| History of MAT |
| Saved by the Bill | Metro Area Transit | ||||||||||||||||
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| In response to Metropolitan Omaha's need for public transportation, the 82nd Nebraska State Legislature passed Legislative Bill 1275 "enabling" the creation of the Transit Authority, City of Omaha, a governmental subdivision of the State of Nebraska autonomous in nature. The Authority, consisting of a five (5) member board appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Omaha's City Council and the Douglas County Commissioniers, was sworn in and took office on May 30, 1972. Under the provisions of the enabling status, the Authority shall have and retain full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all public passenger tranportation systems in the City of Omaha excluding taxicabs and railroad systems. The Authority, subsidized by $3,507,647 financial assistance grant from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, United States Department of Transportation, and with the authority to levy a tax on all tangible real and personal property in the City of Omaha, acquired the assets of the Omaha Transit Company and selected assets of the City Transit Lines of Council Bluffs. If the full amount of taxes certified and collected in any year is not needed for current purposes, the balance shall be credited to reserves to be used for acquisition of necesary property and equipment. |
The Authority, operating under the service name "Metro Area Transit" (MAT), assumed responsibility for public transit operations in Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa at 12:01 a.m., July 1, 1972...with fares reduced from forty-five (45) to forty (40) cents. While MAT is responsible for the administration and operation of transit service inboth Metropolitan Omaha and surrounding communities, funds obtained form Omaha's tax levy cannot be used to offset transit service operating expenses incurred outside of Omaha. Transit service outside of the Omaha city limits is provided by contractural agreement between MAT and the respective political jurisdictions and agencies, wherein they agree to reimburse MAT for all operating expenses not recovered through farebox receipts and federal and state subsidies. The level of serivice, miles and hours of operation, is dictated by individual contract. Currently, MAT has three (3) service contracts. See chart below.
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