Laketran receives funds for 8 Dial-a-Ride buses

Laketran announced that it will receive $970,536 through the 2018 Ohio Department of Transportation’s Ohio Transit Preservation Partnership Program (OTP3).

According to the ODOT website, the OTP3 is a discretionary program geared toward projects that focus on preserving public transit services. This including maintaining sound transit systems in Ohio.

The funds will go toward purchasing eight propane Dial-a-Ride buses, doubling Laketran's alternative fueled fleet size. Laketran's goal is to replace 14 buses a year and plans to continue to look for additional capital funding.

At the October 23 board meeting, the Laketran board saw the newest vehicle added to Laketran’s Dial-a-Ride fleet, a Turtle Top VT3 that is built on a Ford Transit cutaway. The accessible eight-passenger van is equipped with a wheelchair lift, safety cameras, electronic fare box, GPS-enabled automatic vehicle locators, plus radios and rangers.

The first of Laketran’s propane buses will be in operation next month, including an eight-passenger van designed to accommodate senior riders.