We need you to continue to contact Senate President Obhof!
We have come a long way. Thanks to you, the state budget was passed that included a fix for massive losses in sales tax revenue to transit agencies from the loss of the Medicaid MCO tax. The fix was included by Senator Matt Dolan and is known as the Dolan amendment. The governor vetoed the amendment but the house overrode the veto overwhelmingly.
But we aren’t done yet.. The Ohio Senate also has to vote to override Kasich’s veto and support the Dolan amendment.
Call Senate President Larry Obhof at 614-466-7505. Ask him when the senate will vote on the Dolan amendment.
We need you to keep calling until the senate votes. More info and talking points available here.
Live in Cleveland? Vote in the primary election September 12th for candidates that support transit!
Bike Cleveland, working in partnership with us and other organizations has developed an Active Transportation Vision for Cleveland. We encourage you to check it out and share widely! Equitable public transportation is an essential part of the vision.
Bike Cleveland also sent out questionnaires to Cleveland City Council and Mayoral candidates. Check out their responses on public transit here.
Clevelanders for Public Transit has been calling for the City of Cleveland to form a Department of Transportation (DOT) similar to other cities around the country (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Detroit, and many others). The DOT would prioritize making public transit useful in Cleveland by including dedicated bus lanes on high ridership routes, making sure jobs are accessible by transit and bus stops are safe and accessible from the rapid etc.
Although many candidates have spoken about the importance of transit, these candidates have campaigned on forming a Cleveland DOT:
-Cleveland Scene asked mayoral candidates “What’s one strategy you would pursue to finance long-term sustainability and growth at RTA?”
Check out their responses here.
-Watch mayoral candidates discuss the future of public transit in Cleveland here at the City Club debate.
-Also, multiple questions were asked about transit at the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. Video of the debate is available here.
Join us on for a special screening of the documentary Free to Ride on Monday, September 25th at 4pm at Shaker Square Cinemas.
Free To Ride is the story of the relentless spirit of community members from across Dayton, Ohio who overcame a suburban contingent opposed to the expansion of public transit along a commercial corridor, and the system of checks and balances that allowed justice and reason to prevail. Free To Ride is a promising story about how hard work, collaboration, and the accountability systems can yield fair and just outcomes for all.
More information on the screening is here. Check out the trailer here.
Thanks to the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival & Kirwan Institute for making this happen!
Update from August Riders Meeting:
Thanks to all who came out to our last riders meeting on August 23rd! We discussed the challenges facing public transit in Cleveland and what to do. We discussed how to grow the organization and get more riders involved.
Literature was provided to talk about CPT with other riders and get them signed up. If this is something you are interested in please contact us at info@clefortransit.org.
Our next meeting will be announced soon.