News Briefs

TARTA Paratransit
rebrand gets rolling
Customers relying on the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s (TARTA) paratransit division will soon notice a notice a different look to the vehicles coming to pick them up.
As announced at TARTA’s Community Update event Nov. 14, TARPS is becoming TARTA Move, a rebrand designed to bring all of TARTA’s services under the same umbrella and better prepare TARTA’s paratransit unit to continue servicing passengers with mobility challenges.
“Our new name for paratransit services reflects our continued focus on providing accessible and efficient rides, and a path to independence for so many people in Northwest Ohio who face mobility hurdles,” said Rick Bailey, TARTA’s Chief Customer Experience and Mobility Officer.
“While the vehicles may look a little different, we have the same dedicated team members who have helped us attain a 98 percent customer satisfaction rate, and we are well positioned to build on the progress TARTA has made in recent years, to the benefit of the people who depend on us every day.”
Changes to vehicle branding will happen eventually over the course of the next year, and older TARPS passes and IDs will still be accepted on TARTA Move rides as the transition is taking place. In the future, customers can look forward to new IDs and rider guides featuring the new branding.
Since 1989, TARTA’s paratransit team has connected customers to their community with accessible rides. TARTA opened a new dedicated facility for its paratransit fleet at 130 Knapp Street in Toledo in 2011. TARTA Move currently has 38 accessible vehicles in operation, including three plug-in electric vehicles and 5 more on the way.

Ditch work to start
Ottawa County will be relocating the ditch on Nissen Road, between State Route 163 and Whitney Road. Work will start Dec. 2 and continue through Dec. 20, excluding weekends and holidays.
The road will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Emergency vehicles, school buses, and local traffic will be accommodated but should expect delays.

Leaf collection
2nd pass starting
City of Toledo work crews planned to start the second-pass leaf collection last week and continue through the week of Dec. 2.
Residents are asked to get their leaves to the curb as crews will be working seven days a week.
To determine when crews will be working on each street visit Toledo.oh.gov/leaf-pickup for the full schedule and map.
Residents may also call Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020.
Information will also be posted on the city’s Facebook and X accounts and signs will be posted on streets.
Residents who miss their designated collection may take leaves to a free drop-off location. In East Toledo, the location is Ravine Park 1, 1600 Mott Ave.

Petroff honored
again for
pickleball courts
For the second time, Donald Petroff was recognized for his efforts to have pickleball courts installed in the City of Oregon.
A stone monument was unveiled in his honor Nov. 24 at the courts at the Oregon Recreation Complex after Bonnie Phillips and Wendy Deal organized a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of the stone.
A chili cook-off, 50/50 raffle, and other ventures as well as donations from Alan Miller Jewelers, Dairy Depot, Homestead Variety Carryout, and Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home helped pay for the stone.
Petroff, a former mayor and municipal court judge in Oregon, had for years pushed for having courts in the city.
In October, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to dedicate the courts and name them the Donald Z. Petroff Pickleball Courts.

Injury crash on
State Rt. 795
The Sandusky Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash on State Route 795 in Clay Township that injured an Elmore man.
The crash occurred Monday at about 6:40 p.m. west of State Rt. 51.
Daryl Orcelletto, 42, Elmore, was operating a 2015 Subaru and Kyle Barney, 35, Holland, OH., was operating a 2016 Mack truck owned by Republic-Allied Waste.
Barney and Orceletto were both westbound on Rt. 795 when Orcelletto began passing Barney. Barmey began turning left into a private drive and was struck in the left side by Orcelletto. Both vehicles went off the south side of the roadway.
Orcelletto had to be mechanically extricated from his vehicle and was transported to St. Vincent Medical Center for serious injuries.
Barney was treated at the scene with minor injuries.
Alcohol/drugs are not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Development project
grants awarded
The Ohio Department of Development has announced nearly $11 million in allocations to support community development projects in 49 communities across the state.
Local projects include:
- Lucas County will receive $540,000 to support the Area Office of Aging’s Senior Meals delivery program. The county will also direct funding to Ability Center Home Accessibility Program to repair 10 homes for income-eligible seniors. Lucas County will replace 111 curb ramps in the city of Oregon to meet ADA accessibility standards.
- Ottawa County will receive $166,000 to install curb cuts on the north side of Port Clinton, benefiting 2,530 residents. The county will also provide funding to set up free health assessment clinics in senior centers across the county.
- Wood County will receive $328,000 to install ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb-cuts in the Village of Bradner. The county will also install ADA-compliant curbs and sidewalks and street improvements in the village of Custar.
Wood County will also provide funding to the Village of Portage to install 14 septic tank risers to 14 income-eligible residents.
Additionally, the county will provide funding to the Village of Dunbridge to abandon, then re-connect 14 failing septic system connections to income-eligible residents.
The villages will commit a combined total of $35,300 in leveraged funds.

BGSU goes mobile with license age verification
Bowling Green State University last week announced it is the first university in the United States to accept mobile driver's licenses for age verification.
Concessionaires across BGSU's athletic events will be able to securely and privately accept customers' mobile driver's licenses, including IDs in Apple Wallet, in person at its athletics events.
Ohio driver's licenses and state IDs are available for Ohioans to add to Apple Wallet, which the state adopted earlier this year. This has allowed Ohio residents to add their state-issued identification card or driver's license directly to Apple Wallet for use in various locations – which now includes inside BGSU athletics venues. Ohio driver's licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet offer a secure companion to the physical plastic card but does not replace an individual's physical card.
Users can present a compliant mobile driver's license to a Tap2iD reader using NFC technology from Credence to privately and securely verify their age when making a purchase.
When a user presents their mobile driver's license to a BGSU concession, the concessionaire will only be provided the required information necessary for age verification, such as age and ID photo.