Laketran applauded for obtaining grant aimed at workforce mobility | Editorial

For people who work but don’t own cars, being able to make the right connections to and from their jobs through public transportation is important.

That’s why we were pleased to learn that Laketran has been awarded $800,000 through the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program for its Shoregate Transfer Center Improvement Project in Willowick.

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the funding serves to increase the ease and efficiency of transporting residents to economically significant employment centers or places of employment outside of their home communities.

Officials noted that Laketran is one of 16 transit agencies in 33 counties to benefit from the program grants of more than $17.5 million.

The (Shoregate) site currently sees more than 4,000 monthly transfers between the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Laketran, with a significant portion of trips being work-related, noted State Rep. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick.

“I am pleased that my colleagues and I were able to make this funding available in House Bill 23, our biennial transportation budget,” he stated. “It is certainly in Ohio’s best interest to remove barriers and improve the ability for people to get to work.” 
  
The Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program was established with support from the Ohio General Assembly and provides funding for infrastructure, equipment, technology, vehicles and planning projects.

This program is administered by ODOT’s Office of Transit, which advocates and supports safe and reliable personal mobility by coordinating and funding public transportation as a vital element of Ohio’s transportation system.

 
Laketran CEO Ben Cappelle thanked ODOT for its generous support, and expressed gratitude to local elected officials who advocated for Laketran through their letters of support for its grant application.

“We’re grateful for this investment in our community, which will help eliminate transportation barriers and open doors to meaningful employment across Northeast Ohio,” he said.

The News-Herald congratulates Laketran on securing this important grant and being able to help people in need of transportation to stay employed.