ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

Chattanooga: Public offers input to CARTA

By: Michael Davis
(Contact)

Included in this article

Richard Cooper

CARTA riders and others with a vested interest in the transit agency’s services attended a public hearing Monday night where people voiced their opinions about potential service cuts.

Some attendees, such as bus rider Richard Cooper, also offered suggestions for ways the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority could adapt in the midst of its budget crisis. Mr. Cooper said the agency could combine the Eastdale and Cromwell routes.

“Maybe if you merge the both of them, you could save some money,” he said at the hearing, attended by more than 75 people at the downtown branch of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library.

The hearing came as CARTA officials try to fill a projected shortfall of roughly $1 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year. CARTA is struggling with the high cost of diesel fuel.

At a CARTA board work session Monday morning, Executive Director Tom Dugan went through the cuts that are on the table. All are smaller and less drastic than two previous options: shutting down the free electric shuttle or ending fixed bus service on nights and weekends.

Officials said last week that those two options no longer were being considered and that instead the agency would try to raise money by instituting sponsorships and increasing parking rates.

“Rather than have draconian measures out there … the staff worked on small cuts,” Mr. Dugan said. “We don’t like any of them. Understand that. We shouldn’t be cutting any of this. We’re not sure we will have to cut them.”

Public hearing attendees were given a list of potential service cuts and asked to choose three related to the fixed bus route services and three related to the shuttle that they would pick over the others.

Mr. Dugan said these various service reduction options — which include lowering bus and shuttle frequency, cutting some service on specific bus routes and on the shuttle and ending the Cromwell Road route — will be available should the agency need them. If CARTA still forecasts a shortfall, agency officials will recommend that the board approve budget-balancing cuts be put into place, Mr. Dugan said.

As CARTA looks at sponsorships, Mr. Dugan said Monday night that he hopes the agency can raise $300,000 by entities giving $25,000 for each of the 12 electric shuttles.

Mr. Dugan said CARTA’s budget issues boil down to a relatively low amount of financial support from local governments.

“Our community — and that’s not just the city of Chattanooga, that’s Hamilton County and the small cities — have to decide whether or not they want to have quality public transportation,” he said at the morning board work session.

Mr. Dugan continued that message at the public hearing Monday night. He said that only 25 percent of CARTA’s operating budget comes from local governments, compared to a national average of about 57 percent local funding for transit agencies.

He said CARTA riders will need to voice their opinions on the funding issue to local elected leaders and even asked how many in attendance were registered to vote. A number of hands went up.

“If you’re not, get registered,” Mr. Dugan said.

One option listed on the CARTA feedback form was to hike bus rates another quarter to $1.75 starting in January. The agency implemented a 25 cent fare increase last week, bringing the one-way fare to $1.50.

During the hearing, attendees were asked to raise their hands concerning how they’d feel about another bus fare increase at the top of the year. Only two people put up their hands in opposition, but at least 15 or 20 hands went up when asked if they’d support another increase.

Karl Epperson, a former mayoral candidate who rides the Golden Gateway route, offered to establish a bank account to contribute to CARTA services. He said he’d be willing to put in $100 to start it.

“I’ve always said I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is,” he said.

Comments