A good move for county public transit

An expanded Lorain County transit system is a must for residents. Thanks to MOVE (Mobility and Opportunity for a Vibrant Economy) Lorain County, the group is keeping the issue on the front burner since its origin in 2015.

At a public forum Aug. 1 at the Lorain County Community College Wellington Center, representatives from MOVE Lorain County solicited feedback from community stakeholders on what a Lorain County coordinated transportation plan would look like.

And it’s no surprise that Lorain County’s diverse transportation needs continue to be the subject of ongoing community consultation.

MOVE Lorain County is gathering feedback through a survey and community forums and will submit a mass transit system proposal to the Ohio Department of Transportation in November.

Sharon Pearson, a mobility management consultant with MOVE Lorain County, said the group is strategically reaching out to all corners of the county and demographic groups to develop a targeted transportation strategy.

Pearson said the transportation department is looking at communities with transportation issues, specifically those with rural aspects to them.

One feature MOVE Lorain County is working on is a one-call, one-click system which could compile all available transportation services presently available in Lorain County, enabling users quick access to local services and the agencies providing them.

Barb Barna, a MOVE Lorain County board member, said the lack of transportation options in the area is an issue for economic development and employers with key destinations not being served.

As more and more jobs come to the suburbs and fewer people driving, mass transportation is vital for residents getting to and from work.

It’s no secret cities with economic growth need employees. Do the math. Lorain and Elyria and cities with the largest number of residents in the county, possibly will have the most people looking for work.

And to find employment, they may have to travel to Avon, Avon Lake or North Ridgeville, the cities with the most available jobs.

MOVE Lorain County says the jobs are going unfilled because people don’t have transportation to get to them.

There are many reasons people don’t own vehicles.

In a Jan. 23 report, MOVE Lorain County said a resident must earn $15 an hour to “effectively own and operate a car and maintain a normal standard of living,” but many of the current jobs available in the county only pay $12.85; 15 percent below what is needed.

Owning a car also means that one has to have money for insurance, maintenance and of course, gasoline.

And not everyone can afford ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.

Barna said transportation in Lorain County is not very good, and it needs to change.

Lorain County needs to expand transportation alternatives to attract, develop and maintain a workforce.

If there is a good transportation system in the county, Barna said companies want to know about it to get workers to their jobs.

Also, Barna said funding issues have become a central focus with transit losing federal funding due to a lack of matching local investments and limited state funding support with Ohio being one of the lowest states in terms of supporting public transportation.

Stakeholders in attendance for the meeting at LCCC Wellington cited concerns about the ability to get to medical appointments across the county and specialized support for those with mobility issues.

MOVE Lorain has put together a list of goals for improved transportation including to identify community resources for transportation and mobility and to identify the gaps and unmet needs.

The group also is encouraging residents to participate in the Lorain County Transportation Needs Survey, which is available until Aug. 15 and can be accessed at www.moveloraincounty.org .

The survey has 16 questions including asking people if they use public transportation, if they are interested in public transportation and what improvements are needed for better public transportation.

An improved public transit system is crucial for Lorain County.