Thursday's debate over the Regional Bus Authority's plea for a 1 percent food and beverage sales tax made it clear the RBA does not yet have a solid plan for a regional bus service.
What the region needs is a single bus system covering the entire region, encompassing both fixed-route and on-demand service. And this bus system needs real accountability and professional oversight.
But at Thursday's debate, when South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Speros Batistatos repeatedly said the RBA has no plan, RBA Chairman Dennis Rittenmeyer was unable to refute it.
On Monday, buses formerly used by Northwest Indiana Community Action were returned to the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. Those riders, abandoned after their demand-response service ended Friday, need to be included in the RBA's plan.
We must not settle for a rescue of the existing Gary, Hammond and East Chicago fixed-route systems. Batistatos is right on this point. If the tax is limited to operating bus lines for these three communities, that's simply a bailout and not a boon to all of Lake County. Why should all of Lake County pay for something without sharing in the benefit?
Before the Lake County Council approves a new tax, many questions need to be answered, including:
* What is the plan for the RBA to provide bus service? We expect details for routes, equipment and staffing. So far there is no solid plan available. Just some suggestions from consultants.
* What is the cost to launch a new regional bus service? What will the annual operating cost be? What are the equipment and maintenance details and costs?
* Where will the money come from? Just a food and beverage tax? That's a lot of food for an operation that could cost $14 million to $30 million a year.
* What provision has been made for long-range development of a regionwide bus system? How? When? How much?
* Who will serve on the RBA board? Some of the existing board members represent bus service providers. Does this pose conflicts? Does this board representation need to be changed to make it more professional?
* What about the RBA audit suggestion of the potential for fraud and other exposure to financial losses? What changes have been made as a result?
* How will the on-demand service work differently and better than the prior service?
* Will this bus service serve outlying communities like Lowell, Crown Point, Winfield and Hobart? If so, how? If not, why not?
* How many passengers in recent years have used the buses? We want the number of individuals riding the buses, not just the total number of rides.
* Will the RBA buses link to the Chicago area bus system? Link to South Shore train stations?
* What shape is the equipment of the three cities in now? Gary's bus service costs twice as much per mile as Hammond's service, partly because of poor equipment. What will it cost to make the entire fleet and other equipment meet minimum standards? Who gets paid for the existing gear? And who determines how much?
There are other questions, to be sure, but these are a starting point.
The RBA needs to provide answers before the Lake County Council provides any new funding.
