Transit agencies urge restoration of $15M Workforce Mobility Partnership program in HB 54

Multiple transit providers told the Senate Transportation Committee that reinstating funding for the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program—$15,000,000 per year in the House transportation budget—would support workforce connections, mobility centers, late-night service and other projects that help people get to jobs.

Casey Blaser of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) said the program "provides essential funding across the state that helps transit agencies address the unique workforce transportation challenges within our communities." He described projects funded during the past biennium, including a mobility center at Rickenbacker, a workforce-transportation analysis, enhanced transit-stop amenities and restoration of late-night service to serve shift workers.

Andy Volnick, executive director of Delaware County Transit, said the county is among Ohio's fastest-growing and that an OWMPP-funded workforce-transportation study will help agencies design services to reach rural workers and connect them to urban employment centers. Volnick said nearly 30% of DCT's ridership in the city of Delaware is for work and that the program allows providers to convert plans into service.

Jared Hampshire, chief operating officer for Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority, and Mary Habig of North Central Area Transit echoed those points and emphasized the program's importance for rural transit systems. Habig said the House approved $15,000,000 annually but that the Senate sub bill removed the funding; she said many rural agencies rely on the program to supplement local matches and make federal grants feasible.

Committee members thanked witnesses; no formal action on restoring the Workforce Mobility Partnership Program is recorded in the hearing transcript.