Bill allows Porter County to opt into regional bus commission

Porter County and its municipalities would have the option, rather than an obligation, to join a revamped regional bus commission if the proposal continues to succeed downstate.

The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, said he does not expect Porter County officials would want to jump in until the Lake County members solve the financial problems surroundings their bus services.

The voluntary nature of the bill came as good news to Porter County Council member Laura Blaney, D-at-large, who is among the council members still feeling stung by the county's forced membership in the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

"Overall, I think it's an issue that needs to be addressed," Blaney said of area bus services. "I applaud him (Soliday) for tackling it."

The bill, which cleared the Indiana House last week, gives the fiscal bodies of Porter County and its municipalities the option of joining the proposed Northwest Indiana Bus Commission. The commission, a revamping of the current Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority, would be made up of mayors from Lake County and a Lake County commissioner.

Portage City Council President Edward Gottschling, D-4th, said he would like to see regular fixed-route bus service in the city, but does not favor opting into the regional group at this time.

The city cannot afford to pay for bus service and he does not favor implementing a regional tax.

"That's the problem with regional busing, is that nobody wants to fund it," he said.

Soliday said the state is not going to fund local bus service.

Valparaiso City Councilman Bob Taylor, R-1st, said he is also opposed to joining the regional commission at this time and is not in favor of the city's fixed-route V-Line bus service.

"I see a lots of empty seats on there," he said. "If we're going to start talking about fiscal responsibility, I think we need to start living it."

Taylor said he recognizes the need for public transportation locally, but prefers to address it with on-demand buses or even taxi service.

County Council members Dan Whitten, D-at-large, and Jim Biggs, R-1st, said they wish Soliday would contact the locally elected officials before introducing legislation downstate involving the county.

"Right now, this lack of communication is seriously detrimental to what we're all trying to accomplish here, which is good government," Biggs said.

Soliday said the proposed legislation is no secret and has been the focus of two prior articles in The Times. He said he works long days as a lawmaker and questioned why county officials are not reaching out to him.