Cleveland, OH – October 22, 2014 – In 2013, The Ohio Legislature was asked to consider if its $7 million contribution to keep 61 transit systems and 115 million bus and train rides going every year was fair?

The House asked ODOT to look at doing more. San Francisco firm Nelson\Nygaard was brought in to study how and where the state could close the gap.

Yesterday at Greater Cleveland RTA, a standing-room-only crowd of transit riders, local elected officials and those who could take the time for a 2 p.m. meeting offered their support and feedback on Ohio’s Transit Needs Study.

Nelson\Nygaard’s Bethany Whitaker divulged that Ohio needs about $1.1 billion more to operate and $2.8 billion in capital to build a modern, efficient transit system. “Ohio’s support is pretty low and going in the wrong direction,” she said. “It has been decreasing while other states tend to spend more (than 63 cents) per capita.”

Whitaker suggests a focused investment where dense populations rely on and choose to take transit, adding that choice equals convenience. She also bottom lined a survey of 2,000 transit customers who want greater frequency, expanded hours, and more places that are linked by transit.

Read more (Green City Blue Lake by Marc Lefkowitz)