Public hearing on Hammond bus funding downbeat

By Susan Brown, Times of Northwest Indiana
susan.brown@nwi.com

HAMMOND | The city's bus system expects a $200,000 windfall from the federal stimulus package, but it's a fraction of the city's total contribution, Transit Director Keith Matasovsky told the City Council on Monday.

"Right now, it's looking kind of bleak," Matasovsky said of a legislative rescue.

Matasovsky said legislative proposals were leaning toward having a referendum next year to possibly consolidate bus transit in Hammond, Gary and East Chicago. Without state assistance, Matasovsky said all three systems are in a deep hole.

Matasovsky said eliminating the service could cost the city more than $1 million in reimbursements from the Federal Transportation Authority. Once shut down, re-introducing the service could cost the city more than it had cost to operate it.

The council is considering funding Hammond's service only through the end of 2009.

Monday's public hearing on the issue drew few supporters.

"It's raining, and the buses aren't running," Raymond Fletcher said in explanation for the sparse showing.

Fletcher had braved the rain, traveling by wheelchair to argue in favor of retaining the service and honor a consent decree that provided for public involvement.

Fletcher said he understood the misgivings of 5th District Councilman Dan Repay, who has publicly opposed any more funding for the ailing bus service. He called for several changes before the council spends any more money. The suggestions included recalling Hammond's appointments to the Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority, asking Matasovsky for his handling of the consent decree and the adoption of a resolution of no confidence in the RBA.

Everybody Counts Executive Director Teresa Torres said the issue never was money, but the city's refusal to take bus service seriously. Torres said respecting the terms of the consent decree could have prevented the current crisis.

Torres argued the service had been used by 15 percent of the city's population. "You moved the (Hammond) Health Department to Crown Point, and then killed the system they needed to get there," she said.

Hammond resident George Stoya said the question was whether the council could justify the $400,000 cost to serve only a fraction of the population.

Stoya said there is no doubt there is a need, however.

"You have to find an alternative method," he said.