Perrysburg looks at transit-service numbers

For the first time, Perrysburg city officials received real numbers on how much an independently run transportation system will cost.

At a committee meeting today, city council members went over the bids submitted by transit companies seeking to run the city’s new shuttle system. Officials narrowed the list of six companies down to two and said they planned to investigate the pair further.

“We’ve got more homework to do,” said Councilman Tim McCarthy during the meeting.

About 15 people sat in the audience, including Rossford City Administrator Ed Ciecka, whose own city is also debating the future of transportation.

The two companies are: MV Transportation, a Dallas-based company that is one of the largest transit companies in the nation. The company bid $705,156 to run the city’s shuttle service for the first year, which translates to slightly more than 1.25-mills, said Tim Fisher, city deputy finance director.

Black & White Transportation, a Toledo company that runs public transit for the city of Bowling Green, bid $619,336, which cost about 1.1-mills for taxpayers, Mr. Fisher said.

The city is seeking to start up a new system — separate from the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority — after voters decided to exit TARTA in the March election.

Under TARTA, Perrysburg taxpayers paid 2.5 mills, which generated about $1.5 million.

But the city is dealing with uncertainty as officials begin developing their own shuttle service to provide rides to people with disabilities or senior citizens.

Any new system requires voters’ blessing at the ballot box because officials said they will not pay for with it general fund dollars.

During the discussion today, Law Director Mathew Beredo said council does not need to rush a decision which transportation to choose. Instead, the city needs to wait to see the election results before inking a contract.

Council is expected to begin the two-step process of placing a tax proposal on the ballot at its next meeting Tuesday.

There is also uncertainty dealing with the gap — the time when TARTA stops serving Perrysburg on Sept. 22 and before a new system starts Jan. 1 — if voters approve it. Several riders have expressed concerns about their mobility during that three-month period if city officials, legislators, and TARTA representatives can’t find a resolution.

Contact Gabrielle Russon at: grusson@theblade.com or 419-351-0361 or on Twitter @GabrielleRusson.