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Transit manager seeks solutions She hopes enough voters say `yes' By JIM DAVIS Sherrin Coleman thinks everyone agrees that public transportation can play a role in getting cars off the roads and improving air quality. The Rogue Valley Transit District manager just hopes enough people are convinced to vote Nov. 3 for a five-year operating bond for the agency. "I think everyone realizes that transit is not the only solution, but it is a solution to our growing traffic problem," Coleman said. The five-year local option tax would cost property owners 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $17 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home. The tax would bring in an estimated $6.125 million over five years. Coleman said the money would pay for five busy routes in Medford, replace part of an aging fleet and possibly extend bus service later than 7 p.m. If the measure fails, Coleman said RVTD will cut routes. She's not sure which would go. The five Medford routes that would be paid for with the money were launched just over a year ago and financed by a $1.5 million grant from the federal Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality program. The $1.5 million represents about 35 percent of RVTD's operations budget. Coleman said more than 120,000 riders have used those routes in their first year. The grant expires next summer. Coleman also said 11 of RVTD's 30 vehicles need to be replaced -- the older buses have more than 1 million miles each, no air conditioning and no power steering. She said that RVTD runs only until 7 p.m. throughout the county and, if the bond is passed, she wants to extend hours at least to 9 p.m. And with the bond money, RVTD could focus a staff person to work with outside agencies and groups on long-term planning, Coleman said. Coleman said she is unaware of organized opposition to the bond request. Even so, it might be uphill battle to get it passed. Jackson County residents have voted down six straight RVTD bond requests since 1986. Most recently, voters rejected a $3.5 million-per-year serial levy in 1996. But Coleman and RVTD board director Ed Chapman both say the district is different now than it was then. Two years ago, RVTD had nine drivers and seven managers. Now the transportation district -- with its CMAQ grant -- has cut back to three managers and has a total of 45 drivers. And Coleman hopes voters realize that bus service represents more than just rides. "This really is what we need to help improve our air quality and reduce traffic in the middle of Medford," Coleman said. Mail Tribune Copyright � interRogue & The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA