TARTA offers free rides for March 4 primary

Fares will be waived on all Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority and Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service buses and vans on March 4 to encourage people to vote in the primary election that day, the transit authority has announced.

A staff recommendation to waive fares that day was approved by TARTA s board of trustees. James Gee, the transit authority s general manager, said it probably will cost the agency between $5,000 and $6,000 in lost fares.

We genuinely hope voters will use this service and exercise their right as American citizens to select candidates and approve or reject ballot issues, Mr. Gee said. We ll evaluate the results of this test and, if it is successful, we anticipate asking the board to approve a similar free-ride program for the presidential election on Nov. 4.

TARTA carries about 18,000 riders on its regular routes on normal weekdays, and about 500 people a day ride TARPS. Mr. Gee said no discount will be provided to weekly or monthly passholders, nor to school boards that provide bus passes to their students.

The transit authority operates in Toledo, Ottawa Hills, Rossford, Perrysburg, Maumee, Waterville, Sylvania, Sylvania Township, and Spencer Township.