Fair transportation now!

**Petition: Extend Bus Service Hours in Toledo, Ohio**

**To:** Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), Toledo City Council, and Local Government Officials

**The Issue**

Public transportation in Toledo, Ohio, currently stops running at **10:00 PM**. This schedule creates a serious barrier for residents who work late shifts, attend evening classes, or need transportation after normal business hours.

For example, I attend school from **5:00 PM to 10:00 PM**. By the time my class ends, the buses are no longer running. Just recently, I had to walk several miles home—a walk that took me over **45 minutes in the dark**. This is not safe, not convenient, and not fair to people who depend on public transportation.

Businesses in Toledo often close around the same time buses stop running. For people working in retail, restaurants, healthcare, or other evening jobs, this means there is no reliable way to get home. Not everyone has access to a car, and people should not be forced to drive if they don’t want to or can’t afford to.

**Why This Matters**

* **Safety:** Walking late at night for miles puts residents at risk.
* **Accessibility:** Transportation should be available for all, not just those with cars.
* **Equity:** Students, single parents, and low-income workers are especially impacted by early service cutoffs.
* **Economic Growth:** Reliable late-night transportation helps workers keep jobs and supports businesses that operate beyond 10:00 PM.

**The Solution**

We call on TARTA and city officials to:

1. **Extend weekday and weekend bus service until at least 12:00 AM (midnight).**
2. **Evaluate high-demand routes** (such as those serving schools, hospitals, and job centers) to ensure buses run frequently enough for late-night riders.
3. **Pilot extended hours** for a few months to measure demand before making permanent changes.

**What We Want Now**

We want the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority and the City of Toledo to take immediate action to extend bus hours past 10:00 PM. This small change would make a **big difference in safety, accessibility, and opportunity** for thousands of residents.

Please sign this petition and share it with others. Together, we can make Toledo’s transportation system more fair, safe, and reliable for everyone.