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Kaptur Delivers Federal Investment for Jobs and Transportation in Near South End

November 3, 2008

CongresswomanMarcy Kaptur delivered news of a $7.7 million federal investment intransportation and jobs in the historic south end of Toledo. The Congresswoman was joined by officials of TARTA and the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority when she announced the federal funding to construct a new facility for the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service (TARPS) at a site across from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, Toledo’s train station. Kaptursecured $7.7 million in federal awards for the new TARPS center,including $6.27 million in the federal transportation bill.

“TARPS plays anindispensable role in the life of our community,” said CongresswomanKaptur. “And with the senior citizen population growing, transportationservice is essential for citizens with disabilities to continue leadingindependent lives.”

TARPS provides service on a reservation basis for area citizens who areunable to access TARTA fixed-route transportation, usually eitherbecause of a disability or the inability to travel to or from a busstop. Riders pay $2 per trip.

“TARPS is a visible symbol of a caring community,” said CongresswomanKaptur. “It acts as a safety net for those persons in our community whodo not have the functional capability to ride TARTA’s regular buses.”

“Today is a dream come true, nearly 15 years in the making. With thehelp of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, we first removed theold Page Dairy and modernized our passenger rail station-- now Ohio'slargest—and began to prepare our region for future high-speed rail. Ourgoal to wrap other transportation and additional activities around thesite and secure good jobs in the near South End comes closer tofruition with this federal investment. With this TARPS hub, as well asa future Metropark now being planned adjacent to the river behind thissite, this historic district will become a center for water, rail, andconsolidated overland transport,” Kaptur continued.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority assisted Kaptur and TARTA inacquiring the site and clearing it for construction. The Port willcontinue as a partner in the project as the owner and operator of theadjacent Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza.

“This is an excellent example of the reach of our Port Authority inconcert with local officials to improve our local economy. The PortAuthority celebrates the cohesive efforts of Congresswoman Kaptur, theCity of Toledo, Lucas County and the Port Authority to bring thisproject to reality,” said Paul Toth, Interim President, Toledo-LucasCounty Port Authority.

Demand for TARPS service is growing at a rate of approximately 15percent annually, Kaptur said. Approximately 2,600 active TARPS ridersmade a total of approximately 122,000 trips in 2007 and projectedridership this year is 140,000 trips.

Kaptur noted that every $1 investment in public transportationgenerates approximately $6 in economic return for the community, noteven counting the benefit of reduced dependence on imported oil and asmaller carbon footprint for the area.