By Steve Walsh, Post-Tribune staff writer
MERRILLVILLE — The Regional Bus Authority received the first of what are expected to be millions of dollars in grants flowing from the newly formed Regional Development Authority.
On Tuesday, the RDA approved $125,000 to match $500,000 in federal money to study how best to deliver public transportation throughout Lake and Porter counties. The RBA also received $100,000 a year, for the next two years, to hire its first paid administrative staff. It’s the first money approved by the RDA since the organization was created by an act of the General Assembly in 2005.
“Congratulations, we’re in business,” said John Clark, chairman of the RDA and a top aide to Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Years before the RDA was created, supporters of regional bus service had lobbied lawmakers for a source of funds for regional mass transit, with only limited success. Before the vote, the idea of regional bus service had survived on a one-time donation of $75,000 from the Lake County Council and $25,000 each from Hammond, Gary and East Chicago — the three cities with their own bus service, said Dennis Rittenmeyer, president of Calumet College and head of the RBA board.
“It’s not been a smooth road. I don’t expect it to be a smooth road,” Rittenmeyer said.
The board has already hired the consultant, Trans Systems, based in Chicago. The study will answer basic questions about what Lake County and Porter County each need from a regional bus service, how to fund the service long term, and whether the RBA or some other group should ultimately run a regional service, Rittenmeyer said.
He said RBA board members understand that, so far, only Lake County has contributed money and that plans have centered around Lake County transit issues. But after this General Assembly added two more voting members from Porter County, the two counties have representation based on population. Porter County now has five members and Lake County 16 members.
The RBA will be housed at an office inside the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission in Portage.
Bus service became one of four items specifically cited in the RDA statute, which also includes money for Gary/Chicago International Airport, rail service and shoreline development.
The South Shore has submitted a proposal for new rail cars and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is expected to make a presentation at the RDA’s April 11 meeting.
In the next few weeks, East Chicago expects to offer its own proposal to redraft its industrial lakefront for greater access and economic development, said Ned Ruff, RDA Board member and an aide to Mayor George Pabey.