Ohio DOT awards $9.5M to GCRTA for transit projects

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has awarded $9.5 million in grant funding to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) as part of $106 million in state funding for 383 transit projects throughout Ohio.

GCRTA will use $9 million of the proceeds to purchase two new rail cars and install LED signage at GCRTA HealthLine Stations.

"This is the fifth year that ODOT has awarded funding to the Railcar Replacement Program and brings the total ODOT funding to $42.1 million," said GCRTA Deputy General Manager Engineering and Project Management Michael Schipper in a news release. "With this award, GCRTA has now raised $363.5 million of the $393 million total program budget."

The transit agency also was awarded $400,000 from the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program for bus shelter and bus stop improvements at up to 44 locations throughout Cuyahoga County.  

"Funding opportunities such as these underscore the importance of public transportation to our region and subsequent investment in our communities," said GCRTA General Manager and CEO India Birdsong Terry.