"It's extremely important for us," said Bob Ruzinsky, deputy CEO for Greater Dayton RTA. "Without it, like any other agencies, we would have been looking at major cuts."
The amounts of CARES money to be provided are based on the agencies’ typical grant funding through the Federal Transit Authority, officials said.
Greater Dayton RTA is to receive $$39.7 million for normal operations and $35.3 million for the Dayton trolley system. It serves Montgomery County and western Greene County.
The system receives 65 percent of its funding from sales tax and 15 percent from fares.
Since COVID-19 restrictions, “our ridership is down by half,” Ruzinsky said.
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“We can just guess what’s happening with sales-tax receipts,” Ruzinsky added.
The money is to enable Greater Dayton RTA to keep 650 employees on the payroll “and off unemployment,” Ruzinsky added.
The money comes from $25 billion earmarked for public transit in the federal $2 trillion package passed on March 27.
“We’re extremely grateful for the federal support,” Ruzinsky said.
On Thursday, the Greene County Board of Commissioners approved the Greene CATS application for "100 percent reimbursement helping to cover on-going costs to continue providing service and the current and anticipated loss of revenue from state funding and contracts" for the county system.
Ken Collier, executive director for Greene CATS, indicated the system anticipated losses “well into” next year.
Greene CATS provides on demand service in Greene and “limited service to neighboring counties,” as well as flex route transportation between Beavercreek, Fairborn, Xenia and Yellow Springs.
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“Loss of revenue is anticipated in passengers fares, contract revenue and State of Ohio allocations and matching federal dollars,” Collier said in email responses before the meeting.
Both Greene and Miami County contract with First Transit for their transit services and have seen reductions in on-demand rides.
Because of reduced demand, four of 20 drivers are picking up riders requesting the on-demand service in Miami County.
"We're still providing those essential services," said Sarah Baker, Miami County Transit general manager. "We're just ready to get back into our normal routine of services."
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