Oberlin seeking $100K share of Paradox Prize for transit

OBERLIN — Another round of Paradox Prize money will be up for grabs in January, and Oberlin wants a share. The city unsuccessfully asked for $75,000 this summer from the Cleveland-based Fund for Our Economic Future, which is using the $1 million prize to improve transportation in the region. The "transportation paradox" asks how Northeast Ohio residents can be expected to work if they don't have an affordable way to commute. Oberlin City Council has some ideas for making transit less of a pain. Officials want to expand public bus service in a yearlong pilot, which would cost $100,000. Carrie Handy, the city's planning director, said Oberlin has been encouraged to try again for the larger amount. She also is asking for an additional $15,000 to market the bus service for three months before the pilot starts, which would be around June 1. The pilot wouldn't just ferry workers around Oberlin. It would create routes as far north as Cooper Foster Park Road on the Amherst-Lorain border. Handy said there are 446 jobs waiting to be filled at more than 90 businesses in the proposed service area. "We're pretty certain that we can hopefully get people to work," she told Council on Monday, Dec. 16. Councilman Ronnie Rimbert asked what plans were in place to keep transportation available after the yearlong pilot ends. "We don't want to string these people out and tell them they have a job for a year, then no way to get back to the job," he said. City Manager Rob Hillard said Council would have to make decisions about funding transit from the general fund, sustainable reserve fund and grants. Council voted 6-0 to apply for the Paradox Prize money, with Sharon Pearson abstaining. She is involved in transportation efforts across Lorain County and . Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.