LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - 2024/2025
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Thank you to our Congressional and Ohio delegations for supporting GCRTA’s pursuit of competitive grants to support our Capital Improvement Program. With your help we were able to secure over $162.5 million in grants from FTA, USDOT, ODOT OEPA and others. Highlighted by the awards of a $130.0 million from FTA’s new Rail Vehicle Replacement (RVR) grant program and $12.4 million from ODOT’s Ohio Transit Preservation Program (OTP2) for our Railcar Replacement Program.
The following represents GCRTA's Federal and State legislative priorities for Federal and State Fiscal Years (FFY and SFY) 2024 and 2025.
- GCRTA requests continued support in seeking and obtaining multi-year funding commitments from FTA, ODOT and others for the replacement of our Railcar Fleet. GCRTA has already identified $355.3 million of the $393.0 million total program cost. We are seeking the remaining $37.7 million over the next two to three years (See Page 4.)
- GCRTA requests additional support in obtaining additional federal and state funding for our highest priority State of Good Repair programs:
- $30.7 million for our Light Rail Track Reconstruction Program
- $16.0 million for Eight Blue Line ADA Station Reconstruction
- $20.0 million for the 25 Connects/MetroHealth BRT
- $14.8 million for our 2027-2029 Bus Replacement Program
- $12.0 million for our Electric Bus Pilot Program
- $11.0 million for our Rail Infrastructure Systems Program
- GCRTA requests that the State of Ohio’s transit funding remain at least $70.0 million per year for the SFY 2024/2025 biennium. We are thankful for the creation of the $30.0 million Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program.
- GCRTA requests that the State of Ohio act on and update ODOT’s “Ohio Statewide Transit Needs Study” by identifying dedicated funding in the State’s 2024-25 biennial ODOT and General Revenue Fund budgets to close the funding gap identified in the study.
- GCRTA requests support in pursing grant opportunities in the areas of Workforce Development, Fare Collection Technology to promote Fare Equity, and the promotion of Transit Oriented Development
- GCRTA has prepared a summary of our $236.0 million backlog of unfunded projects and $158.2 million of key projects in our 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program that are either partially funded or have been delayed due to lack of funding. They are included in the current SFY 2024-2027 STIP update and can be awarded quickly as Competitive Grants are awarded. (Exhibit C)