By Erik Potter, Post-Tribune staff writer
Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp. may abandon its transit service after Jan. 30.
The service has been making noise about possible cutbacks for weeks, warning that the voluntary support it gets from the cities it serves has been dwindling to unsupportable levels.
The agency will run a legal notice in Monday's Post-Tribune advertising the date, time and location for two public meetings it will hold to gather public input.
The meetings are required by the consent decree issued in federal court on behalf of Everybody Counts, which had sued several transit agencies in the area over non-compliance with disability access laws.
Teresa Torres, executive director for Everybody Counts, said that the service cuts might not have been necessary had the agency complied with other provisions of the federal consent decree designed to improve the scope and efficiency of the transit service.
The advocacy group is preparing to go back to court over what it says is widespread non-compliance with the terms of the court-imposed agreement.
NWICA serves as a dial-a-ride transit provider, particularly for disabled residents, throughout northeast Lake County, including Gary, Merrillville and Hobart.
Asked if there was some emergency source of money, Dennis Rittenmeyer, chairman of the Regional Bus Authority, said, "I think as a practical matter, the answer is no, unless there's a change of heart by some key folks."
Gary Olund, executive director of NWICA, could not be reached for comment.