Letters to the Editor

Aging, disabled at risk in TARTA opt-out

12/24/2011

There is a lack of transportation available to the aging community, with the greater problem in suburban areas. That problem is getting worse ("Alternative to TARTA mulled," Dec. 15).

A suburban community that withdraws from a public transit system with no plan to cover the costs of administration, maintenance, replacement vehicles, insurance, and staffing, or to meet federal and state mandates, creates problems for youths, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.

Seniors from various suburban group feel they have lost their mobility. Public transit is their saving grace.

Will the municipalities that want to leave the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority meet the needs of these folks? Would they face lawsuits to provide the service to disabled riders that they take away?

The American way is to help those in need. What a shame it would be to tell us older Americans that we must find our own way to get around.

Sam Burnett

Robin Road

Perrysburg has transit options

TARTA has only one daily bus route that runs from Perrysburg to downtown Toledo and back. TARTA offers call-a-ride service within Perrysburg, which is a nice feature. Perrysburg pays $1.5 million a year for this service.

Perrysburg and other communities such as Rossford and Sylvania Township seem to be subsidizing TARTA without getting much bang for the buck.

There are alternatives for Perrysburg. TARTA could reduce its fares to match its service levels, or a private company could take over the service.

A small company with low overhead could provide expanded service to Perrysburg at less than half the cost and still make a good profit. Four or five buses or vans could shuttle people around Perrysburg and to downtown Toledo more frequently.

This option would benefit people who use the service and taxpayers as well. If it were done right, it would increase ridership on all routes.

Perrysburg taxpayers have a right to get good service from their tax dollars, and should not be subsidizing a system that doesn't work well for them.

Steve Appleby

Perrysburg Township

Trustee Haddad is doing his job

Why people are criticizing Sylvania Township Trustee Kevin Haddad is beyond me ("Trustee shows no compassion," Trustee should apologize," Readers' Forum, Dec. 18).

All three Sylvania Township trustees voted to put the TARTA opt-out issue on the ballot. This is what residents of Sylvania Township and Perrysburg want.

TARTA General Manager James Gee seems to want to continue to operate large, empty buses. It's time the taxpayers, many of whom are on fixed incomes, step in to help Mr. Gee adjust his budget and stop wasting taxpayers' money.

Trustee Haddad is doing his job correctly. There are transportation programs in place for physically challenged people.

No one deserves TARTA services. People vote to pay for these services. If the budget doesn't allow it, then there should be layoffs.

Burt Ramm

Sylvania Township

No TARPS service leaves her upset

I am a disabled female who cannot drive. I sent TARTA an application for Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service and had my doctor verify the information.

I was disappointed to get paperwork back from TARTA telling me there is no TARPS service available to me. If our taxes are paying for this service, we are getting ripped off.

Susan Schurman

Springfield Township

TARTA, TARPS positive, caring

I am a senior citizen whose only modes of transportation are TARPS and TARTA. TARPS picks me up at the door with one day's notice. There is 15 minutes' leeway each way from the scheduled pickup time.

TARPS and TARTA have changed to a more positive, caring mode.

Dick Drzewiecki

Ryan Road

‘Mission’ banner appropriate now

Now that the war in Iraq is over, perhaps President Obama could call his predecessor at his Texas ranch to ask what he did with his infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner from 2003 ("9-year war in Iraq ends as last U.S. troops exit; Effort cost 4,500 lives, $800 billion," Dec. 19).

If President George W. Bush still has that banner, perhaps he could let President Obama borrow it. If it is stained, perhaps Mr. Bush could offer to print a new banner.

It will always be debatable what the U.S. mission was supposed to be in Iraq, and whether it was carried out. But one thing is for sure: Displaying that banner now would not be the same farce that it was in 2003.

Howard Sample

Brownstone Boulevard