LORAIN -- Officials with Linking Employment Abilities and Potential in Lorain County are trying to start a Lorain County Transit coalition of community members, residents and citizens who are affected by the loss of Lorain County Transit, Deborah Nebel, of LEAP, said.

"To me, it’s trying to bring the situation to the grassroots level and building local interest to educate the public and educate public policy makers on the need to invest in public transportation," said Nebel, director of public policy.

The first organizational meeting for the new coalition is Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 603 Washington Ave., Lorain.

Lorain County Transit discontinued roughly 13 routes effective Jan. 18. Lorain County Commissioners had planned to shut down LCT on Dec. 2 due to a $4 million shortfall in the general fund. About two weeks later, the commissioners and U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton put together $276,000 in unused stimulus funds gathered from around the state in order to keep a few LCT routes running through next year.

Nebel said the financial crisis plaguing the public transportation system is "not imaginary," especially for people who are disabled and have no other options for work and personal transportation.

"We need to educate the public and policymakers on how we prioritize and how we spend dollars on transportation," Nebel said, adding public transportation is not only an individual issue, it affects the environment and the community as a whole.

"There are many reasons we need to invest in public transportation such as the environment, leaving our carbon footprint and many other things telling us why it’s better than driving our own cars all the time," she said.

"There are people we work with on a regular basis, such as at the food pantry or with disabilities, who have no choices except public transportation and without it, it’s acting as though they are not a part of the community. We are educating people on the issue and raising it up."

At the meeting, Nebel said LCT General Manager Richard Enty would be speaking on behalf of the three county commissioners. Enty will explain the dire financial situation the transit system is in and what roles the county is playing to solve the problem.

Amanda Woodrum, of Policy Matters Ohio, and chair of the statewide "Save Transit Now" coalition will also be speaking from a statewide perspective.

"We spoke with everyone involved and this meeting is open to the public," Nebel said.

"It’s an organizational meeting and the focus is not complaints about Lorain County Transit, that’s for a different forum, but this is about how we come together as a community and address this issue."