A bus route intended to increase job opportunities for residents in New Carlisle, Mad River Twp. and Springfield has been put on hold while the Ohio Department of Transportation decides on a request for the proposal.  Local officials hoped to start the service earlier this year, but it was delayed while ODOT considered additional proposal language, City Manager Kim Jones said.
The additional language, like equal opportunity employment, was required because it’s funded in part by a $35,000 Federal Transportation Administration Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program grant.
Once the proposal is approved, the city can again advertise for bids. The service would start as soon as is reasonable after completion of the bidding process, Jones said. The city is hoping for a July start. New Carlisle officials put a bid request out in December, but received no bidders, Jones said.
Council is expected to vote on a $20,000 local fund agreement with Clark County and the Department of Job and Family Services for the route at its May 21st meeting. The agency already pledged the funds. The county funds are a portion of the $35,000 local match. New Carlisle and Mad River Twp. put forth a combined $15,000 for the local match.