COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM CONSOLIDATION OF TRANSIT SYSTEMS

The long discussed merger of the Licking County and Newark-Heath transit systems will be a reality by the end of this year. Recently Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb, the President of the County Transit Board, was joined by Heath Mayor Mark Johns and Newark Mayor Jeff Hall in announcing the cooperative agreement to improve service and reduce costs. The Newark Earthworks Transit System will be dissolved on the final day of December, and Newark and Heath will no longer be the recipient of Federal Transit grant dollars. The established County Transit Board will become the sole recipient of transit funding, and will provide continued full ‘’curb to curb demand service’ now in all of Licking County. This consolidation of these local transit functions has been a point of discussion for a number of years, and will allow for efficiencies in dispatching and maintenance, enhanced technology, increase the potential to leverage state and federal funds, and reduce administrative costs. The Licking County Transit Board has been part of other transportation consolidations in the past, providing services for the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Licking County Job and Family Services. Commissioner Bubb says he anticipates a smooth transition, and Newark and Heath will remain actively involved in improving the system.