LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - 2019/2020
Click here for a downloadable copy of the full 2019/2020 Legislative Update (1.69 MB).
The following represents GCRTA's Federal and State legislative priorities for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2019 and 2020.
- GCRTA requests support in seeking and obtaining multi-year funding commitments from FTA, ODOT, NOACA and others for the replacement of our Rail Car Fleet. GCRTA has already placed $17.5 million in a Rolling Stock Reserve Fund and is committed to reserving an additional $30.5 million over the next six years toward the $240 million total program cost.
- GCRTA requests support in obtaining additional federal and state funding for our highest priority State of Good Repair projects:
- $7.4 million for our 2018-2020 Bus Replacement Program
- $28.9 million for our 2021-2023 Bus Replacement Program
- $20.0 million for our Rail Infrastructure Program
- GCRTA asks that the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund be fully funded at the levels included in the FAST Act, with additional sources of funding dedicated to funding public transit at levels needed to achieve a "State of Good Repair".
- GCRTA requests that the State of Ohio provide a permanent revenue neutral sustainable replacement for the loss of the Sales Tax Revenue from Medicaid Managed Health Care Services. This impacts all Urban Transit Authorities with a projected loss to GCRTA of $20 million per year beginning in 2019.
- GCRTA requests that the State of Ohio act on ODOT’s "Ohio Statewide Transit Needs Study" by identifying dedicated funding in the State’s 2020-21 biennial budget to close the funding gap identified in the study.
- GCRTA requests that Cuyahoga County Council act on the Cuyahoga County Council Regional Transportation Subcommittee’s "Final Report" by identifying and securing dedicated transit funding sources for GCRTA.
- GCRTA has prepared a priority list of $69.7 million in design and construction projects that are included in our Capital Improvement Program but are either partially funded or have been delayed due to lack of funding. They are included in the current 2018-2021 State of Ohio Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and can be awarded quickly as Competitive Grants are awarded.
- GCRTA has also prepared a partial list totaling $305.7 of our $542.6 million backlog of unfunded projects that are not included in our 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program. They continue to be delayed due to lack of capital project funding.