Ohio Legislature Passes Transportation Budget with TARTA
Plan to Expand Membership and Improve Local Funding
Special to The Truth
Last week, the Toledo Area
Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) achieved a milestone in
the agency’s history by securing a state legislative fix to
expand its membership and allow local voters to consider a
more fair and sustainable funding structure.
With the passage of the
state transportation budget by the Ohio House and Senate,
TARTA’s proposed legislative language will now be part of
House Bill 74 that will go to Governor DeWine for his
signature. The language provides TARTA with a two-year
window to expand its membership with approval of a simple
majority of its current local government members rather than
the unanimous consent previously required under state law.
TARTA currently has seven
members: Maumee, Ottawa Hills, Rossford, Sylvania, Sylvania
Township, Toledo and Waterville. Seeking a state legislative
solution was a collaborative effort between TARTA and the
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce to meet the growing
demand for more public transit service in Lucas County and
to improve the competitive nature of the region for job
attraction and retention.
If Lucas County becomes a
member of TARTA, local voters could then consider shifting
local funding from a property-tax to a sales tax model.
TARTA is the only transit authority in a major Ohio metro
area that is not funded by a sales tax.
In 2020, Cincinnati area
voters approved a .80 percent sales tax increase for public
transit funding to replace an employment tax. 2-2-2
“This is yet another
historic and defining moment for TARTA and our region,” said
TARTA Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Dunham. “For the
first time ever, and with broad support of business and
community leaders, we were able to change the statutory
language so we can expand public transit to follow the
growing opportunities in our region. This will also allow
the democratic process to play out in our community and let
the people decide if they wish to invest in public transit
in Northwest Ohio.”
According to TARTA Board
President Kelsie Hoagland representing the City of
Waterville, “We reached a major milestone for TARTA and our
community. The inclusion of the TARTA language is no
coincidence. It is the result of relentless effort and
partnership from across the Toledo Region. This display of
collaboration demonstrates the importance of what public
transit means to our community.” |