Lincoln County Transit cites surge in riders, seeks 0.15% sales-tax levy to sustain service expansion to Pataskala

Lincoln County Transit on Monday gave Pataskala officials a progress report on rapidly rising ridership and outlined a financing proposal it says is necessary to sustain and expand service into Pataskala.

"Our mission is safely connecting people to places and possibilities," said Matt Allison, executive director of Lincoln County Transit, who told council that trips rose from about 62,000 in 2022 to roughly 136,000 last year and are projected to exceed 160,000 this year. Allison described the agency's mix of fixed routes and countywide door-to-door demand-response service and said the system now includes five new routes and 50 stops, with several shelters installed.

Allison said federal grants have helped the agency fund expansion but require substantial local matches. He said Lincoln County has been able to access about $11 million in federal funds in recent years but that drawing down such grants typically requires similar local matching dollars. To sustain operations and pursue additional routes — including an express connection to Pataskala and a targeted microtransit zone — the agency is proposing a 0.15% sales-tax levy on the May ballot. "If you had a $100 purchase ... 15 cents on that $100 purchase would go to support Lincoln County Transit," Allison said, adding the levy would be a 10-year renewable tax.

Council members asked for demographic and operational details. Allison said ridership is diverse, encompassing seniors and younger riders, and that the system accommodates mobility devices: fixed-route buses are free to ride thanks to local stakeholder support, while door-to-door trips carry a $4 fare and buses can accommodate two wheelchairs or provide accessible vehicles.

Allison described implementation steps including studies of western routes, mobility hubs, and frequency increases; he said work is ongoing with local stakeholders and a preliminary stakeholder meeting was scheduled. Several council members praised the agency's progress and said they looked forward to continued coordination on routing and a possible site tour.

The transit board also noted the difficulty small agencies face in providing the local match for large federal grants and framed the levy as a way to stabilize funding and expand service incrementally rather than relying on irregular stakeholder contributions. The council did not take a formal vote on the levy during the meeting; Allison said the measure is slated for the May ballot.