Riders urge RBA, GPTC to mend rift

MERRILLVILLE | The Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority and Gary Public Transportation Corp. officials Monday night heard bus riders' plea for the two aagencies to put differences over consolidation aside and work for the good of riders.

"I know you two bus companies have been butting heads, but I still don't understand what the deal is," said Richard Jones, a Gary resident and bus rider.

He accused the two bus agencies of playing a "stupid game of deal or no deal" on the issue, while riders suffer from drastic cuts in service on some GPTC bus routes.

Gary resident Seretha Harvey, a recent college grad, told the RBA board the recent cuts at GPTC are hindering her search for a job.

Jones' and Harvey's pleas came at the regular monthly meeting of the RBA board of directors at Methodist Hospitals South Lake Campus.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and GPTC have been batting consolidation agreements back and forth since mid-summer with little to show for it so far.

The RDA's most recent offer would grant GPTC $1.8 million in funding for regional bus routes if it would sign on to a memorandum demonstrating it is serious about consolidation. Last week, the RDA sent GPTC what it called its "final offer."

GPTC General Manager Daryl Lampkins, who is also an RBA board member, said after Monday's meeting that GPTC has received the RDA's most recent offer and its board of directors is reviewing it.

RBA Executive Director Tim Brown said his board of directors already has approved a previous version of the RDA's consolidation memorandum and would probably have to vote on any final version.

"It's in GPTC's court, and it has been for a long time," Brown said.

In board action Monday, the RBA directors voted 11-0 with two abstentions to approve a $33,723 contract with Chicago-based consultant Equipped for Equality to train its staff in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

At last month's meeting, the board voted to end contract negotiations for the same job with Merrillville-based advocacy group Everybody Counts and instead give it to Equipped for Equality. RBA board members in favor of the move said Everybody Counts was acting in opposition to many RBA goals and also expressed concerns over the cost of the contract.

Everybody Counts Executive Director Teresa Torres said the RBA's move was in retaliation for her group's backing GPTC in its rejection of earlier consolidation memorandums proposed by the RDA. She said her group still thinks it could do the job.

"The difference between Equipped for Equality and us is that we are from this community," Torres said. "They don't know the unique aspects of this community."