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RESOLUTION NO.
<br />
<br />7624-02
<br />
<br />BY: corrigam, Dunn, FitzGerald,
<br />George, Roth, Seelle, Sktndell.
<br />
<br /> A RESOLUTION opposing changes in fares and service proposed by the Greater
<br />Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, Public transportation in Greater Cleveland has a long histo~ dating back to
<br />1818 when stagecoach services were established between Cleveland and Palneswlle and-when in
<br />1'974 the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ("RTA") was established and supported
<br />by Cuyahoga County residents with the approval of a one-percent county,wide sales tax; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, Retaining public transportation services, which are reliable, affordable and
<br />convenient, is critical to improving .the mobility of persons who are young, elderly, poor or with
<br />disabilities; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, Approximately 9.2 percent of American households do not have access to
<br />an automobile; half of those without an automobile are persons 65 years or older, and of these
<br />81% are women; and
<br /> · WHEREAS, The lack of reliable, affordable and convenient public transportation
<br />significantly decreases personal mobility and has economic, social, and human costs, such as
<br />higher unemployment, reduced tax revenue, greater welfare and medical costs, and limited social
<br />potential; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, The transformation from welfare to workfare in Cuyahoga County has been
<br />premised on the availability of reliable, affordable and convenient public transportation and an
<br />increase in fares and elimination of service jeopardizes this program; and
<br />
<br /> WltEREAS, RTA is proposing changes in fares and service, effective March 31, 2002,
<br />including increases on the Community Circulators from $.50 to $1.00, elimination of transfers
<br />when a rider pays a cash fare} and elimination of the #86 and #86F bus lines, which serve
<br />LakewoOd, West Park, Berea, and Olmsted Falls and the #808 West Shore Community
<br />Circulator; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, RTA's Community Circulators have strong ridership, in particular the #804
<br />Lakewood COmmunity Circulator is the top performer with 579,000 rides in 2001, up 27.3
<br />percent from 455,000 rides in 2000; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, According to the American Public Transit Association report entitled "Fare
<br />Elasticity and Its Application to Forecasting Transit Demand" a ten percent increase in bus fares
<br />results in a four percent decrease in ridership; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, Lakewood residents, in particular persons who are young, elderly, poor, or
<br />with disabilities, depend upon public transportation provided by RTA to transport them to their
<br />jobs, medical providers, pharmacies, grocery stores, community meal programs and social
<br />activities; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, The fare increases, elimination of transfers and elimination of service
<br />routes proposed by RTA is contrary to the objectives of public transportation to provide
<br />affordable and convenient tramit service and to increase the mobility of individuals; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, this resolution constitutes un-emergency measure for the immediate
<br />preservation of public peace, property, health or safety, now, therefore:
<br />
<br /> BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, STATE OF OHIO:
<br />
<br /> Section 1. That in adopting this Resolution this Council opposes the changes in fares and
<br />serviceproposed by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, including fare increases
<br />on the Corfimunity Circulators from $.50 to $1.00, elimination of transfers when a rider pays ?
<br />cash fare, and elimination of the #86 and .#86F bus lines, which serve Lakewood, West Parx
<br />Berea~ and Olmsted Falls the #808 West Shore Community Circulator; and
<br />
<br /> Section 2. That this Council call upon the intervention of U.S. Con.g[e. ssman pennis J.
<br />Kucinch and the Cuyahoga County Commissioners to oppose the proposed increases .m f~es,
<br />elimination of transfers and the elimination of service~ and work with RTA to find soluttons that
<br />will prevent these changes.
<br />
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