Clevelanders for Public Transit is disappointed that the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees did not vote to go to the ballot for transit funding today. Due to a declining sales tax base and loss of Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) sales tax revenue, RTA must find new revenue or reduce expenses by 2020.
As described by RTA’s own campaign expert during the July 31 special board meeting, this November’s election is predicted to have higher voter turnout that future election dates. Furthermore, even if unsuccessful, this election offers an opportunity to revise a proposal and go back to voters in a future election. The continued lack of funding will result in additional cuts and fare increases for the 150,000 Cuyahoga County residents that use transit.
Now is the time for elected officials, residents and businesses to get involved and turn transit around in Cuyahoga County. Today, 65 percent of the jobs in Cuyahoga County cannot be accessed by transit in 90 minutes or less — if at all. With non-existent federal support for transit operations, declining state funding and the elimination of MCO tax, RTA is in a death spiral resulting in less mobility for residents of Cuyahoga County.
RTA fares have doubled since 2005 while service has declined by over 25 percent. If no action is taken, further cuts will result in 1.8 million fewer annual trips to jobs, 700,000 fewer annual trips to schools and 300,000 fewer healthcare trips every year. Funding is an opportunity to create a transit system that is ready for the 21st century.
While CPT is disappointed at the decision not to go to the ballot, CPT is pleased that RTA is pursuing a redesign of the transit network to more effectively meet the mobility needs of Cuyahoga County residents and to study ways to make fares more equitable for riders. Both actions were championed in CPT’s Fair Fares platform. These actions represent a once in a generation opportunity to significantly improve the ability of residents to access jobs, education and other opportunities at a reasonable cost.
In addition to supporting funding for transit and new ways of improving transit access for residents, Mayor Jackson, County Executive Budish and the Mayors and Managers Association must appoint daily transit riders as well as experts in transit operation and equitable transit-oriented development on RTA’s Board of Trustees.
County Executive Budish must use Cuyahoga County’s open appointment to place a rider on RTA’s Board of Trustees. A more active Board of Trustees will allow the board to provide a clearer and more informed vision for Transit in Cuyahoga than the aimless and disengaged Boards of RTA’s past.