Without expanded transit funding, riders are left with hard choices, like whether to cut service to Lakeview Terrace, a low-income housing neighborhood with hundreds of residents. This is why transit funding is needed now. The RTA board has the power to make this happen, but has failed to act.
In 2008, Cleveland lost nearly 40% of our bus service, more than any other city in the country. RTA’s board and our region’s political leaders have failed to develop any plan to restore or expand transit service. County Executive Armond Budish and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson appoint the majority of the RTA board. What are they doing to support transit?
In 2018, RTA Board President Clough said “A greater investment in public transit is the right course of action” explaining why he thought the Board of Trustees should bring a ballot measure to the people in 2019. “The need is urgent and the clock is ticking,” Clough said. 2019 has passed and the need is more urgent now than ever.
To prepare for a levy, RTA agreed to a transit system redesign– redesigning their network to connect more people to jobs, education, healthcare and as an opportunity to reestablish public confidence and stop ridership decline. The system redesign also included an expanded funding concept, showing how RTA’s network could improve with 25% more funding. The expanded concept has disappeared from RTA’s “NextGen” proposal.
Clevelanders for Public Transit invites riders to join us on Monday, November 16, at 6 p.m. where we will host RTA for a presentation and discussion about the proposed “NextGen” system redesign.
Lakeview Terrace stands in the shadow of disconnection wrought by centuries of systemic racism. The Shoreway is an intimidating physical barrier between Lakeview and the rest of Ohio City. Public transportation is one bridge across that divide.
As currently proposed by RTA, Lakeview Terrace would lose direct service. Residents would be forced to walk notoriously dangerous intersections to reach the next nearest bus stops at West 25th and Detroit.
As a response to the COVID-19 crisis, the CARES Act provided transit agencies across the country millions of dollars in emergency aid. RTA is projected to end the year with $139 million in reserve. RTA is holding a public hearing on the proposed budget changes on December 1, and will vote to adopt it later in the month. The final redesign is scheduled to be presented at this meeting as well.
CPT is calling on RTA to use a portion of these funds to provide transportation to residents of Lakeview Terrace. One option is to create a new route connecting Lakeview Terrace to Dave’s Market and Steelyard Commons. This circulator could run through the West Bank of the Flats, another neighborhood without any RTA service.
CPT also recognizes that CARES Act funding is temporary, but the demand to serve Lakeview Terrace and all Clevelanders is permanent. Therefore, we call on the RTA Board to place a levy on the ballot. Cleveland can’t wait for funding to restore and expand the service lost since 2008 and to keep service at Lakeview Terrace and throughout the Cleveland area.
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Clevelanders for Public Transit is a riders’ organization that builds power for affordable, accessible and equitable public transit in Northeast Ohio. For more information, visit clefortransit.org