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 News & Updates | Newsroom News & Updates: Newsroom RTA news Aug. 12, 2009 RTA budget info posted on Web site
CLEVELAND – The next time you hear budget facts about the
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), you’ll know where to check
them out. “We have
posted information on RTA's revenues, expenses and actions taken with respect
to our budget, on RTA's Web site (www.rideRTA.com)
to help keep our customers, employees, and the general public informed on our
financial challenges and how we are attempting to meet those challenges,” says Joe
Calabrese, RTA CEO and General Manager. The
information, which will be updated on a regular basis, can be accessed directly
at www.riderta.com/budgetchallenges/. Interested parties wishing to offer suggestions, or have RTA
respond to specific questions, can send e-mail to public-comment@gcrta.org. The local information is part of national picture about
transit systems in distress. According to a survey released in June by the American Public Transit Association (APTA):
The report, The
Challenge of State and Local Funding Constraints on Transit Systems: Effects on
Service Fares, Employment and Ridership, is based on a survey of 98
transit systems representing more than one-half of the nation’s transit riders,
and includes 10 of the top 15 agencies in terms of annual ridership. “With state and local revenues declining due to the
recession, public transit systems are facing severe financial challenges, and
America’s riders are paying the price,” said APTA President William Millar.
“Raising fares and cutting service drives people away from using public transit
and is counterproductive, as America struggles to create jobs, cut greenhouse
gases, and reduce our reliance on expensive foreign oil.” While the nation’s public transportation systems are
receiving funding through ARRA, funding is limited to capital expenditures.
Public transit system operations are funded primarily through state, local, and
regional sources, in addition to transit fares. As a result of declining
revenue from these sources, one-half of the systems participating in the survey
indicated that they have been forced to eliminate positions in order to address
budget shortfalls, as the nation’s unemployment skyrockets. “The bottom line is that additional funding for both capital
and operating costs is urgently needed and that all levels of government –
local, state, and federal – must step up and expand investment in America’s
public transit systems to meet our country’s economic, energy and environmental
challenges, while increasing mobility choices,” said Millar. Other report findings The impact of the economic downturn on public transit is
broad and widespread. General declines in real estate transactions, property
tax collections, and sales tax revenue are likely contributors to flat and
declining revenue sources. More than 80 percent of systems have seen flat or decreased
funding from state sources. Among those systems facing a decrease, the average
decline was more than 20 percent. In some states, these cuts are substantial.
For example, all transit systems in California are facing the complete
elimination of state funding. Similar declines are seen in local and regional
funding. Among those public transit systems reducing service, nearly
two-thirds (65 percent) have eliminated or reduced off-peak service and nearly
half (48 percent) have reduced the geographic coverage of public transit
service. To view the full report, go to www.apta.com/research/info/online/documents/constraints_09.pdf APTA is a non-profit international association of nearly
1,500 member organizations, including public transportation systems; planning,
design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic
institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA
members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical
public transportation services and products. APTA members serve more than 90
percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
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