RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
From The Dispatch:
MORPC, COTA to get $42 million in stimulus money
By Debbie GebolysFederal economic-stimulus money will bring $1.465 billion to Ohio to rebuild the state’s transportation system and create jobs, officials said yesterday.
The money is part of $8.2 billion that Ohio will get from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, enough to preserve or create 130,000 jobs.
MORPC is to get $28 million, and an estimated $14 million is going to COTA, more than double the agencies’ annual federal subsidies for capital projects.
That should be more than enough money to get passenger rail off of the ground. Also, I saw a piece in there about helping Grandview Yard. Hopefully this money can bring this project back to the ideas it started with.
Screw the money for a second, anyone catch this buried in the article:
COTA ridership last week was up more than 20 percent compared with the same week last year, continuing a string of passenger increases that started last year.
So much for no one using those buses…
They can’t use the money for the light rail. I read an article that they wont have NC started or done until 2015
I’d like to see some of the money used to design a new central train station for the new 3C service.
Sounds like improvements on their maintenance facilities and replacing some of their fleet. (Bendy Buses?)
Hey COTA: maps and timetables at each stop. And cut out that two-stops-within-a-block bullcrap. God, that’s so annoying. Aside from that I hope they tinker with some routes and increase service. No more 45-60 min waits between buses.
I got bored last night and started reading through parts of their long range plan. Sounds like we should see good changes within the next 5-6 years with service times. This money can only help if they can add to the fleet.
COTA asked for $200 million and only got $14 million, and it doesn’t sound like they plan to spend any of it on light rail…
From WOSU: http://tinyurl.com/dam7cc
There are still some more opportunities for funding beyond the $14 Million. Here’s a summary from the Infrastructurist:
“As Congress wraps up the $790 billion dollar economic recovery package it is worth considering the $48 billion share for transportation infrastructure. Here’s how it breaks down:
$27.5 billion is included for highway investments, a portion — details forthcoming regarding how large — of which can be “flexed†into transportation alternatives including public transportation and nonmotorized modes (i.e., bicycle and pedestrian projects).
$8.4 billion for investments in public transportation, in the form of capital not operating assistance. NRDC lobbied for operating assistance for transit agencies struggling to reconcile conflicts between growing ridership and shrinking budgets.
$1.5 billion for competitive grants to state and local governments for transportation investments, which can go to a variety of non-highway alternatives.
$1.3 billion for investments in our air transportation system.
$9.3 billion for investments in rail transportation, including Amtrak, High Speed and Intercity Rail, and this out-of-left-field boost for rail is the most laudable provision for transportation infrastructure”
I believe the $14 Million is from the second bullet point. If you want more transit money, you should be contacting legislators or the governor to get some of the flexible funds that will go to Ohio invested in transit.
That’s good to know. There is certainly a lot of government money floating around out there.
Columbus Light Rail System Still Millions of Dollars Away
Sam Hendren, WOSU Reporter
(2009-02-20)
Ohio’s share of the Federal Reinvestment and Recovery Act does not, as officials had hoped, contain funding for a light rail system in Columbus. The Central Ohio Transit Authority wanted several hundred million dollars for the project. Instead, COTA is expected to receive much less.
Commuter mass transportation around Columbus will mean riding the bus for the foreseeable future. Officials had requested $200 million of stimulus money. With it, the Central Ohio Transit Authority would have built a light rail system heading north from downtown. What COTA will get is an estimated $14 million. Money that comes with strings attached. It cannot be spent on things like diesel fuel. But it can buy new equipment. So that’s what company president Bill Lhota is planning to do.
READ MORE
That seems a bit misleading. $200 Million wouldn’t have been enough to build the whole light rail line. They would have still been about $400 Million short. It could have built a couple of great streetcar lines though.
Speaking of Streetcars; what ever happened to that idea?
It was merged into the new Light Rail plan. Details here and here.
Extra tax money fuels COTA
Monday, February 23, 2009
By Debbie Gebolys
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
While the city and state plan painful budget cuts, COTA is expanding.
The Central Ohio Transit Authority is adding routes, buying buses, fixing up garages, planning to move its administrative offices Downtown and talking about light rail again.
“We have the money to expand service,” said COTA President Bill Lhota.
READ MORE
COTA got raises AND bonuses?
COTA is on the opposite end of the teeter totter from the rest of central Ohio and beyond. In a story on Monday, I wrote about the transit authority’s generous pay raises (up to 5 percent) and incentive compensation (up to 4 percent) as well as plans to expand virtually every aspect of its operation.
READ MORE
Sheesh. Who would begrudge someone a raise?
Is 5% so much?
I’m happy that “The most experienced drivers are pulling in $50,000 a year.” – glad to know these folks are making a living. They’re people- with families. More power to them. Should they be making $7.50 an hour?
Thank your COTA bus driver next time you ride.
People will find anything to complain about.
I could see it as a valid complaint if COTA had nothing to show for the levy. But the #7 is running a longer route, as is the #1, the #11 (the Alum Creek one that now extends to Williams Road), we have the new Crossroads Express, 2 new Park and Rides-amongst other improvements.
That’s a pretty good record.