The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded two grants to the TARTA bus service to help replace revenue lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic and purchase new equipment.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio said $13,833,483 was allocated through the American Rescue Plan, which he helped to write and pass. He believes the replacement of funding is important “so northwest Ohioans can continue to have safe and reliable bus service.”
“Riders rely on TARTA buses to take them to work, school or a game at Fifth Third Field and then to take them safely back home again,” Sen. Brown said.
“By investing in TARTA operations and by supporting their drivers and mechanics during the pandemic, we can improve service for riders and help the community have better access to safe and reliable transportation.”
Laura Koprowski, CEO of TARTA, noted that bus service continued throughout the pandemic. “Our dedicated TARTA employees never stopped running our services. We knew that our community and businesses were counting on us as essential infrastructure,” she said. “As our community strives to recover economically, this grant award will allow TARTA to continue to meet the needs of our region and be the transit system that the Toledo metro area deserves.”
The funding will help ensure TARTA has a strong operating budget to continue serving riders, she added.
TARTA also was awarded one of five Buses and Bus Facilities Grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation presented to Ohio transit agencies. It will receive $2,307,200 to make upgrades to the maintenance facility and replace older paratransit vehicles.
On behalf of TARTA employees and board of trustees, Ms. Koprowski thanked the senator for his ongoing support for public transit and TARTA’s need for this federal funding.
