Keith Benman, Times of Northwest Indiana
keith.benman@nwi.com
The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority wants a key report on consolidating buses in Hammond, East Chicago and Gary released to the public as soon as possible.
On Tuesday, the RDA voted 5-0 in favor of a motion ordering the Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority to release the report to the public within 15 days, after the RBA at its Monday meeting failed to approve its release.
"It is so important to get this out and let people understand just what bus service will look like in the future," RDA Chairman Leigh Morris said.
The RDA is the RBA's chief funding source, with the RDA two years ago appropriating $6.9 million for use by the bus authority.
The RBA put off a vote on releasing the consolidation report after its regular monthly meeting on Monday proved to be one member short of a quorum.
On Tuesday, RDA Executive Director Tim Brown said he would leave it up to his board as to how to release the report, but said it might not require a meeting of the full board to do so.
"It's not my call, it's the board's call," Brown said.
Brown said the report shows $350,000 could be saved by consolidating bus systems in Hammond, East Chicago and Gary. The earliest consolidation could be completed would be the middle of 2010, Brown said.
Mayors of the affected cities received a nearly final draft of the report in mid-June.
RDA Chairman Leigh Morris said RDA members also have seen draft versions of the report and offered their comments to the RBA.
On Tuesday, RDA Executive Director Bill Hanna received a final version of the report via e-mail.
Earlier this year, the RDA ordered the RBA to undertake the $170,000 study at the urging of State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, who said an earlier $625,000 study on regional bus service was flawed.
The RDA and RBA had both originally wanted the new report delivered to key legislative leaders before the end of the General Assembly's regular session in April.
The report, compiled by nationally recognized transportation consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff, figures to be a key battleground in the fight over a referendum to be held this fall over forming a four-county regional transportation district.
RDA members on Friday expressed hesitancy over getting involved in the referendum.
"I'm not sure that's our role," Morris said. "Obviously the RBA and NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District) have roles to play in demonstrating to the public what can be done with region transportation."
RTD goes to vote on Nov. 3
House Bill 1607, authorizing a regional transportation district, was passed by the Indiana General Assembly in its special session in June. On Nov. 3, voters in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties will get to vote on whether the new transit super-agency should be created.
If created, the board of the regional transportation district would have the right to impose an income tax of up to 0.25 percent.