Hyperloop admits it is a scam to use taxpayer money to make your city a slave to Wall Street banks.

The most authentic thing I’ve heard about this particular project comes at the 0:41 second mark of the (non-embeddable) video on the project website.

“The exciting thing about hyperloop’s project is that it is fundable, both by Wall Street and by the USDOT and state DOTs across America.”

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2020/2/11/the-hyperloop-is-always-greener-from-the-other-side-of-the-stroad 

#OhioLovesTransit

Ride FREE on any WRTA Fixed Route Bus on Ohio Loves Transit Day — Friday, February 14. #OhioLovesTransit pic.twitter.com/MYzqZwQAz6

— WRTA (@WRTAbus) February 8, 2020

Cleveland needs #freepublictransit, it is possible

Makinen, who lost his eyesight about four years ago, said his disability has helped shape his belief that public transit is more than just transporting people, that it’s a service that should be woven into the “fabric of the community.” 

Some naysayers contend that security will become more of a problem if anybody can ride for free. But Makinen dismisses such speculation. He believes just the opposite would likely occur if ridership goes up because more people would be on board to see what’s going on.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/01/free-public-transit-in-the-works-for-kansas-city-might-cleveland-one-day-follow-suit.html

This article outlines some of the benefits of fare-free public transit. The money people save on fares will more likely be spent locally, rather than spent on gasoline, where most of it leaves the community.

#Freepublictransit is your town's best investment

Free transit passes in @DTColumbus funded by @MORPC provided 1.6 million rides for 15,100 people since June 2018.

Imagine if @NOACA_MPO, @DowntownCLE, @inthecircle, @CleveFoundation invested in #freetransit instead of Hyperloop.@ParadoxPrize @uGOcirclehttps://t.co/pqdrb0KpbX

— Clevelanders for Public Transit (@CLEforTransit) December 20, 2019

Fare-free roads are taken for granted, what about public transit?

"If an alien landed from outer space, they would say what a minute, you’re charging the poorest members of society $1.75 each way to use your transit system, but everyone else just gets to drive for free wherever they want, whenever they want? It absolutely makes no sense."

— Clevelanders for Public Transit (@CLEforTransit) December 5, 2019

Candidate for Dayton City Commission David Esrati is proposing fare free public transit

The reality is, the taxpayers are already paying for RTA through the sales tax, and from Federal dollars, and the amount of money RTA collects through fares is negligible. Once you eliminate the costs of collecting fares- from the administration of tickets and passes and transfers, to the accounting and control functions of the funds, and then figure in fuel costs and time wasted while waiting to collect the fares- the amount of real revenue is almost none. By returning ad sales to the outsides and insides of buses, RTA could more than make up for the lost revenue and the increases in ridership would be even more desirable to advertisers.

https://esrati.com/esrati-proposes-free-public-transit/17386 

"Free Public Transit Pays for Itself" -- #ThisIsCLE @CLERisingSummit

FREE Public Transit already has a meeting with @GCRTA

At @CLERisingSummit’s #CLErising https://t.co/hysUM6icKz#ThisIsCLE — improving #Cleveland pic.twitter.com/01CxwhOUuj

— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. - sosAssociates.com (@sos_jr) October 31, 2019

Many people in Columbus, Ohio, see the benefits #freetransit would bring

“Ninety-five percent (of residents) don’t know what the inside of a bus looks like,” he said, and more people on the bus would mean fewer cars on the road.
“You can make an argument that it helps everybody,” Weiler said. “If we become the first major city in America (to offer free bus service), that will really put us on the map.”
Weiler said the move would benefit a broad section of the community, and employers would benefit, too, because some are having trouble keeping workers who struggle with transportation.
“I’ve had a ton of emails and phone calls: ‘What can I do to make it happen?’” Weiler said.
“There are a large number of people who want to help.”

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190329/despite-resistance-developer-continues-campaign-for-free-cota-bus-service 

Clevelanders for Public Transit

clefortransit.org Today, riders from Clevelanders for Public Transit (CPT) will be hosting a march and rally to demand immediate funding for frequent, affordable and reliable transit. Riders will meet at 5 p.m. at RTA Headquarters, 1240 West 6th Street before marching to Public Square for a 5:30 p.m. rally.

Cars choking Columbus, Oh

The Guardian: "But its transit problems are evident. The freeways into the city are packed at rush hour, and the downtown business district faces a car parking crunch, with few and expensive spaces for the 45,000 workers."

Akron METRO, SARTA, PARTA offer free bus fares through August

cleveland.com: "AKRON, Ohio -- Residents of Summit, Stark and Portage Counties can take advantage of free public transportation every Friday, July 7-Aug. 31.

Akron METRO, SARTA and PARTA will offer free bus rides as part of their "Summer in the Cities" promotion to encourage passengers to explore all three counties at no cost."

Columbus Shows What Free Bus Passes Can Do for Ridership

Next City: "CCSID just wrapped up a pilot project during which they gave free transit passes to 844 workers at four companies from June 2015 to January 2017. The results were encouraging, with bus ridership among participants increasing from 6.4 percent to 12.2 percent. That’s good, especially considering citywide, only 3.6 percent of commuters take transit and 79 percent drive alone."

Cleveland mayoral candidate calls for #freepublictransit

WKYC.com: ""One of my biggest policies is bringing free public transportation to the city so that we can provide an option that gives mobility and accessibility to our residents that live in or below poverty. When looking at the statistics, nearly 36% of our population lives at or below poverty and that is unacceptable. Transportation is the key to providing upward mobility for anyone and, unfortunately, the city is watching GCRTA hit a deficit without any attempt to assist or speak up.""

#Autosprawl meltdown, sprawl subsidy to continue, poor to go under the bus

Public transit funding crucial in strengthening Ohio, report says | cleveland.com: ""Gov. Kasich is warning Ohioans that our best days are behind us and we can't afford to do what is needed to create a more vibrant state with an economy that works for everyone. What we really can't afford is that austere view of our future; we need to do more, not less," Patton said in the report."

Support your local #publictransit advocates - Ohio

New Powerhouse Statewide Coalition Calls on Kasich to Increase Transit Funding | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog: ""Ohio's under-investment in public transit, over the past several decades, has left our public transit system lacking," the letter read. "Lack of widespread public transportation limits low-income workers' ability to get to jobs, stunting their ability to support themselves and their families. It also leaves too many people with disabilities as well as those who are aging essentially home bound,
making it difficult for them to access the grocery store, the doctor's office, and to meet their other needs with dignity."
"

Coalition Calls For Increased Funding, Accessibility To Public Transportation

The Statehouse News Bureau: "A coalition of environmental, disability and other groups from around the state are calling on lawmakers and Gov. John Kasich to increase funding to public transportation. That means more sidewalks, bike paths and mass transit."

Ohio automobile culture means poor and disabled get stranded

cleveland.com: ""Council President [Dan] Brady and other members are very concerned about past and potential future cuts to public transit," Nanni said.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority this year already had to raise fares and cut service 3 percent and faces even deeper cuts in 2018 when it will lose funding from the sales and use tax on Medicaid managed care organizations. At that point, RTA could have to cut service up to 10 percent and lay off 150 people, RTA CEO Joe Calabrese has estimated."

Electric vehicles a new opportunity to subsidize sprawl

Electrek: "Last week, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a new legislation that could add up to $250 per month in benefits to people commuting to work in electric vehicles. The new bill, called Electric Vehicle Credit Act, would allow employers to give workers with electric cars access to the same pre-tax transportation benefits many workers receive for traditional forms of transportation like public transportation allowances, parking fees, and public transit passes."

Ohio’s low transit funding complicates efforts to cut emission

Midwest Energy News: "“There’s enormous opportunity in the transportation sector” to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, said Amanda Woodrum, a researcher for Policy Matters Ohio. Transportation “represents about a quarter of the state’s emissions, second only to the electric power sector.”

Ohio’s per capita transportation emissions are comparable with other Midwest states. However, Woodrum said, “we do a terrible job at the state level of supporting public transportation,” which is regarded as a key solution to reducing emissions in the sector.

A 2014 report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials found that Ohio spent only 63 cents per citizen on transit in 2012, compared to $8.57 in Indiana, $24.33 in Michigan, and $63.26 in Illinois. Among Midwest states, only Missouri ranked lower in the survey, at 50 cents per capita."

#Publictransit key to success of anti-transit meeting

Ohio.com: "State and local transportation officials are working with political consultants and the city of Cleveland to develop free-flowing routes for downtown visitors during the Republican National Convention in less than three weeks."