BY MARTIN ZABELL, Times of Northwest Indiana Correspondent
PORTAGE - Local elected and public transportation officials on Friday celebrated state legislation that enables LaPorte County to join the Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority.
However, whether and when expanded bus services will come to the county remains a question mark.
"It all comes down to dollars," LaPorte County Council president Jerry Cooley said, discussing whether the county would take advantage of the 2-week-old state law.
"I'm in favor of doing something if it's of benefit to the county."
The law, effective July 1, allows the LaPorte County Council or the city councils of Michigan City and LaPorte to negotiate their participation in the RBA. Those officials and the authority, which now covers Lake and Porter counties, would have to agree to terms, including annual membership fees.
Currently, the RBA provides bus services to people in Lake and Porter counties. In LaPorte County, Michigan City has scheduled bus services within its borders and LaPorte offers taxi-style rides to individuals who ask for them. The rest of the county has no services.
At Friday's news conference, several officials emphasized that bus services connecting LaPorte County to Lake and Porter will benefit Northwest Indiana's economic development, environment, and quality of life.
"This is a great day for regionalism," RBA president Dennis Rittenmeyer said. "The more we can think regionally, the better."
State Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, discussed the cost efficiencies of regional cooperation.
"The movement of goods, services and people is not bound to any particular district or artificial boundary line," he said. "Things like public transportation are an essential part of that."
LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris expressed enthusiasm for expanded bus services in his city, but said the final decision will be made by the county. Funding decisions would be made by the seven-member LaPorte County Council.
Cooley said the council has no position on the issue, doesn't know if there is consumer demand for more buses, and has been given no cost estimates of possible service plans.
Kenneth Dallmeyer, the RBA's project manager, said it has no plans yet, but routes that might be needed by the public include Michigan City-LaPorte, Michigan City-Porter County, Michigan City-the new Purdue campus near Westville, LaPorte-Purdue, and expanded services in the LaPorte area.
Dallmeyer said there is no time frame for providing LaPorte County service options with estimated costs, but added that the RBA might rely on the LaPorte County Healthy Communities organization because it has been researching service and cost options.
Pelath said better bus services would lead to increased consumer demand.
"If there were existing opportunities, people would avail themselves of that," he said.
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