new transit head from the front lines winter 2004...ohio transfer f ohio transfer it’s a new...

left: Ron Barnes, COTA CEO Luis Markham, COTA passenger Jennifer Dorn, FTA Administrator Gordon Proctor, ODOT Director

It’s a New Office of Transit 2Laketran’s New Leader 3PT Patter 4TEA-21 Reauthorization 4Marketing Corner 5Grass Roots Communication 5Term Contracts 6MTAP Meeting 7Conference Reminder 7Your System 10Drug & Alcohol Update 11Sales Tax 12

In This Newsletter

Ohio Department of Transportation • Office of Transit

Winter 2004

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The Ohio transit industry is fortunate to have Marianne Freed as ODOT’s new Office of Transit Administrator. Marianne comes to ODOT from Pike County where she was the Director for the Community Action Transit System (CATS), the Rural Transit System, for 15 years as well as the Social/Senior Services Director for the Community Action Committee. While managing the demand response service in Pike County, Marianne improved overall transit service by coordinating all phases of transportation and integrating senior transportation with public transit. Similarly, Marianne wants to bring improvement and innovation to the Office of Transit. She wants to lead the Office in working more efficiently with Ohio’s transit systems and developing more useful work products. By doing so, everyone wins. Marianne believes that transit is very important because it helps millions of Ohioans. She’s developed this philosophy towards transit through years of hard work and first-hand experience. Her enthusiasm towards helping people is contagious. Our staff

experienced that enthusiasm first-hand at our November staff meeting. She started the meeting by asking us to tell something about ourselves that others probably didn’t know...but we are proud of. Immediately, everyone looked uncomfortable, until Marianne shared her own story. She shared the details of her personal life, including 17 years of marriage, owning seven cats, and working at 17 different jobs since age 13. All of Marianne’s jobs focused on helping people. She made it very clear to everyone her commitment to her work and

her expectation that each member of the staff should make their work a high priority. Marianne grew up in Waverly, Ohio and has an older brother who’s a cancer survivor. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work Administration from The Ohio State University, but assured everyone that she didn’t take the job as office administrator to be a personal counselor. It was clear that Marianne is willing to take chances. She has the self confidence to share herself with others and prefers to deal with issues directly, honestly, and decisively. The bottom line is that Marianne Freed is good for Ohio transit.

United We Ride Benefits Ohioans by Lynn Rathke

In June 2003, the General Accounting Office reported there is fragmentation and lack of coordination between the 62 different federal funding programs across eight federal agencies for community transportation services.

Furthermore, the National Academy of Science reported that the economic benefits of coordinating public transportation and human service transportation services could generate over $700 million in annual benefits. Both the Congress and the Executive branch have been interested in ensuring that funding for various human service transportation activities funded by various Federal programs are better coordinated. This is especially true today when federal, state and local budgets for human services activities are under extreme financial pressure. As a result, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

New Transit Head from the Front Linesby Dave Seech

photo by Angela Cope Office of Communications

Please send your articles and pictures to Dave Seech – [email protected] Please send your articles and pictures to Dave Seech – [email protected]

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It’s a New Office of Transit!by Rosamary Amiet

Effective December 1, 2003, the Office of Transit unveiled its recent staff re-organization, the result of many months of work by the administrative staff. Formerly comprised of the Urban Transit and Rural Transit Sections, the Office is now “one big, happy staff” with focus areas of “Program Management” and “Special Projects.” Transit representatives previously responsible for oversight and field reviews either for urban or rural systems, now find themselves working with systems in both areas, as well as with Metropolitan Planning Organizations. “This should not only provide for better cross-training, but provide more opportunities to both challenge and expand the knowledge of the staff,” says Office Administrator Marianne Freed. “It allows us to focus on our priority of providing excellent technical assistance,” says Freed. Although Marianne was barely in her position a month when the re-organization was unveiled, she has endorsed the concept and been active in

Marianne FreedOffice Administrator

• provide state and federal program oversight• serve as Multi-state Technical Assistance

Program (MTAP) contact• chair Statewide Transportation Coordination

Task Force

Terry TharpSecretary• provide clerical support for staff• maintain RTAP Resource library

its implementation. In addition to reorganizing by geographical boundaries and ODOT Districts, a new emphasis has been placed on matching skills with responsibility. Staff that are excellent writers will be more involved with the production of the many reports and documents the office produces, such as the Status of Transit, various Transportation Development Plans, Management Performance Reviews, etc. Others skilled in statistical and data analysis will work directly on the Office’s new focus of data management. The re-organization started several months ago as Deputy Director Carla Cefaratti asked the office to take a fresh look at what we do and the assistance we provide. She challenged the staff to do less “paper pushing” and more “hands on” field work, which the staff has taken to heart. Regular site visits are being made to reintroduce the Office staff to transit system personnel. The goal is to provide excellent service to both internal and external customers.

Office of Transit Staff, Position and Responsibilities:

Rosamary AmietPublic Transit Manager• supervise Special Projects staff• coordinate and oversee OTEC program• coordinate Transit Manager curriculum and

internship program

Rena PuckettSpecial Projects Planner• coordinate Web development and GIS applications• conduct statewide forecasting• support training program

Lee CodyCollege Intern• support training program, TDP/MPRs, and data

gathering and analysis

Lynn RathkeSpecial Projects Coordinator• coordinate training program, Ohio Rail Safety

Program and consultant contracts• provide ADA technical assistance

Dave SeechSpecial Projects Planner• compile quarterly newsletter• support Drug and Alcohol program• coordinate MPRs and TDPs

Special Projects

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Jane SmelserPublic Transit Manager• supervise Program Management staff to implement

state and federal programs• provide oversight for TRAC projects• coordinate office financial status and monitor

reports

Diane BeeslerGrants Coordinator• coordinate contracts, invoices and closeouts for

OPTGP, E&D, and JARC• provide support for verification of data and various

financial and milestone reports

Seth BudgeFederal Program and Data Analysis Coordinator• coordinate JARC, CPG, Section 5307, Section 5309,

TEAM submissions• conduct data analysis• provide program management for transit systems

and MPOs

Jeanne WatkinsGrants Coordinator• provide support for the STP including processing

invoices and assisting with vehicle reporting• coordinate MBE and DBE purchases and reports• make ECHO requests

Esther Klaus-ClarkGrants Coordinator• coordinate contracts and invoices for rural transit

systems, Ohio Coordination Program projects, and consultant contracts

• coordinate PTMS submissions

Brett HarrisUrban Program Coordinator• coordinate OPTGP and E&D programs• coordinate Toll Revenue Credit, Federal

Authorizations, and Flex Fund transfer requests

Pat PikulaSpecialized Transportation Program (Section 5310) Coordinator• coordinate STP including term contracts,

procurement, transfers, dispositions, and monitoring

Barb PiperOhio Coordination Program Coordinator• coordinate OCP including monitoring all projects• support Statewide Transportation Coordination

Task Force

Kim WhiteRural (Section 5311) Transit Program Coordinator• coordinate RTP including allocations, applications

and criteria• coordinate FTA Drug and Alcohol program

Program Management

For more specific project assignments, please refer to the updated Office of Transit Staff Directory on the Office of Transit Website at www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans/.

Laketran’s New Leader Ray Jurkowski Ray Jurkowski comes to Laketran with more than twenty-five years of senior executive level experience in strategic management relative to all modes of transportation: fixed route bus, paratransit, commuter rail and light rail. Most recently, he served as the Assistant General Manager for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). Mr. Jurkowski earned his Bachelor of Arts and his Masters of Public Administration degrees from Pennsylvania State University. He recently served as the American Public Transportation Association’s Sub-committee Chair on Employee Development & Training. He has been a member of APTA’s Workforce Development Implementation Task Force, the Society of Human Resource Management, and the Philadelphia Human Resource Planning Group.



http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans/


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• Champaign Transit System’s new Director is Gary Ledford. Gary came from Champaign Landmark and worked with Glenda Harper for a month until her retirement in November 2003. Glenda started working at the Champaign Transit System in 1988. She worked as a driver/dispatcher prior to becoming Director in 1998. Good luck Gary and Glenda!

• Harrison County Rural Transit’s Karen Couch has become the Acting Transportation Director. Karen has worked for the system for seven years since it began as a Coordination project. She started out as van driver, then Dispatcher/Scheduler, then Administrative Secretary, and finally Acting Transportation Director in May 2003. Congratulations, Karen, for your hard work!

• Lancaster Public Transit System’s Peg Clifford became the City of Lancaster’s first Public Transit Administrator on October 6, 2003. This ended her stint of 27 years working at the Olivedale Senior Center as both the Center Director and the Transit Director. Peg’s first position was as part-time van driver before she accepted a position as transportation coordinator at the Center. Congratulations Peg!

• Ottawa County Transportation Agency’s new Assistant Director is Max Wheaton. Max moved to Ohio from San Diego where he coordinated school pupil transportation and supervised 48 drivers. Max lived in San Diego for 25 years but is returning to his roots. Max was born in Sandusky, Ohio and resides at a property his family has owned since 1851. In regard to his new position, Max says, “it’s been a steep learning curve that’s been fun and challenging.” Welcome back Max!

• Pickaway Area Rural Transit’s new Executive Director of the CAC is Dave Hannahs. Dave began his duties in April 2003 and has a strong

private business background in manufacturing and management. Dave has been a Circleville resident since second grade. He will supervise 110 employees including those at Head Start. Dave has been focusing on creating the best team to meet PICCA’s objectives. Good luck Dave!

• Community Action Transit System (CATS) in Pike County has a new Director, Stephanie Bevens. Stephanie took over for Marianne Freed who became the Administrator for ODOT’s Office of Transit in October 2003. Stephanie has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Ohio University and has made an impact on many successful programs for the Community Action Agency in her 21 years with the organization. Stephanie is looking forward to meeting the challenge ahead of her. Good luck Stephanie!

• Transportation Resources for Independent People of Sandusky County (TRIPS) has a new Transportation Director, Kellie Sears. Kellie replaces Cheryl Babione who accepted a position with the Ohio Highway Patrol. Good luck Kellie!

• Transportation for Logan County (TLC) has a new Transportation Director, Eric Whiting. Eric returns to Logan County after working as a teacher in North Carolina. Eric is happy to be back in the area and is looking forward to making transit a vital part of Logan County’s transportation network. Welcome back Eric.

• Carmen Wood has left the Office of Transit and has accepted a position with MV Transit to be General Manager for Ashland Transit. Carmen worked for ODOT for 20 years and with the Office of Transit for 15 years. Good luck Carmelita! We will miss you.

• Jeff Halstead of RLS and Associates and his wife Heather are enjoying their healthy baby boy, Ian, born on 10/27/03. Congratulations Jeff and Heather!!

PT Patter

According to the National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates, discussion over the next transportation bill has become deadlocked because of disagreements between committees over funding sources and other aspects. Congress will continue to work through these disagreements to pass a long-term reauthorization bill, and agree on how to pay for the increased investment proposed by authorizing committees in both the House and Senate. Although the House proposal contains the highest reauthorization funding levels, public transportation advocates should compare the two primary legislative proposals. The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee’s proposal can be accessed here: www.epw.senate.gov/dec03_f79.pdf. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s proposal is here: www.house.gov/transportation.

TEA-21 Reauthorization Bogs Down Over Funding Debate

Sources:1. The American Public

Transportation Association (APTA): www.apta.com

2. The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee: www.epw.senate.gov

3. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: www.house.gov/transportation



http://epw.senate.gov/dec03_f79.pdf

http://www.house.gov/transportation

http://www.apta.com/

http://epw.senate.gov/

http://www.house.gov/transportation


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• Share transit success stories with the community. Especially share how customers gain independence through the use of transit.

• Write letters to the editor of the local newspaper on the benefits of transit.

• Include transit system highlights in the Transit Board meeting agendas and send them to the media. Invite the media to attend the meetings.

• Work with local community businesses on special transit promotions. Invite workers at those businesses to participate in the promotions.

• Show agencies how transit can satisfy the needs of their customers.

• Cultivate media contacts.• Sponsor a transit rodeo.• Showcase transit vehicles at parades.• Open a transit booth at the county fair.• Provide free hot dogs or some other incentive

to transit users during Try Transit Week. • Make regular presentations on the benefits

of transit to local clubs, organizations, and agencies.

• Sponsor a media event for new services or a new program.

• Appeal to elected officials for support of transit.

• Develop a website for your system, then let everyone know it’s available.

Marketing Corner

Transit Board Members say “Reach Out to the Community”

by Dave Seech

An effective transit marketing strategy can be the difference between a transit system thriving in a community or barely surviving. To help Ohio transit systems develop an effective transit marketing strategy, the Office of Transit takes every opportunity to share best marketing practices with Ohio’s transit systems. One of these opportunities occurred at a Transit Board Member Training on December 4, 2003. Transit board members were asked, “what community outreach activities are most effective in promoting transit in your community?” Board members shared the following suggestions:

Ongoing marketing efforts are crucial to maintain a healthy transit system. Try some of these marketing activities and try your own. Tell us about it. Please email your ideas and suggestions to:[email protected].

Lobbying reform, campaign finance reform, increased media scrutiny, professionalized interest groups, technological advancements in advocacy and increased legislative turnover resulting from term limits have changed the legislative landscape, as well as the way lobbying is done, both at the Ohio Statehouse, as well as the halls of Congress. Through all of these changes, one thing has not changed – the importance of grassroots communications. In fact, grassroots contacts have never been more important. Public officials want to hear directly from you. Never before have direct, informed communications from individual constituents who care about the issues been more

effective or more utilized to influence the legislative process. As local transit system representatives and community service providers, public officials value your insights and opinions. As transit managers and representatives of your local public transit system, you know first-hand how public transportation plays a vital role in Ohio. You understand that public transit is a

resource valued by millions of Ohioans and that it empowers individuals to be independent, get employment and enjoy services by providing increased access to new opportunities. For these reasons and more, public officials want and need to hear from you.

Reaching Public Officials: The Importance Of Grassroots Communications

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8





left: Rosa Muir, Licking County Coordination passenger Jennifer Dorn, FTA Administrator

John Fisher, Licking County Dept. of Job and Family Services Director

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the USDOT’s Federal Transit Administration is taking the lead on developing more effective coordination through United We Ride. Jenna Dorn, FTA’s Administrator, visited Columbus, Ohio to kick-off the national initiative. Ohio was a good choice for the kick-off announcement of the program. Ohio is one of only five states that provides funds for both planning and operations of a statewide Coordination Program. Ohio has a long-standing tradition of coordinating human services transportation for disadvantaged populations, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people with low incomes. Ohio’s emphasis on transportation coordination dates back to the early 1980s when demonstration projects were funded by sources as varied as oil overcharge funds and grants from the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. The Ohio Coordination Program (OCP) was formalized in 1996 when a portion of General Revenue Funds dedicated to the Ohio Public Transportation Grant Program was set aside for coordination. To date, 37 different projects have been funded through this program. At a press conference in Columbus on December 2, 2003, Administrator Dorn announced United We Ride. The U.S. Departments of Transportation,

Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education are working together to identify mutual needs and goals and to leverage their resources to improve transportation service for all human service recipients. The program features the following initiatives:

1. National Leadership Forum on Human Service Transportation Coordination: The FTA is convening a conference of senior level state leadership teams to disseminate the Framework for Action and provide technical assistance to ensure the highest level of implementation.

2. Framework for Action: This publication will be distributed to State and local stakeholders as a self-assessment tool communities and states can use to identify areas of success and highlight needs for action regarding coordination as well as a guide for using the framework in communities with partner agencies.

3. State Leadership Awards: Recognition of a select number of states that are doing excellent work in regards to human service transportation coordination. These states will then serve as models for other interested stakeholders.

4. State Coordination Grants: Coordination Grants will be available to state teams to address gaps and needs related to human service transportation in their geographic regions.

5. United We Ride Coordination Assistance: Interaction between the FTA and the states on the topic of human service transportation will be heightened. This partnership will assist states with partnership development, assessment, strategic planning, program implementation and evaluation processes.

Look for more news about United We Ride as the initiatives progress. For more information, contact Lynn Rathke at 614-644-7362 or [email protected]. For more information on the OCP, contact Barb Piper at 614-466-2140 or [email protected] in this article courtesy of COTA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

United We Ride

State term contracts have been awarded for: sedans, standard and modified minivans, converted vans, light transit vehicles, narrow body, and light transit vehicles, steel and fiberglass. Check the Office of Transit website for updates. Requests to purchase from these contracts can now be submitted to the Office of Contracts. See the Office of Transit website for instructions and further information on the term contracts, www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans/Term_Contracts/2004_05_term_cont.htm.

Vehicle Term Contracts Awarded for 2004




mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans/Term_Contracts/2004_05_term_cont.htm




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On December 9-12, 2003, representatives from 24 State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), met to share information and best practices as part of the Multi-State Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) annual meeting in San Diego, California. Marianne Freed and Rosamary Amiet of the ODOT Office of Transit represented Ohio. Started in 1987 by a consortium of six state DOT’s, MTAP is now a network of 44 states that regularly exchange information about federal transit regulations, grant program management, and day to day public transportation service issues. MTAP, an independent network, is sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and supported through annual membership dues. MTAP meets formally three times each year at the annual meeting each December; the spring technical meeting usually in April or May of each year to focus on specific issues, and in the summer as part of the AASHTO/APTA Annual Partnerships Meeting.

Throughout the year, MTAP members communicate through conference calls to discuss current topics and via MTAP alerts whereby members can quickly survey MTAP members on a particular topic or issue. Examples of recent MTAP alerts are current transit system followup efforts for safety and security, state funding allocations, and Head Start transportation. MTAP also publishes a quarterly newsletter and sponsors training such as the Financial Management Training which ODOT offers regularly as part of its training schedule. At this year’s annual meeting, attendees heard updates from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on the reauthorization legislation, as well as presentations on safety and security, DBE, State Budget shortfalls, and a report on the economic benefits of transit by the Wisconsin DOT. For more information on MTAP, check out their website at www.mtap.org/.

State DOTs Share Best Practices via MTAPby Rosamary Amiet



http://www.mtap.org

http://www.mtap.org


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Developing Relationships With Public Officials

Other activities to help develop and maintain ongoing relationships with public officials may include:

Reaching Public Officials: The Importance Of Grassroots CommunicationsCONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

As community leaders and service providers, local transit system representatives are in the perfect position to develop an ongoing relationship with your local, state and federal public officials. Unfortunately, most citizens – if they approach elected officials at all – approach them only when they need help with a problem. Rarely do constituents approach elected officials with the intention of building a meaningful relationship. You can begin that process by realizing

that the job of an elected official is to find a way through a maze of conflicting opinions and views on a vast array of issues. Your role must be to help elected officials as they

seek solutions that they believe are in the best interests of the greatest number of people. Your position must be presented not only as being in your interest, but in the best interests of the majority of the legislator’s constituents. As a local community leader, most public officials will appreciate and be receptive to an ongoing dialogue with you. The best way to begin this process of building an ongoing relationship with public officials is through consistent communications. All of your communications with public officials should reinforce the fact that you are community leaders and local service providers, and that the issues of concern to you impact the community and its economy. By building and maintaining an ongoing relationship, you will demonstrate to the public officials that your views are worth considering and should be sought on issues impacting the local community.

• Inviting public officials to your facility to view your operations and meet with employees, partners, and allies. Scheduling and providing an opportunity for local public officials to visit and view first-hand your transit system operations, as well as meet and address employees, reinforces your position as a leader who provides jobs and vital services to the local community.

• Active community involvement. As service providers, local transit systems are uniquely positioned to participate in an array of community activities. Being visible and actively involved in community projects can also highlight and reinforce your position as a leader who provides jobs and vital services to the local community.

Making Contact: Communicating With Public Officials There are three key principles to successful communication, both with legislators and other key policymakers. We need to communicate soon, simply and directly.• Communicating soon means talking to legislators

and candidates upon their arrival at the Statehouse or Congress and maintaining that dialog.

• Simplifying our message translates to easy understanding, developing our message without clutter, and presenting our message in a compelling way.

• Involving decision makers directly means inviting them to your operations, calling them several times a year and meeting with them in person.

Define Your Objectives Although the overall goal is to convince the public official to support your position, it’s important to determine what exactly is the purpose of your communication. In other words, what specific action are you requesting of them. Are you asking

them to support specific legislation, initiatives or proposals? Are you requesting them to oppose specific legislation, initiatives or proposals? Or, are you simply meeting to educate and create an ongoing dialog about the importance of public transportation to the local community?

Identify Your Message: The Goal of (PT)2

The Public Transportation Partnership for Tomorrow (PT)2 is a nationwide education and outreach initiative designed to build support for public transportation among the public and local, state, and federal officials. They have committed to a sleek and savvy five-year

campaign and have identified themes that apply to all transportation organizations. After conducting national research, they found that public transportation has a powerful message to convey. Public transportation benefits the community by providing




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Conclusion Effective grassroots communication and political participation requires action. As local transit system representatives, you are uniquely positioned within your local communities to build relationships with your public officials and influence local, state and federal decisions that impact public transportation, but you must act. Again, you will get out of the process what you are willing to invest in it. By utilizing current relationships, or developing new relationships with local, state and federal elected officials, local transit systems have an excellent opportunity to better educate these public officials about the invaluable role public transit plays in their local communities. In upcoming editions of this newsletter, we will highlight in greater detail an array of grassroots lobbying tactics that can be implemented by local transit systems and their supporters. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of building and mobilizing broad coalitions – advocates, supporters and community partners – when undertaking your grassroots lobbying efforts.

This article has been provided by Dana Smith, grassroots consultant to the Ohio Public Transportation Association and is based on information provided in the association’s Government Affairs Advocacy and Grassroots Advocacy Manuals. Mr. Smith directs Strategic Communications Consultants and can be reached at (419) 423-6979.

personal opportunity to individuals. Furthermore, they found that the four themes of choice, access, opportunity and freedom/mobility proved the strongest messages throughout the U.S. and Canada. “Public transportation enriches and gives energy to whole communities by enabling people from all walks of life to have choices and access opportunities that allow them to grow, develop and accomplish what is important to them.”

Localize The Message When communicating with public officials, it’s important to frame or demonstrate how these messages impact the local community. Remember, your position must be presented not only as being in your interest, but in the best interests of the majority of the elected official’s constituents.

A Word Of Caution Research from the American Public Transportation Association cautions advocates of public transportation about pursuing the following messages:

• Attacks on the car. Americans have a love affair with the automobile.

• Bus, rail or transit specific messages. People respond more favorably to public transportation at large.

• A focus on air quality. Research shows few will change their commuter habits to reduce air pollution.

Additional guidelines that will help you communicate with your elected officials:

• Elected officials face a bewildering array of issues, which forces most of them to be generalists, rather than specialists. Help the legislator learn the facts and offer the information that will enable them to make a “right” vote.

• Talk to lawmakers when they have time to listen. Don’t wait for a crisis. Use periods between legislative sessions to meet and discuss issues important to you.

• Face-to-face contact beats a letter, a well-constructed letter beats a phone call, and anything beats a form letter or a petition. You get out of the process what you are willing to invest in it.

• “Thank you” goes a long way. Acknowledge their support for your position; there is not a better way to gain a sympathetic ear on future issues. If you meet or speak with a legislator about an issue, take the time to follow-up with a hand-written note to let them know you appreciate their time.

• Understand the importance of communicating effectively with legislative staff. Staff serves as the elected officials eyes and ears and is often influential on important issues. Too many people tend to ignore legislative staff – and do so to their own detriment. Also, if you antagonize an elected official’s staff with your approach, you will have antagonized the official as well.




Greenville Theme Vehicleleft: Valerie Smith, Dispatching Scheduler Darrell Roan, Driver Richard A. Rehmert, Former Mayor of Greenville Mayor Gregory S. Fraley

Middletown Grand Opening Local dignitaries, ODOT Office of Transit Staff, MTS Drivers

Photo by Seth Budge/ODOT

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What’s Happening in Your System?by Dave Seech

• Ashtabula County Transportation System has a new service provider, MV Transit.

• City of Athens is now offering intercity bus service through FTA’s Section 5311 Intercity Bus Program. Lakefront Lines connects Athens with several large urban areas including Parkersburg and Columbus.

• Delaware Area Transportation Association is providing service themselves. They are no longer contracting with a provider.

• Greenville Transit System (GTS) is promoting tourism by displaying the City’s historic sites and interesting places on their vehicles. These “theme vehicles” have been popular with riders. GTS has also implemented new scheduling and dispatching software.

• Middletown Transit System had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of its new Middletown Transfer Center on November 12, 2003. The Center offers various customer amenities including a waiting room, public restrooms, and space for retail development.

• Morgan County Rural Transit split from a combined Washington/Morgan transit system and remained a rural transit system. Washington County transitioned to an urban transit system. Community Action Program Corp. provides service for both systems.

• Perry County Transit (PCT) has moved to a new location within the City of New Lexington.

• Piqua Transit System split from Miami County Transit System and will remain a rural transit system until 2007. Miami County Transit System transitioned to an urban transit system.

• Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) opened a new $1.6 million transit center and administrative offices in Franklin Township on August 2, 2003. The transit center helps fulfill

PARTA’s plans to expand its services and take advantage of local partnerships. One of these partnerships includes a link to the new Burbick Center adult day care facility in Ravenna. Operated by Portage Area Senior Services, the 10,000 square-foot facility offers numerous amenities and also serves as a transit hub for PARTA. The facility was financed through a public/private partnership and includes a park and ride lot, a customer waiting area, and a covered bus-boarding area.

• Richland County Transit (RCT) is partnering with its local health department to provide rides in the event of the need for small pox vaccinations. This service is part of Richland County’s emergency preparedness efforts. RCT is coordinating this service with various local transportation providers through its agency coordination office.




SARTA Grand OpeningStark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) unveiled the Cornerstone Transit Center on August 6, 2003. The 3,163 square-foot facility is the first transit center to be built in downtown Canton. Approximately 200 guests attended the grand opening.

PARTA Grand Openingleft: Kathleen Chandler, State Representative Jane Smelser, ODOT Office of Transit Manager Don Gismondi, FTA Deputy Regional Administrator Ann Womer Benjamin, Ohio Director of Insurance Steven LaTourette, U.S. Representative John Drew, PARTA General Manager Leigh Herington, State Senator Chris Smeiles, Portage County Commissioner

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FTA’s Drug & Alcohol State Program Audit Coming Soonby Kim White

We have not received official notification yet, but everything indicates the long-awaited FTA Drug and Alcohol (D & A) State Program Audit is finally going to happen this year. Therefore, we strongly suggest rural transit systems prepare now as if they were chosen for a D & A audit. Rural transit systems should make sure they are in compliance with the FTA D & A regulations. The audit includes a review of each system’s entire D & A program including service agent records (third party administrators, collection sites, MROs, SAPs, and BATs). We expect FTA will use the following procedure for the audit:

• FTA will notify ODOT approximately six weeks prior to the audit date.

• FTA will notify ODOT of the rural transit systems chosen for site visits. As many as eight rural transit systems will be randomly chosen by FTA auditors.

• FTA auditors will spend approximately one day at ODOT reviewing the state’s program.

• FTA will spend approximately one day at each rural system inspecting records, monitoring service providers, visiting third party administrators, interviewing collection site personnel, MROs, and SAPs, etc.

Early preparation can make the audit process less stressful for everyone. We encourage rural transit systems to review their D & A program thoroughly. We also encourage rural transit grantees with oversight responsibility and substance abuse managers to attend the “Drug and Alcohol Record Keeping and Audit Preparation Workshop” scheduled for January 29, 2004 at ODOT. The workshop will focus on preparation for the audit. In other FTA D & A news, Mark Snyder, FTA’s D & A Program Manager, accepted a position with the U.S. DOT Office of the Secretary. While Mark will continue to have a supporting role in the D & A Program, his replacement is Jerry Fisher. Jerry has previous experience with FTA’s D & A Program but has most recently worked with FTA railroad programs. In 2003, ODOT’s Office of Transit and three rural transit grantees were chosen as test sites and electronically submitted U.S DOT’s “ONEDOT Drug and Alcohol MIS” forms. ODOT has recently been notified by FTA that all of Ohio’s rural transit systems will be required to electronically submit the ONEDOT MIS form in the future. Submission instructions will be provided in January 2004. If you have questions regarding D & A regulations, contact Kim White at 644-0301 or [email protected].

• Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) opened its Cornerstone Transit Center on August 6, 2003. The 3,163 square-foot facility includes a customer service center, an indoor waiting area, and a covered bus-boarding area.



mailto:[email protected]

Please send your articles and pictures to Dave Seech – [email protected]

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Public Transit Service Exempt from Sales Taxby Rosamary Amiet

Effective March 11, 2004, another change to the sales tax law regarding transportation services takes effect, but this time public transit systems are the beneficiary.

In August 2003, H.B. 95 required Ohio sales tax be applied to transportation services provided within Ohio. Although the law did exempt some services, e.g., ambulance service, the exemption for public transit services was only for those public transit services operating vehicles of 10 passengers and above; services operating vehicles less than 10 passengers (minivans and sedans) would have been subject to the tax unless they were operated by a public entity.

The new legislation, H.B. 127, revises the public transit vehicle definition to remove the 10 passengers and above reference. The better news is this new definition now also applies to the motor fuel tax rebates. Questions concerning the sales tax can be directed to either the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Taxpayer Assistance number, at (888) 405-4039, or the Sales & Use Tax Division at (614) 466-4810. Questions concerning the motor fuel tax should be directed to Carolyn Overman, Ohio Department of Taxation, at (614) 466-3503.

For more information on the actual legislation, go to the Legislative Service Commission’s website at www.lsc.state.oh.us. Under Status Report of Legislation, click on House Bills, then search on either H.B. 95 or H.B. 127.


http://www.lsc.state.oh.us

new transit head from the front lines winter 2004...ohio transfer f ohio transfer it’s a new...

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