Title: Multimodal Transit Center in Painesville  
Sponsor: Laketran
Estimated Total Cost: $20,000,000
Proposed Source of Federal Funds: Ohio Transit Public Partnership Program (OTP2)

History/Background: The Ohio Transit Public Partnership Program (OTP2) is designed to provide state funds to rural and urban transit systems in Ohio. The program aims to facilitate the most efficient and effective use of state funds in the provision of public transportation services, while meeting transit system needs, improving economic conditions, and providing a quality-of-life environment for the State of Ohio. The program includes two tiers: Tier I projects focus on preservation, while Tier II projects are focused on innovation in areas such as regionalization, coordination, technology, service expansion, workforce initiatives, and healthcare initiatives. The program has been reestablished in House Bill 54 and provides $13.5 million in funding for 28 public transit projects through the Ohio Transit Public Partnership Program (OTP2) for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The following project was awarded funding through the OTP2 program in 2026:

• LAK LAKETRAN MULTIMODAL TRANSIT CENTER IN PAINESVILLE: - This project involves constructing a multimodal transit center in downtown Painesville to replace the current Julie A. Cunningham transfer center (illustrations). The new facility will accommodate four bus routes, electric bus charging, enhanced passenger amenities such as indoor climatized waiting area, real-time signage, restrooms, improved pedestrian crossings, and bicycle facilities.
  The new multimodal transit facility will serve as a regional workforce connector linking residents to high-demand employment centers and supporting Ohio’s manufacturing competitiveness.
  Workforce access is the central priority of this investment. Over half of all Laketran’s riders use Laketran to get to work. Four of Laketran’s 10 local routes will utilize the new transit center thereby connecting disparate rural and suburban communities with workforce centers such as the manufacturing clusters in Mentor and Painesville. The proposed facility will function as the eastern anchor of Laketran’s fixed-route system, serving riders from Painesville, Madison, Fairport Harbor, and surrounding communities. By strengthening regional connectivity, the project enhances workforce mobility across municipal boundaries and supports Lake County’s broader economic development strategy.
  Painesville is the site of a new stop on GoBus’s (ODOT rural intercity bus service) Gray Line which connects Ashtabula to Toledo. With 10 stops end to end, the Gray Line connects multiple Northern Ohio counties including Lake (where Laketran is located), Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Lucas, and Lorain. A new transit center in Painesville will provide GoBus riders with an improved experience such as safe, indoor climate-controlled waiting facilities, public restrooms, as well as access to local restaurants/businesses in downtown Painesville, and connections with Laketran’s local bus routes.
  The estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $20,000,000.

Staff Comment (Summary):

Committee Review:

Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC):

Public Involvement: