3 transit agencies agree on splitting federal funds

By Denise Dick | May 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By DENISE DICK

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WRTA, Niles-Trumbull County Transit and Shenango Valley Shuttle Service have agreed on how to split Federal Transit Administration funds but not without some skepticism.

At a meeting Thursday, Western Reserve Transit Authority board members approved a resolution authorizing James Ferraro, executive director, to enter an agreement with the other two transit agencies.

The region will receive about $3.7 million from FTA for fiscal year 2010.

Of that, WRTA will get $2.6 million, marking a 3 percent increase from last year; Niles-Trumbull will get $565,000, a 20 percent increase from 2009 funding, and Shenango Valley will get $504,000, about the same as last year, said Marianne Vaughn, board secretary-treasurer.

That dispute was between WRTA and Niles-Trumbull: Niles thought it should receive more of the federal money than WRTA thought it merited.

John P. Brown III, board member, questioned Niles’ increase for 2010.

“I don’t see how their services could have gone up 20 percent in a year,” Brown said.

Both Ferraro and Vaughn said that in the past, WRTA has questioned Niles’ numbers to no avail. The decision rests with FTA.