Transit services come up with plan for FTA funds

By Denise Dick

WRTA’s board is expected to vote on the tentative agreement today.

YOUNGSTOWN — Neither Western Reserve Transit Authority nor Niles-Trumbull County Transit will get as much federal money as first sought, but the entities have reached a tentative agreement to divide the funds.

This year’s $3.4 million from the Federal Transit Administration must be divided among Niles, WRTA and Shenango Valley Shuttle Service. It’s up to those entities to work out how much each receives.

Under the agreement to be presented for a vote by WRTA board members at a special meeting today, WRTA will get $2.52 million; Niles, $470,000; and Shenango, $504,000.

“All three systems are in need of the federal money to keep operating at the current levels, and with this agreement, that’s what’s going to happen,” said James Ferraro, WRTA executive director.

The agreement must be approved by all parties to be official.

The money will be used to operate the transit system, Ferraro said.

“If we’re frugal with the money, and there’s some left over, we can use it for a match for capital projects,” Ferraro said.

The need for capital projects is expected to grow as the system widens to all of Mahoning County later this year.

Niles officials couldn’t be reached.

WRTA had previously reached agreement with Shenango for that system to receive about $504,000 of the federal money, but there was disagreement between Niles and WRTA on that city’s share.

Tom Tulip, executive director of the Mercer County Regional Council of Governments, which operates the Shenango service, said the agreement must be passed by Sharon City Council.

“We had reached agreement on our share of the money quite awhile back,” he said.

Niles initially sought $533,000, and WRTA believed that system’s portion should be $400,000.

Representatives from both entities met earlier this week with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments officials and hashed it out.

In the end, WRTA’s $2.5 million is less than the $2.59 million it originally had wanted.

Mirta Reyes-Chapman, who manages public-transit programs for Eastgate, said that the parties left a meeting earlier this week believing a tentative agreement was reached.

If the entities couldn’t agree on how to divvy up the money, none of them would have gotten the federal money. The federal government doesn’t participate in decisions about different entities’ allotments.

“The federal government doesn’t want to be involved,” Ferraro said. “They just say it’s a local issue.”

Shenango transports riders from downtown Sharon to the Shenango Valley Mall and performs trips to rural areas.

Niles-Trumbull County Transit operates a demand-response system, meaning people call to schedule rides.

Besides FTA money, Niles’ system receives funding through a Trumbull County senior levy and payment from communities whose residents then can use the service at a lower fare.

WRTA operates 14 fixed routes within Youngstown and in some portions of Boardman, Austintown, Liberty and Girard.

denise_dick@vindy.com

Federal money

Dividing it up

Western Reserve Transit Authority, Niles-Trumbull County Transit and Shenango Valley Shuttle Service have reached a tentative agreement on the division of money from the Federal Transit Administration. The division:

Total: $3.4 million

WRTA: $2.5 million Niles: $470,000 Shenango: $504,000

Source: Letter of agreement