Limousines are cheaper than TARTA
Written by Derek Merrin | | guestwriter@toledofreepress.comIt would be cheaper for Waterville to employ full-service limousines than to have the services of TARTA.
In 2009, the Village of Waterville coughed up approximately $324,000 in property taxes to fund TARTA. In return, TARTA serves Waterville five days a week from
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Let’s do some basic arithmetic. At five days a week, TARTA runs services for Waterville totaling 260 days a year, which equals 2,860 hours a year. TARTA receives $324,000 per year from Waterville taxpayers, which equates to $1,246 each day or $113 per hour.
According to Total Image Limousine, located in Monclova, a Lincoln limo can be at your service at a base price of $70 an hour. A1 Accurate, located in Toledo, and Dagwood Limousines, in Perrysburg, quote similar prices that vary slightly depending on the number of passengers and limo model.
Of course, a lower price could be negotiated if a limousine company was granted a contract for a full day’s work, let alone a full year. But, let’s stick with the $70 per hour. The net savings from switching to a limousine service from TARTA would be $123,800 not even counting the quality of life benefits from riding in style.
An astute observer may question the functionality of fitting all Waterville TARTA riders into a limousine; however, given the ridership levels, that shouldn’t be too big of a problem. According to TARTA, its TARPS service conducts 3.5 pickups per day, its Call-A-Ride service transports about 4.8 people per day, and its express buses transport about 60 people a day at various times.
I admit that Waterville may need three additional limousines at rush hour to transport the 60 people who normally ride the express buses. At an additional hour a day, that would limit our net savings to approximately $69,200. The fact remains: No matter how you configure Waterville’s schedule, private limos are cheaper than TARTA public services.
Some riders, if not the majority of the riders, do not even live in Waterville, but come to Waterville to catch the buses. It is important to note that the approximate number of riders a day assumes that a rider makes a round trip, which TARTA counts as two rides.
Also, TARTA provides rides to Mud Hens and Walleye games.
Waterville and other suburban communities are being ripped off by TARTA. Our tax dollars are being transferred to subsidize an urban transportation system that is less cost-effective than the private sector. It is not uncommon for me to be stopped at Kroger or the post office and be asked, “Hey, Mayor, do you see the empty TARTA buses that ride around Waterville all day? What a waste of money.” My typical reply is, “Yeah, I see them. It’s an outrage, but my hands are tied.”
An archaic state law, supported by TARTA administration, only permits a TARTA member, such as Waterville, to withdraw from TARTA if the other eight members unanimously consent. The other members are Maumee, Ottawa Hills, Perrysburg, Rossford, Spencer Township, Sylvania, Sylvania Township and Toledo. Some members have attempted an escape, but have failed.
State Representative Randy Gardner has unsuccessfully tried to change the inequitable law, and provide local governments more autonomy concerning participating in regional transportation systems. The problem is that one large municipality can force the rest of us to pay a tax that provides us with poor value. If every TARTA jurisdiction voted against its property tax levy, but the majority of Toledo voters say, “yes,” we all have to pay.
I am not against public transportation. But, I am against the people I represent having to pay a fortune to a quasi-governmental entity that charges more than the private sector and offers less. Furthermore, I am opposed to the utopian fantasy that public transit must connect every hinterland on this side of the Mississippi River, no matter the cost. I will support public transportation if it is needed and economically sensible.
Whether in the name of economics or good intentions, there is never an excuse to waste tax dollars. The plundering of tax dollars hurts the economy and the less fortunate; there is less money in the private sector to spur economic growth, and the average, hard-working citizen becomes calloused, angry toward having to overpay a bureaucracy that purports helping the needy.
While political philosophies and better ways to manage public transit are debated, I would encourage TARTA to contract with a local limousine company to save taxpayers’ money and provide more comfortable rides for Waterville residents.
Derek Merrin is mayor of Waterville.
Tags: TARTA
Fantastic illustration on TARTA’s waste of taxpayer’s money. While this may be humorous, sadly it is quite true. Limo services can operate cheaper than TARTA. They are more stylish than TARTA. And I am sure they are cleaner than TARTA.
This comment was posted on February 5th, 2010 at 12:52 amTARTA, in Pt.Place,it doesn’t even complete it’s whole route after 9:00 P.M., because no one is ever riding the thing except, the driver.
TARTA: is just another unionized parasitic entity that WON’T ever go away. The above math., proof’s the actual negative worth of this boondoggle. Too bad math., is something NO union official is proficient in.
Love that black smoke pouring out though…
This comment was posted on February 5th, 2010 at 10:51 amGreat article!!! It made me laugh and upset. It’s an outrage the amount of money TARTA wastes.
The Mayor gives me hope that there are elected officials that exist that are compentent and looking out for taxpayers.
This comment was posted on February 5th, 2010 at 1:45 pmDerek Merrin should run for higher office. Clearly he has the commonsense fiscal discipline many of our area “leaders” lack.
This comment was posted on February 5th, 2010 at 4:39 pmIt is about time TARTA was exposed. Kudos to Mayor Merrin for quantitatively debunking the myth that TARTA actually helps people and the economy.
This comment was posted on February 5th, 2010 at 9:33 pmGreat article I grind my teeth everytime I see a Tarta bus in downtown running empty. The taxpayers need to back public leaders like the mayor of Waterville and stamp out Tarta! Tarta is bad for the enviroment and bad for our economy..
This comment was posted on February 8th, 2010 at 12:35 pmI rely on TARTA to get me around the Toledo area. Unfortunately I can not afford to purchase a vehicle since I only make $8 an hour. I can ride as often as I would like on any of the TARTA lines for $40 a month. I have never had a bad experience riding with TARTA either.
This comment was posted on February 8th, 2010 at 9:43 pmI ride the Call-a-Ride and often see a disabled gentleman in a wheelchair with a very large service dog (a great dane maybe). Just which limo service does Mayor Merrin believe will transport this gentleman? I do not believe that there are any with the equipment needed to transport mobility challenged people. I think that the mayor needs to speak with his constituents who actually use the service to understand their needs before making these ridiculous suggestions.
This comment was posted on February 10th, 2010 at 3:32 pmMaumeeMom–There are plenty of limos that transport disabled people. You have missed the whole point of the Mayor’s article. TARTA is not cost effictive and cannot even compete w/ limousines. Hello?????
The Mayor is not actually advocating tax dollars pay for limousines, but is making an illustration–so people like you may actually understand that TARTA is a not a good deal.
This comment was posted on February 11th, 2010 at 1:24 pmIn the article, Mr. Merrin wrote: “I would encourage TARTA to contract with a local limousine company to save taxpayers’ money and provide more comfortable rides for Waterville residents.” so yes, Peter, he is “actually advocating tax dollars pay for limousines,”
I’ve seen many limos on the road (especially around prom season) but don’t recall seeing any that had a wheelchair lift and space for a service dog. Peter, are you sure that are plenty of them in the Toledo area? Would these “special” limos be available at the cost quoted by Mr. Merrin?
As a person who uses public transportation, I do understand that it is a necessity for many. In my opinion, TARTA is a much needed service for the Greater Toledo community.
This comment was posted on February 11th, 2010 at 4:19 pmMuch needed? Certainly overpriced.
Sadly, not everyone gets the genius of this column – if limos which are designed for luxury can operate at a certain cost way lower than TARTA, we are getting ripped off.
The column is tongue in cheek and the Mayor really doesn’t expect to see limos in Waterville.
C’mon people.
This comment was posted on February 11th, 2010 at 8:49 pmHow many of the above commenter actually use the TARTA service? When they find themselves without a car and no money to afford cabs like alot of city people do then they will realize the service tarta provides is essential. It must be nice to live in the suburbs with all the rich folks. Asses
This comment was posted on February 15th, 2010 at 7:25 pmMayor Marrin shares a typically rural and unsophisticated view of public transportation. We should be angered not by one empty bus, but the excessive waste of having each individual resident ride solo in his gas-guzzling SUV.
This comment was posted on March 5th, 2010 at 2:35 pmYes, public transportation costs money. Private transportation, however, costs even more – in money, in damage to the environment, and in political strife due to dependence on (foreign) oil.
As Matthew Davenport alluded, there are services that buses provide that private vehicles cannot, such as room for 60+ passengers per trip and wheelchair accessibility.
The Mayor’s crack about a “utopian fantasy” exposes his prejudices. I suspect that the line he used to open that paragraph is untrue.
A progressive official would promote public transportation to better his environment, his community’s options and the unemployed, underemployed, wheel-chair bound or environmentally responsible citizenry he should be representing. Elected officials have a duty to consider the benefits to society, not just those of individuals.
It’s a shame that with today’s global accessibility, some still think as if they’d never been off the farm.