Agency vying for increased funding

Laketran, along with multiple public transportation agencies from around the state, met earlier this month in Columbus to ensure more state dollars are allocated for public transportation services.

State funding for transit has drastically declined from $43 million to $7 million between 2002 and 2015, according to a Laketran news release.

Meetings were held with Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, Sen. John Eklund, R-Munson Township; state Rep. John Rogers, D-Mentor-on-the-Lake and a legislative aide for state Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township.

“We are finally finding a voice among the

legislature and decision makers in Columbus,” said Laketran Director of Communications and Marketing Julia Schick. “Last year, we were bringing the ODOT’s Statewide Transit Needs Study to the attention of the elected officials and this year they were reciting it.”

Schick said this engagement has played an important role in gaining the attention of the legislature.

Joining Laketran staff in Columbus were Lifeline CEO Carrie Dotson; Bob Fratino, Lake County Board of Development Disabilities director of community employment services; Frank Weglarz, volunteer advocate for Lake County Council on Aging; and John Murphy, chairman of Laketran’s union UAW Local 1834. Beacon Health CEO Spence Kline sent along a letter of support for Laketran.

“Instead of the conversation being about getting

people from point A to point B, our stakeholders can speak about the opportunity and impact those trips have on the lives of our residents here in Lake County,” Schick said. “It is important that our elected officials hear success stories of recovery, job retention and improved mental and physical health because of access to public transportation.”

Because of a change in federal regulation effective July 1, Laketran, along with all 88 counties and eight transit systems, stand to lose $200 million.

Ohio is projected to lose millions of dollars in sales tax revenue from Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, the release stated. While the state has found a means to recover the loss, Laketran will be without $417,800 annually starting in 2019. A potential “transitional aid” will be given in 2018, but leaves the transit agency with a $361,830 gap to fill. Laketran’s local sales tax levy makes up 62 percent of its operating budget.

Also effective July 1, Gov. John Kasich’s proposed state biennium budget, H.B. 49, is requesting a $1 million increase for public transportation, from $7.5 million to $8.5 million from general revenue funds, for 61 statewide transit agencies. The same proposed increase was cut from the 2016-2017 budget. The agency will continue to advocate for it to remain in the final budget as it is approved by the House and Senate.

A small success for transit in the state’s transportation budget was a $10 million increase in flexed federal funds that will help purchase vehicles and address infrastructure needed to expand or meet current unmet demand. However, ODOT’s 2015 Transit Needs Study states transit needs $192.4 million to adequately fund statewide capital needs.

“We’re very grateful to our stakeholders for their support in our advocacy efforts,” said Laketran Board President Brian Falkowski.

“Together, we’re finding our elected officials recognize the need and economic benefit of having an accessible transit system. The harder part of that equation is the solution, but the small strides are hopeful and show we’re moving in the right direction.”

In efforts to conserve spending, Laketran’s Board of Trustees recently voted to join NEORide, a council of governments formed to identify methods Ohio transit authorities can use to streamline services, operations and procurements into an efficient, cooperative model.

“NEORide has also discussed the possibility of creating a regional fare payment system for smartphones, commonly called mobile ticketing,” said Laketran Deputy General Manager Ben Capelle. “While the technology exists, the cost of the project was not desirable for Laketran alone to pursue, but may be affordable by creating a regional fare payment system.”