WKSU News: Cleveland RTA could share in an extra million dollars from the state

Thursday, February 26, 2015 Cleveland RTA could share in an extra million dollars from the state ODOT wants to increase its $7.3 million stake in the state's public tranportation by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA	Reporter Kabir Bhatia

Ohio has 61 public transport systems, but only Cleveland has an urban rail network

Courtesy of Kevin Niedermier

The Ohio Department of Transportation wants to give an extra million dollars to public transit next year. But as WKSU’s Kabir Bhatia reports, Cleveland RTA’s needs might outweigh the increase.

Cleveland RTA could share in extra million from the state

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A study commissioned by the state transportation department says spending on public transit needs to double in the next decade, to $1.8 billion. That’s to maintain the existing system, and also to meet new demand by millennials who are less reliant on cars.

Transportation expert and former state Rep. Gene Krebs says Cleveland should take any extra money and use it for something that will be useful to young people who are moving downtown.

“These are also young people who are completely wedded to their smartphones. For them, an app on the phone that will tell them at all points in time what their transportation options are. So you can monitor on a real-time basis where everything is: where all the trains are, all the buses. That would be something that is a truly lasting benefit to Cleveland.

“The goal of all this needs to be to attract these young millennials. They are attracted to places on the basis of cool factor. The coolness comes from mass transit, walkability, diversity and things of that nature.”

Ohio’s contribution to public transit was $7.3 million last year – one of the lowest in the nation, and about one-sixth what it gave in the year 2000.