TRUMBULL COUNTY Cortland OKs funding for transit system

Ridership in the city is up to about 130 riders a month.
CORTLAND -- City council approved Monday an ordinance authorizing a one-time expense of $6,830 as Cortland's contribution to the Niles-Trumbull Transit System.
The system started a little more than a year ago. It is supported by member communities and federal transit dollars. Several communities, such as Cortland, Howland and Vienna, pay $1 per resident per year for riders in those areas to pay lower fares. The demand-response busing system is available to any Trumbull County resident.
The city calls it a one-time expenditure because council wants to gauge rider participation on a year-by-year basis. This is Cortland's second year with the system, and officials noted ridership has increased to about 130 riders per month.
Route 46 work
Officials also approved an ordinance authorizing the Ohio Department of Transportation to perform resurfacing and rehabilitation of state Route 46 through the heart of the city.
Slated for 2007, the city would like to see the project expedited because of the road's poor condition. Cortland would pay 20 percent of the cost, which has not been finalized.
The work would proceed from the southern corporation limits to northern corporation limits in the city.
Special zoning district
In other business, council supports a proposal to create a special zoning district to prevent tall buildings from infringing on the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
The airport zoning proposal was suggested by Save Our Airbase Reservists, an organization dedicated to protecting the Youngstown Air Reserve Station from possible closure. The base uses airport runways.
If put into effect, airport zoning would restrict skyscrapers and dense development in sections of Vienna, Brookfield, Hubbard, Fowler, Bazetta, Champion and other areas. But there are few, if any, buildings in Trumbull County that are tall enough to be a problem.
The regulations would have no practical effect on building in Cortland, where zoning already prohibits the 1,200-foot-tall buildings the airport zoning proposal forbids, said service director Don Wittman.
Council also approved an ordinance authorizing the creation of a Fire Equipment and Facilities Improvement Fund. This fund would come from fire levy proceeds and provide for equipment and facilities. No money has yet been put into the fund.