You called out people that abandoned the ''urban core''.  So, don't throw rocks at people when you live in an inner-ring glass house to start with and never lived in the city.

 

I live in, and have always lived in, one of the densest parts of the county and pay taxes to GCRTA. I'll throw whatever rocks I want to throw at whomever I choose, particularly when they're not willing to take part in funding amenities they want to use.

 

By the way, you never did elaborate on the "good reasons" for people abandoning the urban core. I wonder why.

 

Why do you live in a suburb?

 

60% of CLE population left...with that number, there's a reason.  Wonder why you need it explained.

Why do you live in a suburb?

 

Because this community is where I was raised and where I've chosen to remain. It continues to meet just about all of my needs for a community.

 

60% of CLE population left...with that number, there's a reason.  Wonder why you need it explained.

 

Obviously there is a reason, that was your original claim and I didn't dispute that. I've been asking you to identify that reason, which you have yet to do.

Why do you live in a suburb?

 

Because this community is where I was raised and where I've chosen to remain. It continues to meet just about all of my needs for a community.

 

60% of CLE population left...with that number, there's a reason.  Wonder why you need it explained.

 

Obviously there is a reason, that was your original claim and I didn't dispute that. I've been asking you to identify that reason, which you have yet to do.

 

For starters, the same reason your family lived in a then suburb.  Most likely your family history started in Cleveland, then to suburb or your family completely bypassed Cleveland, for obvious reasons.

 

Otherwise, like you, these former Clevelanders moved to a suburb because Cleveland wasn't meeting all of their needs and a suburban community did.  You can relate to that.

 

Now some of  these same suburbs use urban code words like ''inner ring suburb''...lol

OK, take it to PM if you can't drop it, but back on topic.

^ Unfortunately Joe C seems to be content with just managing decline. 2019 is only 3 years away...

 

Amen!

The Opportunity Corridor will transport people from Cleveland's outer-ring suburbs to University Circle. The Ohio Department of Transportation says this highway will create opportunity for "potential new economic development, new jobs and a new identity for the community."

 

Wow.  I realize this is written by an intern who probably isn't getting paid, but really????

 

Regardless of the debate over whether or not this is a "highway", E. 55th street and Francis Avenue is not in an "outer ring suburb".

Wow.  I realize this is written by an intern who probably isn't getting paid, but really????

 

Regardless of the debate over whether or not this is a "highway", E. 55th street and Francis Avenue is not in an "outer ring suburb".

 

Responded to here:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2267.msg809215.html#msg809215

For starters, the same reason your family lived in a then suburb.  Most likely your family history started in Cleveland, then to suburb or your family completely bypassed Cleveland, for obvious reasons.

 

Otherwise, like you, these former Clevelanders moved to a suburb because Cleveland wasn't meeting all of their needs and a suburban community did.  You can relate to that.

 

Now some of  these same suburbs use urban code words like ''inner ring suburb''...lol

 

None of this is the point and never has been in this discussion and I'm sorry I followed that red herring you threw, though I felt the need to respond to your ad hominem line of discussion. I would correct your nonsense further, but rules are rules.

 

The point is, and how this directly relates to RTA, that regardless of the actual community I live in, as a Cuyahoga County resident, I logically do most of my shopping in this county, so a portion of what I pay on over 95% of what I buy goes to support GCRTA, unlike people living in neighboring counties (many of whom have intentionally fled Cuyahoga County to in part to specifically avoid such extra taxes). Therefore it is not at all unreasonable for me and other residents to suggest that a pay structure for residents vs. non-residents might be further explored.

For starters, the same reason your family lived in a then suburb.  Most likely your family history started in Cleveland, then to suburb or your family completely bypassed Cleveland, for obvious reasons.

 

Otherwise, like you, these former Clevelanders moved to a suburb because Cleveland wasn't meeting all of their needs and a suburban community did.  You can relate to that.

 

Now some of  these same suburbs use urban code words like ''inner ring suburb''...lol

 

None of this is the point and never has been in this discussion and I'm sorry I followed that red herring you threw, though I felt the need to respond to your ad hominem line of discussion. I would correct your nonsense further, but rules are rules.

 

The point is, and how this directly relates to RTA, that regardless of the actual community I live in, as a Cuyahoga County resident, I logically do most of my shopping in this county, so a portion of what I pay on over 95% of what I buy goes to support GCRTA, unlike people living in neighboring counties (many of whom have intentionally fled Cuyahoga County to in part to specifically avoid such extra taxes). Therefore it is not at all unreasonable for me and other residents to suggest that a pay structure for residents vs. non-residents might be further explored.

 

Got it.

 

I would suggest increasing RTA's ridership generally before distinguishing fare structures based on residents v. non-residents of Cuyahoga County.  At this point, Cuyahoga County is losing population as is the region.  Creating employment opportunities and building the tax base with taxpaying residents is key.

 

Contributing to the tax base with visitors, tourists and conventioneers spending money helps although you ridiculed this point before.  It helps and doesn't hurt things either.  These industries create jobs.

 

Build demand for RTA to the point that its overloaded system needs to increase fares for non-residents.  Don't see how this can be done but this topic is worn.

 

Good luck with your endeavors on this point.

I would suggest increasing RTA's ridership generally before distinguishing fare structures based on residents v. non-residents of Cuyahoga County.  At this point, Cuyahoga County is losing population as is the region.  Creating employment opportunities and building the tax base with taxpaying residents is key.

 

And I've said numerous times, there is a lot of applicable research that suggests that forcing that tax burden on existing residents assuming it will actually lead to more businesses and jobs in the central core is debatable policy. I won't rehash the same discussion, but if people and businesses have access to the same resources (all other things considered) but a chance to pay less in taxes, unless they're extremely altruistic they're going to go where they'll keep most of their own money.

 

Contributing to the tax base with visitors, tourists and conventioneers spending money helps although you ridiculed this point before.  It helps and doesn't hurt things either.  These industries create jobs.

 

Again, just playing with the numbers, it appears that even with these visitors it's still almost certainly a net loss (an extreme one at that, even, in most cases) on a per ride basis when non-residents ride. In terms of actual job creation, that's up for debate, and a far more complicated economic analysis.

 

Build demand for RTA to the point that its overloaded system needs to increase fares for non-residents.  Don't see how this can be done but this topic is worn.

 

Incidentally, that demand does exist a few days per year. And those are the days that I've suggested fares be increased with a variety of goals in mind.  :clap:

I would suggest increasing RTA's ridership generally before distinguishing fare structures based on residents v. non-residents of Cuyahoga County.  At this point, Cuyahoga County is losing population as is the region.  Creating employment opportunities and building the tax base with taxpaying residents is key.

 

And I've said numerous times, there is a lot of applicable research that suggests that forcing that tax burden on existing residents assuming it will actually lead to more businesses and jobs in the central core is debatable policy. I won't rehash the same discussion, but if people and businesses have access to the same resources (all other things considered) but a chance to pay less in taxes, unless they're extremely altruistic they're going to go where they'll keep most of their own money.

 

Contributing to the tax base with visitors, tourists and conventioneers spending money helps although you ridiculed this point before.  It helps and doesn't hurt things either.  These industries create jobs.

 

Again, just playing with the numbers, it appears that even with these visitors it's still almost certainly a net loss (an extreme one at that, even, in most cases) on a per ride basis when non-residents ride. In terms of actual job creation, that's up for debate, and a far more complicated economic analysis.

 

Build demand for RTA to the point that its overloaded system needs to increase fares for non-residents.  Don't see how this can be done but this topic is worn.

 

Incidentally, that demand does exist a few days per year. And those are the days that I've suggested fares be increased with a variety of goals in mind.  :clap:

 

RTA employees: "OK, it's St Patrick's Day...everyone get your IDs out'' at every rapid station and bus stop...lol...sounds like a plan.

Greater Cleve RTA @GCRTA

Ticket Vending Machines on west side Red Line still experiencing issues. Please bring EXACT CHANGE CASH of $5 for all day passes tonight.

 

 

This isn't a good way to increase ridership...

Why do you live in a suburb?

 

Because this community is where I was raised and where I've chosen to remain. It continues to meet just about all of my needs for a community.

 

60% of CLE population left...with that number, there's a reason.  Wonder why you need it explained.

 

Obviously there is a reason, that was your original claim and I didn't dispute that. I've been asking you to identify that reason, which you have yet to do.

 

For starters, the same reason your family lived in a then suburb.  Most likely your family history started in Cleveland, then to suburb or your family completely bypassed Cleveland, for obvious reasons.

 

Otherwise, like you, these former Clevelanders moved to a suburb because Cleveland wasn't meeting all of their needs and a suburban community did.  You can relate to that.

 

Now some of  these same suburbs use urban code words like ''inner ring suburb''...lol

 

love it.

some people see history starting at th day they were born.

btw this suburb that the poster is saying he or she lives in is most likely one of the UO-approved suburbs. These are in a different class and are off-limits to any criticism.

Greater Cleve RTA @GCRTA

Ticket Vending Machines on west side Red Line still experiencing issues. Please bring EXACT CHANGE CASH of $5 for all day passes tonight.

 

 

This isn't a good way to increase ridership...

 

Getting rid of those horrible machines and replacing them with something modern and easy to use in an upright stance may increase ridership....

Greater Cleve RTA @GCRTA

Ticket Vending Machines on west side Red Line still experiencing issues. Please bring EXACT CHANGE CASH of $5 for all day passes tonight.

 

 

This isn't a good way to increase ridership...

 

Getting rid of those horrible machines and replacing them with something modern and easy to use in an upright stance may increase ridership....

 

Be on the lookout for a press release later this week announcing the launch of the Passport mobile payment app. At least this will make it so that you don't have to rely on those God-awful TVM's

This was in the Columbus Dispatch two days ago... It concerns the hit to sales tax revenues due to changes in how sales tax applies to Medicare expenses effective July 1, 2017. This is the same change mentioned by Mayor Welo at RTA's board meeting last month.

 

Link to article: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/07/03/state-counties-facing-big-loss-of-tax-revenue.html

 

Several key takeaways:

 

+ "...the average county is looking at a loss of 7.5 percent of its sales tax collections, based on 2015 state figures. A number of rural counties, including Pickaway, would see sales tax losses exceeding 10 percent."

 

+ The state budget director said the change essentially will wipe out half of the state's projected tax revenue growth and could mean significant county cuts.

 

+ COTA stands to lose about $8 million a year (more than 70,000 service hours).

 

+ At today's RTA board committee meetings the FY2017 tax budget was presented and RTA's tax guy gave a presentation estimating a hit of approximately $18M in annual sales tax revenue unless there is a fix. I haven't seen a press release or the link to the presentation posted, but I am keeping my eyes peeled. Ginger Christ, the new transportation reporter from the PD/Cleveland.com/Advance Ohio was there so I anticipate that we will see some local coverage in Northeast Ohio.

 

In other words -- more GCRTA service cuts and/or fare increases are likely coming.

This was in the Columbus Dispatch two days ago... It concerns the hit to income tax revenues due to changes in how sales tax applies to Medicare expenses effective July 1, 2017. This is the same change mentioned by Mayor Welo at RTA's board meeting last month.

 

Link to article: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/07/03/state-counties-facing-big-loss-of-tax-revenue.html

 

Several key takeaways:

 

+ "...the average county is looking at a loss of 7.5 percent of its sales tax collections, based on 2015 state figures. A number of rural counties, including Pickaway, would see sales tax losses exceeding 10 percent."

 

+ The state budget director said the change essentially will wipe out half of the state's projected tax revenue growth and could mean significant county cuts.

 

+ COTA stands to lose about $8 million a year (more than 70,000 service hours).

 

+ At today's RTA board committee meetings the FY2017 tax budget was presented and RTA's tax guy gave a presentation estimating a hit of approximately $18M in annual sales tax revenue unless there is a fix. I haven't seen a press release or the link to the presentation posted, but I am keeping my eyes peeled. Ginger Christ, the new transportation reporter from the PD/Cleveland.com/Advance Ohio was there so I anticipate that we will see some local coverage in Northeast Ohio.

 

In other words -- more GCRTA service cuts and/or fare increases are likely coming.

 

Uh-oh.  This is not good news at all.

 

Have to say there's nothing like convenient and inexpensive rail transit.  This past weekend in Philly I took the PATCO High-Speed line to Camden for a concert at the BB&T Center (Philly's version of Blossom Music Center but in an urban setting with the Ben Franklin Bridge and Philly skyline to the east). 

 

Two minute walk to the subway station; 6 minute ride to Camden City Hall station, less than 10 min walk to venue.  Total round-trip fare: $2.80!  These trains fly, live up to its name, High-Speed Line; ride under the Ben Franklin Bridge roadway.  Underground in Center Center over and under Camden, further out in Jersey it rides at grade.  Built in the 1930s.  My favorite Philly transit line.  Connects to the River Line in Camden for ride north to Trenton, with connections at the Trenton Transit Center to SEPTA, NJ Transit to NYC, Amtrak.  Last time I rode to Trenton it was $1.35 one-way.  Great ride along the east bank of the Delaware River.

 

I wonder if many use the WFL for shows at Nautica?

 

The key in all the east coast transit systems is convenience and properly routed lines.  Jersey is covered with rail lines, north to NYC, west to Philly, east to Atlantic City.  There's talk of a River Line extension south of Camden.  Then there's the east coast cities' local transit systems which are, for the most part, excellent.

Consider that the latest GCRTA service cuts/fare increases that caused all of the angry and upset riders and employers was to address a $7 million shortfall.

 

The shortfall starting in 2017 from Medicare sales taxes is projected to be more than twice that.

A rare piece of good news on the RTA front:

 

RTA launches mobile fare app, your farecard is as close as your phone

 

Jul 6, 2016

CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today launched a new way for riders to pay for transit fares. The RTA CLE app for mobile ticketing lets riders skip the lines and pay from their phones.

 

Mobile ticketing is a pilot program now available for use on all RTA services. The RTA CLE app is free to download from the iPhone App Store and Android Google Play. The pilot program is also free to RTA.

 

This new initiative is part of RTA’s overall mission to provide safe, reliable, clean, and courteous public transportation to its riders. With sustainability as one of RTA’s guiding principles, this new paperless form of payment is an additional way to optimize transit’s impact on the environment and provide a greater convenience to riders.

 

The new app is powered by Passport (link is external), a leading mobile payments provider for transit and parking. Passport has launched mobile ticketing solutions in other cities, including Sacramento, CA (link is external), Jacksonville, FL (link is external), and Columbia, SC (link is external).

 

With the new RTA CLE app, RTA riders can easily plan and pay for their trip on their phone. Transit riders can even use the app’s interactive map screen to coordinate their RTA ride ahead of time.

 

Using their secure RTA CLE account, riders can add their credit card information to pay for their pass. Riders can then use their mobile ticket to board transit or store their ticket for later use with the app’s Ticket Manager feature.

 

“We are happy to introduce this convenient, new technology to our customers,” said Joe Calabrese, RTA’s CEO and General Manager.

 

“This mobile ticketing solution gives our riders a more convenient option for fare purchases and a more efficient way to plan their trip ahead of time,” he said. “We’re excited to continue to improve upon our rider experience and make traveling around Cleveland that much more convenient and better.”

 

http://www.riderta.com/news/rta-launches-mobile-fare-app-your-farecard-close-your-phone

 

More info: http://www.riderta.com/mobileticketing

This was in the Columbus Dispatch two days ago... It concerns the hit to sales tax revenues due to changes in how sales tax applies to Medicare expenses effective July 1, 2017. This is the same change mentioned by Mayor Welo at RTA's board meeting last month.

 

Link to article: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/07/03/state-counties-facing-big-loss-of-tax-revenue.html

 

Several key takeaways:

 

+ "...the average county is looking at a loss of 7.5 percent of its sales tax collections, based on 2015 state figures. A number of rural counties, including Pickaway, would see sales tax losses exceeding 10 percent."

 

+ The state budget director said the change essentially will wipe out half of the state's projected tax revenue growth and could mean significant county cuts.

 

+ COTA stands to lose about $8 million a year (more than 70,000 service hours).

 

+ At today's RTA board committee meetings the FY2017 tax budget was presented and RTA's tax guy gave a presentation estimating a hit of approximately $18M in annual sales tax revenue unless there is a fix. I haven't seen a press release or the link to the presentation posted, but I am keeping my eyes peeled. Ginger Christ, the new transportation reporter from the PD/Cleveland.com/Advance Ohio was there so I anticipate that we will see some local coverage in Northeast Ohio.

 

In other words -- more GCRTA service cuts and/or fare increases are likely coming.

 

This could doom the WFL and Green Line altogether.

This could doom the WFL and Green Line altogether.

 

$18 million will doom a lot more than that -- including many businesses who depend on access to inner-city labor.

This could doom the WFL and Green Line altogether.

 

$18 million will doom a lot more than that -- including many businesses who depend on access to inner-city labor.

 

Where are Sherrod Brown and Marcia Fudge on transit generally and funding in particular? 

 

This could doom the WFL and Green Line altogether.

 

$18 million will doom a lot more than that -- including many businesses who depend on access to inner-city labor.

 

Where are Democrats Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Marcia Fudge on transit generally and transit funding in particular?

They're pro transit, but it's very difficult to get Congress to create programs that provide operating funding for urban transit systems. The capital improvement/state-of-good-repair funding available for transit systems nationwide is extremely limited, as measured in absolute dollars and in cost-sharing. It's only 50/50 federal/local for transit capital vs. 80/20 federal/local for new roads.

Where is the pressure on state Republicans like John Kasich and his fellow GOP transit-haters, that have reduced transit aid for operating expenses to peanuts; likely the lowest for any industrialized states?  Kasich, whose only interest in Cleveland was manifested in his helping ram through the Opportunity Corridor highway along the only rail rapid transit ROWs in the state, gets a free pass in Cleveland as 'Mr. Reasonable' for some reason.

Where is the pressure on state Republicans like John Kasich and his fellow GOP transit-haters, that have reduced transit aid for operating expenses to peanuts; likely the lowest for any industrialized states?  Kasich, whose only interest in Cleveland was manifested in his helping ram through the Opportunity Corridor highway along the only rail rapid transit ROWs in the state, gets a free pass in Cleveland as 'Mr. Reasonable' for some reason.

 

Kasich only seems "reasonable" in a room with Trump, Cruz and Huckabee. 

 

Outside of this, he is the GOP poster child.  Tax breaks for corporate interests and "balancing" the budget by pushing down expenses to counties and cities.  The flipside is we are living through a period of MASSIVE job growth and population influx thanks to these tax breaks!  :roll:

Where is the pressure on state Republicans like John Kasich and his fellow GOP transit-haters, that have reduced transit aid for operating expenses to peanuts; likely the lowest for any industrialized states?  Kasich, whose only interest in Cleveland was manifested in his helping ram through the Opportunity Corridor highway along the only rail rapid transit ROWs in the state, gets a free pass in Cleveland as 'Mr. Reasonable' for some reason.

 

Kasich only seems "reasonable" in a room with Trump, Cruz and Huckabee. 

 

Outside of this, he is the GOP poster child.  Tax breaks for corporate interests and "balancing" the budget by pushing down expenses to counties and cities.  The flipside is we are living through a period of MASSIVE job growth and population influx thanks to these tax breaks!  :roll:

 

In Ohio, MASSIVE job and population growth?  Hmm...est. population growth in Ohio 2010-2015: 57,000.  That's not MASSIVE.

^Your sarcasm detector is not MASSIVE, safe to say.

Not only that, we need a more balanced legislature.  Local and state politics is everything.  I like this idea of the cities forming a bloc, though it might need to include all the Warrens and Springfields to be effective.

PHS, man, you gotta work on your quoting skills.

 

Anyways, I would say that all of the 3 Cs have rivalries with one another, though the Cleveland-Cincinnati rivalry probably has the deepest roots.

This is getting pretty far off topic...

 

To rectify that, here's Ginger's story about the RTA CLE app:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/07/rta_mobile_app_lets_riders_pay.html

^Your sarcasm detector is not MASSIVE, safe to say.

 

It's not supposed to be but Ohio job and population growth is certainly not MASSIVE.

 

I guess I should have made the little eye-roll guy more MASSIVE!  LOL  :roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

This is getting pretty far off topic...

 

To rectify that, here's Ginger's story about the RTA CLE app:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/07/rta_mobile_app_lets_riders_pay.html

 

I'm not comfortable with credit card data on my phone, so I hope this eventually leads to smart cards.  The vending machines remain a disgraceful mess, typically non-functional at the station near me.  RTA needs to focus on keeping those operational until a comprehensive new system is ready.

The RTA CLE app is awful right now for me. I'm really having a hard time signing up/getting past the home screen.

 

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

 

Please send all feedback about the RTA CLE app to [email protected]. Complaints/feedback posted on this forum will NOT be logged for that purpose. Let's keep everything in one proper place.

 

Remember -- this is a trial run being conducted at no cost to the Authority. Your feedback will be important to any future development of the app customized to our wants and needs.

I mean, their RFP included hiring a developer that is competent, right? I can't sign up and I'm on an iPhone 6+. Not that complaining here will help, but it only adds to the pile of crap that the RTA has failed at in the past ... six months alone. If you want the public to get onboard with increasing fares and in pitching a sales tax increase, then it needs to be held to a higher standard than "that'll do."

RTA facing "catastrophic" revenue loss in 2017

 

By Ginger Christ, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on July 07, 2016 at 2:00 PM, updated July 07, 2016 at 2:51 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The already financially-strapped Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority stands to lose as much as $18 million annually in sales tax revenue starting in July 2017.

 

The loss comes as an expected change in state sales and use tax revenue – RTA's primary funding source – goes into effect. At that time, the state of Ohio will lose the sales and use tax revenue it is collecting from Medicaid managed care organizations.  Mike Daugherty, manager of budgets for RTA, characterized the change as a "significant, catastrophic loss of revenue on an annual basis for the authority."

 

"It would be a catastrophic loss for every county and every transit agency in the state," Daughtery said Tuesday during an RTA board meeting.

 

Ohio projects that it will lose $558 million in state fiscal year 2018, which starts in July 2017, and $578 million in fiscal year 2019. The counties will see a $195 million loss in revenue in fiscal year 2018 and $202 million in fiscal year 2019.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/07/rta_facing_catastrophic_revenu.html#incart_2box

The red font is very poignant

This is absolutely infuriating to me.  And I am sure it is exponentially more so to those like KJP who are so involved in Transit awareness.  Has there been ANY progress at all in convincing the State to get their heads out of their ... and up the contributions?  At this point things are looking pretty dismal for us.

A cleveland.com commenter pointed out that while our surface parking tax is 8%, Pittsburgh's is 50% and used for transit funding.  We could try that.

From Ginger's article

 

Ohio first was notified in July 2014 that its tax on Medicaid managed care organizations like CareSource and Buckeye Health Plan was at odds with federal regulations and was given until the end of its next regular legislative session – June 30, 2017 – to alter its taxing structure.

 

So, we've known this was coming for two years and are only now just talking about it?

Because all of a sudden, it's an "emergency." It's how they can induce panic with certain political groups and bargain for fewer service cuts or hike sales taxes. You can't do that if you anticipate it years down the road and adjust accordingly.

If you want to do some more in-depth reading on the sales tax at hand, here's a report from 2011 put together by The Center for Community Solutions

 

http://www.communitysolutions.com/assets/docs/State_Budgeting_Matters/sbmv7n9mcosalestaxhoneck121511.pdf

Because all of a sudden, it's an "emergency." It's how they can induce panic with certain political groups and bargain for fewer service cuts or hike sales taxes. You can't do that if you anticipate it years down the road and adjust accordingly.

 

I don't think RTA knew this was coming, but I could be wrong. When I said "we" I was more referring to the state.

A cleveland.com commenter pointed out that while our surface parking tax is 8%, Pittsburgh's is 50% and used for transit funding.  We could try that.

 

I think a parking tax has real potential and could be sought on a countywide or even multi-county basis.

 

EDIT: here are some other ideas I researched a while ago....

 

 

 

++ Lease of publicly owned infrastructure such as municipally or county owned utilities, such as the underground or overhead transmission infrastructure of Cleveland Public Power or the electrical distribution infrastructure of the Greater Cleveland RTA.

 

++ A municipal or county motor vehicle license tax to sustain a municipal, county or regional transportation improvement district. The tax can be raised by resolution, ordinance or other measure by the municipal/county council/commission.

 

++ 4% of gasoline consumption nationwide (and perhaps a like amount in Ohio) is by nonhighway purposes including agriculture, marine, state, county, and municipal activities, off-road recreational, industrial and commercial uses. Ohio generates about $1.8 billion per year in state gas taxes. Four percent of that is $70-75 million annually which can be used to leverage another 20-50 percent federal share (up to $375 million) in FTA funds. I would love to see a public body apply for these funds for a nonhighway project, be denied, and then file a lawsuit to challenge the denial.

 

If it is determined that these nonhighway gas taxes can be used for public transit, perhaps they could be part of a flexible transportation fund program of up to $375 million per year for ODOT and the MPOs to administer.

 

++ Personalized license plates, aka vanity plates, were deemed in Oregon (which has a similar constitution prohibition on spending highway user fees on nonhighway purposes) to be a decoration for your car rather than serve as a registration fee or tax because it is voluntary add-on cost. Revenues were used to sustain Oregon's intercity passenger rail. In Ohio, personalized plates cost $50 each x 344,868 issued in 2014 = $17,243,400. All years since 2007 were above 300,000 issuances except 2010 with 264,888 issuances. SOURCES: http://bmv.ohio.gov/facts_figures.stm & http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/sp_personalized.stm

 

If a base amount of $15 million per year (based on 300,000 issuances) is assumed, it could leverage up to $60 million per year in FTA funding.

 

++ Budget offsets may be possible. Ironically, this amount is roughly equal to the $17.6 million cost in 2014 of mowing grass along state and federal highways in Ohio.

http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2014/05/27/lt-div-class-libPageBodyLinebreak-style-webkit-user-select-none-gt-Ohio-looks-for-ways-to-trim-costs-for-grass-care-lt-div-gt-copy.html#

 

ODOT is looking at ways of reducing this cost. ODOT District 4 and the City of Akron undertook a pilot project in 2008 by planting hearty shrubs, perennials, trees and ground cover to replace high-maintenance fescue which includes lawn, turf and pasture grass types. The results of this pilot project isn't known. It should be noted that no private contractors responded to ODOT's recent mowing bid in Akron so Summit County is providing this service. https://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D04/Documents/business%20plan%202015%20%204.pdf

 

So those are some options of raising funds locally or statewide,

 

To JMasek[/member] or JeTDoG[/member]: this was posted on AAO's Facebook page today regarding the HealthLine....

 

Will the bus have air conditioning? The 90F that leaves E9th and Lakeside at 3:36 PM did not have air in this horrible heat.  This is not the first time. I made a complaint on the website - no response. Why are the new buses no longer on the southeast side of the city?

Can Cleveland do a 'Pop Tax' like some city' s have. Or better yet it could be a county  pop tax. Specifically for transit. Like the sin tax it would be for 10-15 years and bring in maybe 20mil + per year. That would be enough to replace all of the aging trains and the infrastructure involved. Replace all of these overhead wires with DMU or LRT technology.  In my mind though RTA would not be the deciding factor as to how to spend the money. A separate panel of transit enthusiasts would be chosen to make the final call on what equipment to buy.  My problem with RTA has always been it is not run by ppl who take the train into work, they drive in from places like Westlake and Strongsville.  Being on the board for them is no different than being on the School Board.  It's just looks good on the resume' .

Anyone else sad that everyone who depends on the bus and transfers from an east side rout to a west side route is going to have to walk ten blocks through all the craziness just to carry on with their day?

Anyone else sad that everyone who depends on the bus and transfers from an east side rout to a west side route is going to have to walk ten blocks through all the craziness just to carry on with their day?

 

Incorrect. The B-Line trolley will run between the two terminals from 5am-1am, and those east side buses that run 24 hours will have their routes extended between 1am and 5am to service the stop at Frankfort and West Roadway: http://www.riderta.com/service-alerts/downtown-riders-convention-reroutes