Gary Public Transit Corp. chugs into new year eyeing growth plan

Last year, GPTC posted its biggest boost in ridership since 2010. It marked a 5.9 percent increase over 2013, as well.

“It’s been going up steadily as we expand our territory,” said GPTC marketing director David Wright. The bus service added a Griffith route in 2012 and a new Lakeshore South route last year that’s attracted new riders in Hammond, Munster and Highland. The new route costs about $140,000, but the federal government picked up half of it with the remainder coming from fare boxes, grants and other sources.

Wright said a new bus pass service with Ivy Tech in Gary accounted for a huge jump in ridership.

“It allows them to sell passes on campus at a deep discount,” said Wright. “It set up a 130 percent increase.”

Wright said GPTC is exploring a similar program with Indiana University-Northwest and Purdue University Calumet. Wright said nearly half the buses in GPTC route system run by IU-Northwest and the new Lakeshore South service runs by the PUC campus in Hammond.

On Feb. 2, a new public transit guide, published by GPTC with assistance from a disability advocacy group called Act Now, will be available. It includes the new Lakeshore service in East Chicago, Hammond, Highland and Munster. It will also include transit service provided by East Chicago Transit and North Township Dial-A-Ride.

Meanwhile, Wright said planning continues for a “Livable Broadway” corridor plan from Gary south into Crown Point at Broadway’s terminus at Indiana 231.

The project is supported by a $250,000 planning grant. GPTC’s Broadway Express route carries about one-third of its monthly riders or about 25,000 people who are heading to jobs, doctor’s visits or shopping.

Wright said about $800,000 has been earmarked in the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s transportation improvement plan for construction of a new driver relief facility. The old one, near U.S. Steel’s Broadway gate, closed in 2010. The facility will provide a centralized location for drivers to take breaks and buses can be inspected.

GPTC added six new vehicles last year — three buses and three vans.

Less than a decade ago, the Federal Transportation Administration briefly suspended GPTC’s federal funding saying it lacked the technical and financial capacity to manage grant money.

General Manager Daryl Lampkins steered GPTC through the rocky period and returned it to sound footing with the FTA. Lampkins announced he was leaving the GPTC in March for a position in Maryland, but that job fell through., Lampkins said.

In November, Lampkins said he still worked for GPTC as a consultant. He said he was guiding the board of directors in its search for a new general manager.

“I have I think because Mr. Lampkins has done a good job of turning the agency around that the majority of board members feel comfortable with him being there. I certainly feel comfortable with him being there,” said Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.