It may be eclipsed by bigger proposals on the November ballot, but Issue Seven is critical to the future of public transportation. Or so says the president of the Central Ohio Transit Authority -- COTA. The bus system is asking voters to approve an additional one-quarter percent sales tax levy so it can restore service and expand operations.
COTA managers have cut routes and operating hours several times in recent years trying to bring the financially struggling bus system into the black. The latest service cutbacks, amounting to about 10%, occurred last January. That, according to president and CEO Bill Lhota, left Columbus with a somewhat limited bus schedule compared to other large cities in the U.S. Lhota says that public funding is also comparatively low.
"Columbus is the lowest funded public transit system in the state of Ohio for any major city," Lhota says. "Cleveland gets four times the funding we do; Dayton gets two times the funding."
So COTA is campaigning for an additional 1/4% tax levy. And it's running ads like this one:
"Some people ask, Why vote for the COTA levy when they don't ride the bus?' The fact is, some need the bus more than others: to get to their jobs or to visit the doctor. Students take the bus to class. We all need solid bus service to keep our economy moving."
Bill Lhota says revenues from bus fares are insufficient, and the $44 million that COTA receives annually from a levy approved in 1999 is not enough. Public transportation, Lhota says, should be viewed as part of Central Ohio's infrastructure.
"Taxes from gasoline pay to build highways that we all utilize," Lhota says. "Public transit is much the same. It is a business that, to keep it affordable to people who are riders of necessity, it is subsidized."
Levy supporters argue it would be a painless tax because it won't be implemented until January, 2008, when an unrelated 1/4% county sales tax expires. That means Franklin County taxpayers would continue to pay the same 6 3/4% rate if the tax is approved. With that approval, Lhota says, lost service would be restored and new service would be added.
"We will have more frequent service to alleviate existing overcrowding," Lhota says. "We will be running longer hours to provide service for second shift workers, particularly so they can get home. And we will be going many places we don't go today."
In the first decade of increased funding, Lhota says, fixed route bus service would be nearly doubled. And service to distant points like Rickenbacker and the new hospital in Dublin would begin, along with express cross town buses connecting the suburbs. Lhota says there would also be a 40% increase in service for disabled riders. In an unscientific sampling of Columbus residents, WOSU student reporter Lauren Polinsky found most people in favor of the levy.
"My name is Nina Thompson and I support Issue 7, the bus levy, because I think public transportation is really important."
My name is Daniel Hatch and I support Issue 7, the bus levy, because I think there should be more routes."
COTA managers are hopeful that optimism translates to Issue 7's passage. But the bus system may have negative perceptions to overcome.
The bus drivers used to be very courteous. But I find now that they are very discourteous not all of them."
This Columbus resident identified himself as Babachu.
"Train these people better to get along with the public because if you take a job like that you're dealing with the public."
Tension between labor and management probably won't be resolved either, whether or not the levy passes. That was the prediction by an official with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission who spoke at a candidate's forum last month.
Still, COTA is hoping the strides that it's made toward better fiscal management and restoring customer confidence will be a positive influence on November 7th.