By Erik Potter, Post-Tribune staff writer
Drastic times just might result in drastic measures for area busing.
Facing rampant budget shortfalls for mass transit across Lake County, the Regional Development Authority on Thursday called for Gary, East Chicago and Hammond bus systems to be consolidated under the Regional Bus Authority by June 30.
The RDA also asked the RBA to look at consolidating the demand-response providers -- such as Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp., which operates as a kind of dial-a-ride and Porter County bus agencies as well, but did not set a target date for that to happen.
However, the RBA does not have funding to take control of the bus systems, making help from the General Assembly necessary.
Local transit providers have been calling for greater state support, and a consolidation of service is seen as a necessary precursor to attaining that.
The RDA also put up $30,000 for an independent review of the mass transit study done in 2006 that showed little benefit for consolidated bus service.
That study has since been criticized for not focusing more attention on the consolidation question, as well as for using inadequate ridership demand numbers.
The two RDA actions came as a result of talks stretching back to the summer among area transportation and economic development groups.
The "transit summit" group was composed of the RDA, RBA, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (which operates the South Shore Railroad), the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (which puts together the federal transportation planning for the region) and the Northwest Indiana Forum (a private economic development nonprofit).
The group held half a dozen meetings, focusing on how to improve transportation in Northwest Indiana and how to get better funding.
No lawmakers were involved in the summit meetings, leaving little time before the start of the General Assembly session in January to shore up support for the proposal among the Northwest Indiana delegation.
RDA Chairman Leigh Morris said the mayors of Gary, East Chicago and Hammond were in support of the consolidation proposal.
"That's wonderful. It's really nice," said Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr., reacting to the motion. The timing is especially beneficial for Hammond, he noted, which has decided to terminate its bus service on June 30.
McDermott said the promise of regional busing is what earned his support for the creation of the RDA in the first place, as well as the support of the General Assembly.
"I want somebody to be able to take a bus from Hammond to Crown Point without having to transfer ... and get there in a reasonable amount of time and get back home in a reasonable amount of time -- and make sure the bus isn't going to break down," he said.
The idea of a single bus provider has not always been a popular one among the existing providers, but in the face of service eliminations or reductions, it might become reality.
"The economics of operating bus systems are tough," Morris said. "And these are tough economic times for the cities."
Morris said he though there were efficiencies that could be found in consolidated service, saying there wouldn't be a need for three separate staffs, maintenance facilities, and executive directors.
The RBA itself could also see changes if it was to become the consolidated bus provider. Currently, it is made up of representatives from the existing transit providers, but RBA and RDA officials indicated a willingness to reformulate the group if necessary.