Public transit to need more fuel soon

If it wasn't for Hancock Area Transportation Services, Regina Arreguin would be unable to work as a teaching assistant at Something Special Learning Center. "I would probably have to walk or get a bike, and that's not happening," Arreguin, 40, of Findlay, said Monday as she rode a bus. "I live too far away to walk or (bicycle)." Over half of the 63,000-plus rides given each year by HATS, Hancock County's public transportation service, involve taking people to and from a job. The nonprofit employs 29 drivers and a fleet of 31 vehicles in Hancock County. It costs much less to ride HATS than to use a cab or your own car. About 26% of HATS' rides are for medical/dialysis care and 14% are for shopping. Sometimes the medical trips are for longer distances to specialists in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Lima. "We're not washing the disciples' feet, but we're helping a lot of people with their sandals," HATS driver Cliff Hite said. Few realize it, but HATS also feeds the local economy, said James Baker, transportation director for HATS' parent agency, HHWP Community Action Commission. "There's an economic transaction at the end of every single ride. Somebody's getting paid," Baker said. "Somebody's going to work, somebody's going shopping. Somebody's going to a medical appointment." Funding crisis ahead But HATS funding will plummet in 2025. Unless it can obtain funding then from the city of Findlay, Hancock County or other agencies, it will have to cut services, Baker said. United Way of Hancock County for a long time "paid the freight" for public transportation in Hancock County, he said. United Way contributed as much as $260,000 in some years. When the pandemic hit, HATS' contribution from United Way declined. United Way's priorities changed and HATS received about $200,000 less from United Way in 2022 and 2023, a move Baker said he understands. "Their focus is making sure vulnerable children and families get services, and that's fine," he said. The Hancock County commissioners offset part of HATS' loss, contributing installments of $100,000 in federal COVID relief funds to HATS in 2022 and this year. Another $100,000 installment of federally-derived funds will be sent in 2024 from the county to HATS. HATS also has replaced some of its funding gap through contracts in which it provides transportation for other agencies. Two examples: It drives children from Findlay YMCA's Child Development Center to Findlay elementary schools; and in a contract with Hancock County Job and Family Services, it provides transportation for Medicaid recipients. But the funding shortfall will deepen after 2024 because no more COVID relief funds will be available. Baker said United Way has done its part. Now it is up to others. "The United Way has bankrolled this and the city and the county have both benefited," he said. "They have never had to really face the prospect of us not having enough funding to continue public transit." "Public transit is funded in a lot of cities with city and county contributions, but that's not the case here," Baker said. Findlay residents comprise 90% of HATS riders, he said. In addition, Findlay is the largest Ohio city without any type of fixed route transit service, or in other words, bus stops. HATS also gets less support from other local community agencies than its transportation peers elsewhere. Other transit agencies in the region have contracts with agencies for the developmentally disabled, with local hospitals and senior centers, like 50 North. "Those are big contract revenues that help keep transit agencies going in rural areas. We don't have that here," Baker said. "We have approached a lot of those folks, and they just don't seem to be interested." Upward mobility For the time being, though, HATS keeps rolling along to the benefit of many local citizens. Four men were picked up at their homes one afternoon to be taken to their jobs at Tall Timbers Industrial Park by a HATS bus. As the bus headed east on Melrose Avenue, approaching the Industrial Drive entrance to Tall Timbers, Hite, hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road, shouted a question. "Is anybody late for work?" There was no answer. "Does anybody want me to make them late for work?" Hite said, drawing smiles and laughter. "I could go around the block." One of the riders, Jhon Rosado, 34, has been working at Findlay Products Corp. for six months. He has been getting there via HATS. "I started out as a packer, got a promotion for forklift operator for shipping and receiving, and then got another promotion," he said. Rosado was promoted to die set technician, a job he will assume after he trains his successor in shipping and receiving. University of Findlay students are riding HATS buses to get to second-shift jobs this summer. They get off from work after HATS' last daily pickups in the 9-9:30 p.m. range. HATS' limited budget does not afford it a later pickup schedule. But some workers bicycle home from a late-night job since HATS attached bike racks to some vehicles. Independence, and date night One HATS rider, Ramon, who is visually impaired, was taken to multiple shopping stops one day this week. Ramon, 57, also rides HATS to deliver his homemade meals twice a week to his brother, Jose, who is blind and at a nursing home. HATS gives Ramon some independence; it also gives him and Jose a chance to share some brotherly love. People at all ages and stages of life ride HATS. Arreguin, who takes HATS to get to work at Something Special Learning Center, has been riding for over 30 years, she said. As a child, she lived too close to school to qualify for a school bus, but too far to walk. HATS filled the gap, driving her to St. Michael School and then Findlay High School. HATS later took her to Owens Community College and restaurant jobs in Findlay. HATS has been transporting Heritage Christian School students to and from school for years. It also has been transporting Fostoria and Arlington students. Among the most memorable HATS passengers in Steve Rothlisberger's 11 years as a driver is an elderly couple. He recalls one time picking up the couple at their home; the two of them approaching the HATS vehicle with their walkers. "They were dressed to the nines," Rothlisberger recalls. "You're taking us on our date," the man said to Rothlisberger. The couple's destination: Bob Evans on Tiffin Avenue. The elderly man, who is blind, expressed his gratitude for HATS, Rothlisberger said. "If it wasn't for HATS, our children wouldn't have allowed us to live independently," Rothlisberger recalls the man saying once. "We'd be in a nursing home."