Lake County Council gives nod to funding GPTC bus service
Contributed By:The 411 News
Provides $150,000 of $200,000 needed to return Lakeshore routes in 2018
The Lake County Council agreed to include $150,000 in its 2018 budget for Gary Public Transit Corp. at its Tuesday meeting.
GPTC sought the funds to continue bus routes to the outlying cities of Hammond, Highland, and Munster that it started in 2014. The bus company said those bus routes will end in December unless local support is provided.
Reductions in frequency on those routes began in June as the bus company sought funding for costs associated with operating those routes that it said, “Gary taxpayers could not support alone.” More reductions in service came during September.
Lake County’s commitment to provide $150,000 fills a big part of the $200,000 pie needed by GPTC to return to full service its Lakeshore Connection and Lakeshore South routes.
David Wright, GPTC’s Planning Manager said the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) has set up a taskforce to study providing the remaining $50,000 for 2018. “But we need to get the RDA (Regional Development Authority) involved to determine longterm what else needs to be done.”
The bus company also provides services to Griffith and Merrillville. Those services are not affected.
Story Posted:10/11/2017
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