Feds Give Cleveland Extra 30 Days to Pay $12 Million Debt

Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority have an extra 30 days to pay the Federal Transit Administration $12 million.  A letter from the federal government today gives the city a one-time extension until February 21, 2017, to repay the debt.  The FTA says unless Public Square is reopened to bus traffic, RTA is in breach of an agreement that helped fund the Euclid Corridor Health Line. 

The FTA writes, “The GCRTA may either (1) reopen Public Square to bus traffic as it committed to as part of the FFGA [Full Funding Grant Agreement], thereby repairing the breach, or (2) it can reimburse FTA for the loss of the Federal investment.”

RTA is currently studying travel times and traffic conditions in Public Square.  In an effort to meet its federal obligations under the grant agreement, RTA is trying to work out a plan to reduce bus travel times around the square and on nearby roads. 

RTA declined to comment on the FTA letter but says it is completing its study and reviewing the results.