Transit agencies warn proposed budget language would curtail student access and risk federal dollars

Leaders from the Greater Cleveland RTA, Cincinnati Metro and Akron Metro testified that proposed budget amendment HC222805‑1 would limit students' ability to use public transit for school and after‑school connections and could contravene federal transit rules.

Dr. Flaunce Caver, deputy general manager for operations at GCRTA, described an existing partnership that allows Cleveland Metropolitan School District students to ride with no blackout dates and no hour restrictions. She told senators the alternative — yellow‑bus transport for more than 13,000 high‑school riders — would cost tens of millions annually and carry large start‑up and operating costs for school districts.

Cincinnati Metro and Akron Metro representatives echoed concerns that the amendment's language is unclear about which hubs and systems would be affected and that practical constraints make a one‑ride requirement infeasible for fixed‑route transit networks. Witnesses said restricting transfers at staffed, supervised hubs would force students to transfer in unsupervised locations and reduce access to jobs, enrichment programs and healthcare. They warned the amendment could jeopardize federal operating and capital grants if transit agencies could not comply with federal statutes and warned against provisions that would criminalize operator discretion to assist students.

Ending: Senators were urged to remove or substantially clarify the amendment to preserve students' safe access to transit and protect federal funding streams.