BY KEITH BENMAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
kbenman@nwitimes.com
The Regional Bus Authority on Wednesday took a long-anticipated vote to create a regional bus system and quickly moved on to next steps, such as securing a tax to support it.
"The point here is the pace is picking up and we will have to pull out all the stops," RBA chairman Dennis Rittenmeyer said after the vote.
RBA members voted 15-2 for what they have labeled the "regional services operator" option.
Under that option, bus systems in Hammond, East Chicago and Gary will continue to be run by municipalities. But regional routes to suburbs and some connecting city routes will be run by the RBA. On-demand service in urban and rural areas will triple.
The other option on the table, but not voted on, was the RBA as "universal services operator." That would have seen the RBA take over management of local and on-demand bus systems in Lake and Porter counties.
The vote for a regional services operator was settled in workshops and previous board meetings, and Wednesday's result was expected.
The RBA board actually spent more time at the meeting discussing future funding sources. The RBA needs $9.7 million to $11.8 million in local funding per year to run its routes and other facilities, such as a centralized call center.
During the meeting and after, RBA members confirmed they will seek to secure a 1 percent food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties.
Under legislation passed two years ago by the Indiana General Assembly, proceeds from any food and beverage tax belongs to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.
But the tax can only be enacted with the approval of the county councils.
The RBA is hoping to secure an "inter-local agreement" with the RDA that would dedicate the proceeds of the tax to regional bus service, Lake County Councilman Thomas O'Donnell said.
The Lake County Council, which has previously signaled it supports the tax for regional bus service, would then be asked to enact it, Rittenmeyer said.
The Porter County Council then would be asked to make the same move.
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