One year ago today, our community expressed its desire for a modern and effective TARTA by passing Issue 12. This was a historic step forward for our region in two ways: First, it expanded TARTA’s service area to include all of Lucas County and the City of Rossford in Wood County; and second, it properly funded public transit at the local level. This means that TARTA now has the resources to do its part to support the positive economic momentum underway in Northwest Ohio.

Since the passage of Issue 12, the TARTA Board of Trustees and employees have worked hard to refine, improve, and expand the system. Below is a highlight of just a few of the many ways that TARTA is quickly becoming the transit system this community needs and deserves:

• Brought back Sunday and holiday service with longer hours
• Refreshed the TARTA and TARPS fleets with new and smaller vehicles
• Won more than $20 million in competitive federal and state grants to invest in facilities, technology upgrades and more
• Adopted the TARTA Next vision to guide our next 10 years with bus and paratransit service expansion, improve existing bus routes, and make it easier to use TARTA
• Announced an on-demand microtransit pilot to launch in 2023 to bring public transportation to areas of Lucas County that have never benefitted from it
• Introduced a modern fare collection system with mobile payment options and other features to reduce customers’ reliance on cash
• Supported more than 20 community events including Jeep Fest, the African American Festival, Glass City JazzFest, and several parades

While riding TARTA to work, I have the chance to talk to many customers. These conversations are both heart-warming and eye-opening, as I get the chance to hear about how public transit has improved lives, as well as see some of the difficulties with our system.

Through these conversations and other ways that we engage with the public, TARTA is changing thanks to community feedback. We cannot build the new and improved TARTA without input from you, and that is something we keep in mind with every decision.

We at TARTA are touched by the community’s faith in us and will continue to work tirelessly to prove the wisdom of the public’s decision to pass Issue 12 last year.

Thank you again for your support. We are privileged to serve this area and to connect you, your friends, your neighbors, and local businesses with all the great things Northwest Ohio has to offer.



Sincerely, 

Laura Koprowski, CEO, TARTA