixed use corridors. I do agree Ohio RTAs have to change their thinking about their operations, but I think that predominantly involves taking a more active approach to land use issues. There are some things the RTAs can do to make suburban land use more productive ridership generators, but these may be fewer and farther between than similar developments in the core city. While transit does work best in the spiderweb-type route matrix, there can be multiple spiderwebs, but requires high-density centers for these multiple hubs -- assuming the suburban street patterns allow this. Often they don't. It would likely require a complete redesign of suburban areas, and I don't think the Mayor Nelson Evans' of Ohio appreciate that or even want that. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 13, 200619 yr From the 4/13/06 Toledo Blade: PERRYSBURG Reasons for bus disuse probed By ELIZABETH A. SHACK Blade Staff Writer Why don't more people in Perrysburg ride TARTA? A committee appointed by Mayor Nelson Evans is trying to answer that question. Mr. Evans said he wants the committee to look at ways to increase the number of riders in the city or how the service could be more useful to city residents, who paid $971,000 in taxes to the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority last year. "That's my main goal - to try to get value for the money," he said. ......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060413/NEIGHBORS03/604120344/-1/NEIGHBORS
May 3, 200619 yr From the 5/3/06 Toledo Blade: TARTA committee recommends try for levy in the fall By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER TARTA’s finance committee has recommended asking district taxpayers to replace a transit levy a year early, and the head of the agency’s board says he will urge colleagues to approve putting the question on the Nov. 7 ballot. The owner of a $100,000 house would pay $52 a year instead of $39 if the 1.5-mill property tax for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority is replaced. Replacement, rather than renewal, would allow the agency to collect taxes based on current property values rather than those in place when the current levy was passed in 1997. ........ http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/NEWS11/60503070/-1/NEWS
May 3, 200619 yr From the 5/3/06 Toledo Blade: Perrysburg’s TARTA panel wants survey Members of Perrysburg’s TARTA review committee hope to meet with transit authority officials in the next week to discuss how to survey riders on routes in the city. The committee has discussed asking the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority to hire an intern to ride the buses this summer, but that might prove too complicated, Kevin Rantanen, committee chairman, said. At a committee meeting Monday, member Rita Hogan said she counted an average of 13 riders on the 10A inbound and outbound bus over a two-week period. The committee is investigating ways to increase ridership in the city. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/NEWS18/60503054/-1/NEWS
May 4, 200619 yr There are a number of problems with transit and its service to the subburbs, including irregular road patterns, low density development, low capacity throughfares and undesirable destinations. I believe the last point should be emphasized. In Akron, all buses go to Downtown Akron. What is in Downtown Akron? Lots of things, but there isn't a single full service grocery a department store nor any other venue I would commonly need to attend. So almost all trips involve a transfer, most likely back into the suburbs. The Akron subburb of Stow had a route that encircled the city, but was dropped due to poor ridership lack of funding. Even so, there is an ingrained mentality about transit, especially bus service that keeps all but those that must use it away.
May 5, 200619 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060505/NEWS11/605050450/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published May 5, 2006 Levy request's legality doubted by TARTA critic Bus service cites rising costs By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER There could be one little catch with the levy replacement request that the TARTA board of trustees approved yesterday morning to try to boost revenue against rising fuel and paratransit costs: It may be illegal. The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority board yesterday passed a resolution to place the levy question on the Nov. 7 ballot in Toledo, Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Ottawa Hills, Spencer Township, Maumee, Waterville, Perrysburg, and Rossford. But Perrysburg resident Philip Caron, a frequent TARTA critic and former agency trustee, questioned the move's legality - and officials from the office of Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell and the Wood County Board of Elections voiced doubts afterward too. ........
May 12, 200619 yr From the 5/11/06 Toledo Blade: TARTA can go early for levy State law protects transit authority, prosecutor asserts By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER TARTA’s proposal to replace one of its two property taxes a year before it expires, questioned by an agency critic, is legal, Lucas County officials say. The 10-year, 1.75-mill levy that voters in the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s nine-community service area approved in 1997 was first applied to that year’s tax list, which means that its 10th and final year on the duplicate is this year, John Burell, a Lucas County assistant prosecutor, said yesterday. ........... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060511/NEWS11/60511034/-1/NEWS
June 1, 200619 yr From the 5/31/06 Toledo Blade: Council gets plan to use dairy site for bus service By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER The site of a former Toledo dairy is in line to become the new headquarters for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s paratransit service for people with disabilities. City Council is to vote Tuesday on a plan by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to buy the former Page Dairy property at 311 Wade St. from the city. The port authority would then lease the 1½-acre site and an adjoining 4.6 acres the port owns to TARTA. The transit authority has arranged $10 million in federal grants to build its paratransit facility. ........ http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060531/NEWS11/60531023/-1/NEWS
June 29, 200618 yr From the 6/28/06 Toledo Blade: Legality of TARTA levy request disputed Perrysburg’s TARTA review committee is questioning the legality of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s decision to put a replacement levy on the ballot this year instead of next year. The committee decided Monday to contact the Wood County Board of Elections about whether state law allows the early levy, committee chairman Kevin Rantanen said. ........... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/NEWS09/60628046/-1/NEWS
August 7, 200618 yr From the 8/5/06 Toledo Blade: TARTA ridership up despite fare increases Despite fare increases this winter, the number of adults paying to ride TARTA buses increased 5.6 percent in the first half of the year, according to the transit authority. ......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060805/NEWS11/60805011/-1/NEWS
August 7, 200618 yr From the 8/5/06 Toledo Blade: TARTA ridership up despite fare increases Despite fare increases this winter, the number of adults paying to ride TARTA buses increased 5.6 percent in the first half of the year, according to the transit authority. TARTA attributes the increase in part to more interest in alternative means of transportation because of higher gas prices. In January, TARTA raised its standard fare from 85 cents to $1, citing higher fuel, maintenance, and health-benefit costs. The authority also increased senior and disabled fares from 40 cents to 50 cents, and Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service, which provides door-to-door trips for people whose disabilities prevent them from using regular bus service, rose 50 cents to $2. Overall, there were 2.4 million TARTA riders in the first half of the year, a figure that includes students and those riding free on Ozone Action! Days. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060805/NEWS11/60805011/-1/NEWS
August 24, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060823/NEWS11/608230468/-1/NEWS -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article published August 23, 2006 Few in Perrysburg ride TARTA buses Survey finds routes inconvenient Not many Perrysburg residents ride TARTA, according to preliminary survey results presented last night to a city review committee last night. About 20 percent of the surveys sent out by the ad hoc committee have been returned so far, which committee member Phil Caron said was an excellent return rate. .........
August 30, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/NEWS11/60830006/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published August 30, 2006 TARTA wont seek levy renewal until 07 The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority has postponed its efforts to renew an operating levy this year and instead plans to go to voters in 2007, when the levy expires. TARTA tried to get the levy renewal on this falls ballot but missed the filing deadline, which was Thursday. .......
September 7, 200618 yr From the 9/6/06 Toledo Blade: Perrysburg panel will pay church to study TARTA service An ad hoc committee created by Perrysburg Mayor Nelson Evans is teaming up with Zoar Lutheran Church to further determine the usefulness of Toledo Area Regional Transit services to city residents. Sometime this month, the committee will pay $400 to the church to be used in a nonprofit project in exchange for Zoar Lutheran choir members using TARTA's Call-A-Ride service and filling out a survey. The surveys will be used to judge the efficiency derived by TARTA's decision to allow bus drivers to deviate from traditional routes to respond to calls from customers. ...... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/NEWS18/609060450/-1/NEWS
September 9, 200618 yr From the 9/8/06 Toledo Blade: TARTAs delayed levy replacement will create crunch By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Delaying replacement of one of TARTAs two property-tax levies will likely create a financial bind next year, but exactly how tight the budget will become wont be clear until pending arbitration of a labor contract is completed, the transit agencys top executive said yesterday. Twice postponed, a hearing concerning a new contract for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 697 is now scheduled for Sept. 20-21. At stake is the compensation and other terms of employment for about 230 full- and part-time bus drivers and maintenance workers who have toiled without a contract since Oct. 31. Their pay and benefits represent the largest expense in the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authoritys budget. .......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060908/NEWS11/60908061/-1/NEWS
October 13, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061012/NEWS11/610120421/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published October 12, 2006 Perrysburg panel to report on TARTA A committee formed to study the effectiveness of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority's services in Perrysburg hopes to make formal recommendations to City Council on Tuesday, Kevin Rantanen, the committee's chairman, said. The four-person committee met yesterday to discuss its findings and develop a response to questions posed last spring by Mayor Nelson Evans, but was unable to come to a consensus. ......
November 6, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061106/NEWS11/611060306/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published November 6, 2006 TARTA struggling to meet schedules Old bus fleet, cuts, street work cited By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Thanks to a TARTA bus breakdown last month, Melissa McCreary will have to wait until early January to learn if she will regain custody of her son, who now lives with his grandmother. Ms. McCreary, who lives in northwest Toledo, was one of several passengers aboard a Route 26D TARTA bus headed downtown Oct. 25 that broke down at Berdan and Matlack avenues after it began leaking engine coolant. Had the bus arrived downtown on time as planned, she'd have had 20 minutes to get to Lucas County Family Court for a custody hearing. .......
November 20, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061120/NEWS11/611200354/-1/NEWS -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article published November 20, 2006 Perrysburg might take step toward TARTA exit Bill would seek vote for unilateral pullout By JOE VARDON and DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITERS Perrysburg City Council may vote soon on a resolution that could enable the city to opt out of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority. The resolution, which will be read at tomorrow night's council meeting, asks Mayor Nelson Evans' administration to seek a change to the Ohio Revised Code so a political subdivision could remove itself from a regional transit authority without the consent of any other authority members. ......
November 22, 200618 yr I do agree Ohio RTAs have to change their thinking about their operations, but I think that predominantly involves taking a more active approach to land use issues. Often, but not always. Sometimes just better frequencies are needed. The Lakewood Circulator, for example, doesn't run often enough for people who want to connect to it from the Red Line. I recall I wanted to meet up with someone in Lakewood, but the Circulator ran only every 40 or 45 minutes. It was faster for me to walk the more than a mile to the Clifton Blvd condo where I was going. Not a big deal, unless it is raining, which it was (off and on) one time. Furthermore, I was coming from Berea and wanted to take the 86 to the Red Line. It only runs every hour on Saturdays and significant parts of the weekdays. If I take the 86 to the Red Line to the Lakewood Circulator, it means walking once I get off the train at Madison/117th because the schedules don't gel because the Circulator and/or 86 doesn't run often enough. I would use the 86 more often if it ran more often-- and I would prefer to use it. A lot of times I just end up having to drive to the Red Line because th 86 just doesn't run frequently enough. Or late enough.... I also looked into using the 86 and Red Line to go to Little Italy for dinner on a Friday or Saturday evening. You have to make it an early dinner because the last 86 leaves Brook Park RTS at 9:52 on Saturday and 9:56 on Friday. Since the last southbound run is so early, it also makes it impossible to use for concerts, ball games, etc. I suppose I could just take the Red Line into the airport and hop in a cab, but that adds expense, that is if the cabbies don't refuse to take me (which some have said in the Taxicab thread that they've been refused by airport cabbies if they are only going to Berea, Brookpark, etc).
November 22, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061122/NEWS11/611220402/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published November 22, 2006 Perrysburg gets transit resolution A resolution that could bring Perrysburg a step closer to pulling out of the Toledo Area Regional Transportation Authority was introduced at last night's City Council meeting but was not put to a vote. .....
December 18, 200618 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061217/OPINION03/612160374/-1/OPINION -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article published December 17, 2006 Public transit important to Perrysburg A recent Blade editorial and editorial cartoon portrayed Perrysburg falsely. The unfortunate, shallow, and soundly rejected comments of a former mayor a few years ago should not be used by The Blade to brand an entire community. ...... Nelson D. Evans Mayor City of Perrysburg Perrysburg's attitude is just fine, thank you I would like to address the criticism of "Perrysburg's attitude" by both The Blade and several letter writers. First of all, are there snobs in Perrysburg? Sure, but you also have them in Ottawa Hills, Sylvania, and even Toledo. ........ Mary Catherine Caron Perrysburg Why doesn't Toledo set an example? I couldn't help but wonder if the contributor to the Readers' Forum regarding Perrysburg wanting to cancel TARTA services was observing the traffic flow on the Anthony Wayne Trail from his SUV or was he observing from the window of a bus. My guess it is from an automobile of some kind. ......... Walt Breier Perrysburg
December 19, 200618 yr ^ Here's the link to the story about which that first letter was referring (I think). It appeared in the 12/6/06 Blade. Also, here's the link to the op-ed piece "The bus stops in Perrysburg" from December 11: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061211/OPINION02/612110318 Perrysburg seeks change in law to aid TARTA pullout Perrysburg City Council last night approved a resolution that could bring the city a step closer to removing itself from the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority. Council approved a resolution that asks Mayor Nelson Evans' administration to seek a change to the Ohio Revised Code so that a political subdivision could remove itself from a regional transportation authority through a vote of its own electorate and without the consent of any other authority members. ......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061206/NEWS11/612060456/-1/NEWS
January 1, 200718 yr From the 12/4/06 (UT) Independent Collegian: PHOTO: Shirley Kirshner's haiku poem that reads, "Art glass is like life/beautiful, vulnerable/painful if broken," was transcribed into visual art that is now on a TARTA bus. Media Credit: Ami Bugler The art on the bus gets wrapped around Andrew Maurer Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Arts & Life This week, TARTA is letting its freak flag fly with the inauguration of four new brightly-colored, poetry-adorned buses. According to the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Program Coordinator Michelle Carlson, this is the third annual installment of the Art in TARTA program. "We want to help the public to see that art can exist outside of a gallery, and that a space which would otherwise be taken for granted, like the side of a bus, can be turned into art," she said. .......... http://www.independentcollegian.com/media/storage/paper678/news/2006/12/04/ArtsLife/The-Art.On.The.Bus.Gets.Wrapped.Around-2519364.shtml?norewrite200612311956&sourcedomain=www.independentcollegian.com
January 3, 200718 yr Great art/transit program, and here's the direct link to the website which displays more pictures: http://artintarta.org/
February 7, 200718 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/NEWS18/702070452/-1/NEWS -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article published February 7, 2007 Gardner to host talk on leaving TARTA By JOE VARDON BLADE STAFF WRITER Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) has invited local government leaders to Perrysburg to discuss new legislation that would allow municipalities to remove themselves from regional transit authorities. Specifically, Mr. Gardner sent notice of the special meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow in the basement of the Perrysburg Municipal Building, to mayors and chairmen of township boards of trustees whose communities are members of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority: Toledo, Perrysburg, Ottawa Hills, Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Maumee, Waterville, Rossford, and Spencer Township. .......
February 8, 200718 yr Legislation like this does not bode well for transit systems anywhere in the state. And the legislator driving this "bus" is from a community where transit is almost non-existent. Not a good sign. Article published Thursday, February 8, 2007 Area leaders debate TARTA membership BLADE STAFF Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) did his best Don Henley impression this morning when he compared the states regional public transit systems to the hit Eagles tune "Hotel California." "You can check out any time youd like, but you can never leave," Mr. Gardner said. The senator made his rock-and-roll reference to a handful of local government leaders whose communities are members of TARTA during a morning meeting in Perrysburg. .......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070208/DEVELOPINGNEWS/70208016
February 17, 200718 yr Back to: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070217/NEWS11/70216023/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published February 17, 2007 Gardner, Finkbeiner plan transport meeting BLADE STAFF Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner (R. Bowling Green) said he and Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner have agreed to hold a conference of local government leaders to discuss ways to improve public transportation in the Toledo area. ........
February 18, 200718 yr I think that's a strong possibility. I know that the Ohio Public Transit Association is going to be lobbying hard against it, as will the major transit systems themselves.
February 26, 200718 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070226/NEWS11/702260326/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published February 26, 2007 TARTA anticipates a deficit of $2.9 million Reserves to cover loss; tax levy planned By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority's board of trustees will consider a $28.3 million budget proposal Thursday that requires nearly $2.9 million in deficit spending, but agency officials say fund reserves are sufficient to cover the shortfall. Should voters reject a levy replacement request on the Nov. 6 ballot, however, the agency's financial picture for 2008 will be much more troubled. ........
February 27, 200718 yr From the 1/5/07 Toledo Blade: ALTERNATIVE FUEL TARTA test shows biodiesel may trim maintenance costs By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Biodiesel buses may not just be environmentally friendly: They also could improve the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority's bottom line. That's the upshot of preliminary results from an ongoing test of 48 buses fueled by a blend of traditional diesel oil and soybean oil, James Gee, TARTA's general manager, told the authority's board of trustees yesterday. During the first six months of the three-year test, the biodiesel buses required between 15 percent and 20 percent less maintenance than their counterparts burning 100 percent ultra-low sulfur diesel. "There is an environmental benefit and, according to the results, a maintenance benefit," Mr. Gee said. "That was unexpected." ........ http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070105/NEWS11/701050333/-1/NEWS
March 5, 200718 yr http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070305/NEWS11/703050322/-1/NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article published March 5, 2007 TARTA may provide 'off hours' bus services Federal funds not yet available for program By DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER Federal funds could help the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority offer transportation to low-income workers whose shifts start or end during overnight hours when buses don't operate, the agency's planning director told its board of trustees recently. But it's not clear when the Federal Transit Administration grants will be distributed, so no local funds for the overnight service are included in the $28.3 million operating budget that the transit trustees approved recently for 2007 after earlier voting to apply for the federal funds. .......
April 10, 200718 yr Article published April 10, 2007 Rossford OKs option to end TARTA service Members of Rossford City Council voiced their support last night for bills introduced in the Ohio legislature that would give communities the option to continue or end their memberships in regional mass transit authorities without other members’ consent. The bills were introduced last month by state Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) and state Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green). The legislation has been introduced at the behest of Perrysburg officials, who question the value their city receives from the more than $1 million its residents pay in taxes to TARTA each year. Rossford council voted 6-0 to support the legislation. Several councilmen have voiced support periodically over the last year for TARTA services, but others have said they’re not quite sure they’re getting the service they need. “This would provide an additional wake-up call to TARTA to be more responsive to the needs of Rossford and suburban communities,” Councilman Jim Richards said. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070410/NEWS18/70410015/-1/NEWS
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