[Ohio-talk] Update On Public Square and Other Transit Matters

[mzavoli at roadrunner.com]

Milena Zavoli 

Greetings Friends,

A few days ago, I received an e-mail from Clevelanders For Public Transit about the reopening of Public Square and statewide transit funding.  Please read on for more details.

Dear Milena, 

For months riders have faced delays, longer walks, and missed connections to other routes due to the closure of Public Square. Over 40,000 riders are served
by buses on the Square daily with over 20,000 making a connecting trip. It is essential for the whole transit system that riders can easily make these
connections. For these reasons, #transitbelongs in Public Square!

We want to thank riders for their patience with delays and continuing to show up to support each other. Updated RTA schedules indicate that opening Superior
eliminates delays of at least 3 minutes each trip- that’s over 14 hours of delays for a downtown commuter since the scheduled opening on August 1st! It’s
been 216 days since then. 

To thank riders we will be handing out 216 donuts today, Monday, March 6th at 5pm on Public Square to riders. Instead of pushing riders off to the side,
Cleveland needs to prioritize public transit corridors citywide. Thank you for your ongoing support, we hope to see you in the Square! 

Click here to read our full statement on the reopening of Public Square.

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Behind the scenes we have also been working hard on increasing state funding. 

Ohio is one of the worst states for funding public transportation. We only spend 63 cents per person on transit, less than 1.5% of Ohio's transportation
budget. 

Due to a state budget changes in the way Medicaid is taxed, RTA will be losing over $20 million starting in 2019. That will mean massive cuts in service,
layoffs, and potentially more fare increases. The Ohio State Senate is poised to make a decision about our biennial Transportation Budget soon.

Click HERE to send a letter to your state senator to demand more funding for transit in Ohio!

Please share this with friends nearby, especially residents of Lorain and Huron counties as well as Twinsburg, Hudson, Stow, Fairlawn, Wooster. Their senators
need to be engaged on this issue! 

If you are interested in providing written or video testimony to the state senate we can help. Please contact us ASAP at 
info at clefortransit.org
 or reply to this email.
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Save the date for Wednesday, April 5th.

Clevelanders for Public Transit will be hosting an event you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for more details!

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Erica Tucker To Speak At Cuyhoga Chapter Meeting
SAVE THE DATE! 
 
The NFBO of Cuyahoga County will host Erica Tucker, Community Relations 
Specialist from the Greater Cleveland Transit Authority, to inform us about news 
you can use relating to public transportation, Paratransit service and other 
subjects of interest.  Topics for discussion include: 
* Future funding of RTA;
• Infrastructure improvements to train lines; 
• How to ride RTA; 
• The status of major RTA projects; and, 
• How to apply for Paratransit certification. 
 
Other RTA topics are welcome as well. 
 
Please join the Cuyahoga County Chapter on Saturday, March 25 at 11 A.M. at the 
Tick Tock Tavern: 
11526 Clifton BLVD. Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
This is your opportunity to voice your concerns and suggestions.  Don't miss it! 
 
For questions, contact me at my e-mail address or at (216) 939-0502. 
 
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible to this event. 
 
Thank you for your interest. 
 
All the Best, 
Milena Zavoli