great more empty buses driving around that sounds like a winner. maybe they can use some money to put more trees on main st. the legacy of the don

Revenue up $5 million and ridership down 12%. At least they had the decency to thank the taxpayers for increasin' their revenues.

Summit County not to long ago voted to give the Metro system a HUGE pay increase with a sales tax increase? Where did that money go???? Why would Metro take stimulus money when they don't need it? Someone needs to answer those questions, you only take the stimulus money when it's absolutely necessary, not just because it's offered. We need to be a little more fiscally responsible.

Negative negative negative. Anything like this is great for this county, since everyone is doing so poorly. It boosts the economy and less bus breakdowns!

And since when are trees bad? I like how people blame everything on others. Maybe they should buy a mirror.

I didn't see any help wanted signs at the bus stops in the last few years. 8.3 million dollars for what? More empty busses or maybe more security for the hundred or so riders? More useless gov. money going nowhere. Thanks Obama.

METRO’s revenues are classified by source and described as shown below:

2008
Sales Tax $25,052,152
Passenger Fares $4,745,301
Federal Assistance $4,548,257
State Assistance $1,017,883
Interest Income $110,763
Auxiliary Transportation Revenue $266,370
Non-transportation Revenue $2,532,663
TOTAL $38,273,389

I considered myself blessed to afford my own transportation and I agree with metro bus...I would use one if it went where I live and work. BUT do people realize the above numbers? METRO takes in roughly $7.5 million in fares, interest, auxillary and non transportation income but spends $38 million to operate? I wish I could have those kind of numbers in my business and still advertise and buy new equipment like they do!

This taxpayer stimulus money is bull****, these cities are using the money to acquire or upgrade old things, such as buses! It was supposed to be used for infrastructure...building, upgrading roads, buildings (you know that creates construction jobs, concrete sales, asphalt sales, lumber sales, and other supplies) NOT TO BUY BUSES PASQUALLIC. Oh create a few bus driving jobs big deal. This taxpayer money that OBAMA is printing and giving out like welfare checks should be policed. UNREAL!!!!

What a waste of taxpayer dollars METRO is.

Yeah buses are the worst, most wasteful things ever...unless you need one.

Companies aided by stimulus funds
Published on Friday, Jul 03, 2009

Below is a list of Ohio companies paid through stimulus funds for the Metro bus project:

• Bendix Commercial Vehicles Systems, Elyria, brakes and brake valves.

• Dana Corp., Toledo, U-joints and drive shafts.

• Ametro/Rotron, Kent, booster pumps and brushless motors.

• Firestone Tire & Rubber, Akron, tires and air bellows.

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Akron, tires and air bellows.

• Guardian Industries, Upper Sandusky, protective glass and anti graffiti.

• Tenneco Automotive, Norwalk, bushings.

• Modine Manufacturing, Pemberville, radiators and charged air cooler.

• Meditor Automotive, Newark, axles and axle components.

• Timken Co., Canton, bearings.

• Vanner, Hilliard, equalizers for electric systems and battery inverters.

• RCA Rubber Co., Akron, rubber flooring.


Below is a list of Ohio companies paid through stimulus funds for the Metro bus project:

• Bendix Commercial Vehicles Systems, Elyria, brakes and brake valves.

• Dana Corp., Toledo, U-joints and drive shafts.

• Ametro/Rotron, Kent, booster pumps and brushless motors.

• Firestone Tire & Rubber, Akron, tires and air bellows.

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Akron, tires and air bellows.

• Guardian Industries, Upper Sandusky, protective glass and anti graffiti.

• Tenneco Automotive, Norwalk, bushings.

• Modine Manufacturing, Pemberville, radiators and charged air cooler.

• Meditor Automotive, Newark, axles and axle components.

• Timken Co., Canton, bearings.

• Vanner, Hilliard, equalizers for electric systems and battery inverters.

• RCA Rubber Co., Akron, rubber flooring.
Why are companies like Timken, Goodyear getting Stimulus funds when they lay off American workers and send their jobs to China?

Not for the Metro bus project.

@UseCommonSense, there was a never a requirement placed on stimulus money that the project must be "absolutely necessary". The requirement was the project must be ready to go.

We should be happy that our local communities and organization are getting as much of the money as possible, since the federal government is giving it out no matter what.

@jeff, Plusquellic has nothing to do with Metro buying buses.

This is great! 19 new buses will add about 19, maybe 20 new jobs to Akron!

I'm ready to pop the cork on the bubbly. This economic recovery stuff is really hitting high gear, now.

Here comes the WAAAHHHHmbulance, get on board. OMG thinks its a waste. Other morons are still blaming the mayor for everything.

Yes I'm angry dds18, I'm tired of the constant complaints about virtually every story on this site.

@Steve: Consider that the nay-sayers have nothing better to do with their time and that an anonymous forum gives them the opportunity to say things they would never say in public.

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round...

They sound nice.

In an earlier post I cited the 2008 Metro Revenue and questioned how they spend their money...posts since seem to suggest this might be just may-saying. I would counter by suggesting two books everyone with interest should read...."Solutions for the World's Biggest Problems"....and "How to Spend $50 Billion to Make The World a Better Place"
by Bjørn Lomborg. Although Metro's issue is far from this scale maybe changes with these principles in mind should be looked at as alternatives to merely spending tax dollars that have been paid by hard working citizens.

Why is this stimulus money being used for stupid things like trash cans instead of concentrating on hiring out of work people. Obama is very much to blame for people out of work, this lame brain stiumuls scheme was his moron idea and he doesn't even bother to see where the money is really going and wonders why people still don't have jobs.

Agree with @gg - why waste money on bus shelters and trash cans? people don't know how to put their trash in a can, and teens just "trash" the shelters.

I would totally ride the METRO if I wasn’t creeped out by some of the people who ride it, or hang out by the bus shelters. No offense to those of you who ride…..just can’t trust anyone anymore.

Wow, thanks Obama and Pelosi and the rest of the Liberal- Democrats in Congress that said "We need this stimulus bill passed right now!!! Every day we wait blah blah blah..." They can't account for most of the money, and now it's being spent on Metro!!!! Just what I need another "green" bus to haul low lifes from Akron to Summit Mall and ghetto it up!

Tim,

So now we need to read two books to understand your point, sorry but I don't have the time. You seem to be saying that Metro spends $38 million but takes in far less in fares etc. No surprise, most of their funding is from other sources including money from sales tax.

What about police and fire, or schools? How much money do they take in for the services they provide, and how much comes from government funding?


As to others that are complaining no jobs were created using this stimulus money, you think these 1/2 million dollar buses just materialized out of thin air? Somebody built them, and many people worked on components that were used in their production.

Not all money being spent from stimulus funding is going to create jobs. They provide work for existing companies, which could prevent them from cutting hours or laying people off.

Just lots of naysayers and angry people complaining about any good that is done anywhere. Because they all have a better solution (let's hear them).

Steve and KenmoreKid

Consider that they are correct about the government Waste and are trying to expose it for what it is. it took over 200 years to build this free country and just 8 months to destroy it.
Would the last person out of akron please lock the gun cabinet and turn off the lights?

This is no different than all the wasted money that got thrown around in the name of homeland security. The little burgs out in the middle of no where with a population of about 1,200 receiving million dollar assault vehicles to fight terrorists. Plain and simple ,our tax money being wasted on stupid items that benefit very few.

@ Akroudy?

8 months to destroy this country???

Sure Obama hasn't been doing the best job - but have you been asleep the past eight YEARS??? Good grief

Steve

And thus your limited understanding of the problem...with finite resources and infinite problems to solve we need to use our brains to figure the mess out NOT OUR POLITICS as POLITICians have been doing for far too long. And this small topic is just indicative of the solutions they have...spend our way into prosperity. Like Winston Churchill said "A government spending its way into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket trying to lift himself up by the handle". I hope you get a chance to at least read a little more thought and a little less dribble here.

Stop bawling about Obama throwing money around. It's not like he's just printing it, dishing it out to 100 folks who represent us, and then we don't get any of it. This is the United States of Democratic Senators and a past Republican Idiot, who have cumulatively, thoroughly and politically, mortgaged the fabric, spirit and dreams of what used to be America.

Hooray for METRO- we'll all be riding soon! Then we can meet and greet with the thugs, robbers and GITMO escapees who will obviously be going to their workplace via a new green Gillig limousine.

And don't blame the mayor, just because METRO didn't relocate to a pristine, cheap and well-marketed piece of city owned prime real estate at the corner of Manchester and Carnegie. It's not Don's fault. Blame Biden and Akron City Council- they don't ride the bus. They drive it...........

'Bout freakin' time.

WOW! Where in the hell is my money.
Ohhh yeah...it went to a company who held riders hostage unless they got there way...Good Going
AMERICA....

I have a question....where are the buses being made? THAT, should have been answered in this article....the people who make the buses are the ones benefiting from this purchase, if the buses are made in the U.S.......GREAT, money well spent, if NOT, (made in elsewhere) then we have a problem!!!!

whodunit - Yes less than 8 months to destroy it. The American pride and the American dream have been destroyed by obama. Of that there is no doubt. To believe otherwise would be foolish. I will need to be 85 before I can retire and my children will be past 90 just to pay off the debt that he is creating. It may take an entire generation to rebuild what he has destroyed, it is possible that it may take another revolution.

Akroudy where in the world have you had your head (stuck) at? Must of been in the sand right. Anyone over 18 years old can see that this world has been on a downward spiral for a very long time. To blame one person or leader is just plan stupid. There is enough blame to go around, enough to cover the whole earth. Do you really think John would have been able to do anything less drastic? Once the plane starts rolling all one can do is sit back and try to enjoy the ride and hope that there will be some people who survive the ride, when it reaches it's final destination. That is called the road of life and only the strong do survive....... The key is to have an survival plan that has been tried and tested do you have one? If you get one then you will not have those dumb worries or fears. That is called insurance.......

Yes I know some of you would have said plain stupid. However I said what I denote it is stupid to plant something stupid in the minds of the less intelligent.

1. JEFF, IT IS SPELLED PLUSQUELLIC. If you are going to talk about someone, get their name right. 2. I could have sworn they said they bought new buses, I wish people would read. 3. They are using stimulus money they were given for things they can't afford. You think the small tax increase that they haven't even had for a year has paid all the bills and for everything new? NOOO do math.

No one is ever positive about change.

The buses are Fords, that would be... America

Prime real estate at the corner of Manchester and Carnegie?

Prime? UM NO

They can't move there.

In case you didn't know the facts, things have to be downtown. For a point place.