HAMMOND | Should bus service in Hammond end in December as City Council President Dan Repay recommends, the Regional Bus Authority at best might be able to fund a single route and that only through 2009, said RBA President Dennis Rittenmeyer.
Repay had mentioned the RBA and North Township stepping in if Hammond steps out of the transit business.
Rittenmeyer, however, held out only the possibility of short-term funding for limited service unless the RBA can obtain long-term funding during the next legislative session.
North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan, meanwhile, nixed any direct financial assistance to Hammond since even the township -- which has been in stable fiscal condition through much of the property tax crisis -- is now feeling the pinch. The township is having to cut $1 million out of its $7 million budget to meet the mandates of the property tax relief legislation passed this year.
The township operates no fixed bus routes but offers a free, on-demand transportation service known as Dial-A-Ride throughout Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting, Munster and Highland. Mrvan has been contacted by RBA officials about a possible role in a regional system.
Rittenmeyer said Tuesday he became aware of potential action by the City Council to eliminate bus service in Hammond about two weeks ago.
"Until such time as we have some long-term funding ... we would not be able to step in and assume that responsibility because we have no money to do that," he said.
Rittenmeyer said the only assistance the RBA might be able to offer is the funding of a route the RBA has identified as a potential regional route.
"The best example would be the Indianapolis Boulevard route," he said. "Our plan would be to run the full length of Indianapolis Boulevard. The RBA would pay for that."
The problem is the Regional Development Authority's $6.5 million funding grant to the RBA expires at the end of 2009, and currently there is no promise of an extension.
Mrvan said Dial-A-Ride service to Hammond will continue despite the budget constraints but the township's picking up general bus service in Hammond is not possible.
"I would suspect Councilman Repay, Mayor (Thomas) McDermott (Jr.) and the RBA are going to put forth a plan that regionalizes the transportation system and that the RBA will have a legitimate reason (to obtain) funding from the RDA this legislative session," Mrvan said.
Mrvan said with not only Hammond's but other communities' transit systems on the chopping block as they look to make budget cuts, it might be a step in the right direction toward regionalization of the transportation system.
"I think as this rolls out it's important for the public to understand it's not the elimination of another service that's being sought but an expansion of service," he said. "The county has to come together to understand the importance of regional transportation."
