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CLOUDY Temp: 58 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, August 3, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 9, 2002 Ashland’s free bus-ride program stalls RVTD board won’t look at city’s plan to help ease road construction tie-ups until July 24 By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Construction that will tie up traffic for more than two years kicked off Monday, but a free bus-ride program to relieve congestion did not. The city of Ashland, working with Rogue Valley Transportation District staff, earlier this year agreed to pay the transit district up to $40,000 over a year for free bus rides within city limits, said Mayor Alan DeBoer. A 90-day trial run was set to kick off Monday, the same day work along Siskiyou Boulevard began. But the RVTD board of directors last month tabled the idea until its July 24 meeting, saying it needed more information about the program. "We need that service now. We’ve got our highways being torn up through town," DeBoer said Monday. "I hope they can get through their management problems and focus on public transit." The board is under fire for its decision June 26 to reject General Manager Sherrin Coleman’s contract renewal. District employees are circulating recall petitions for six of the seven board members. Board members say they support the idea of reducing Ashland fares but that they had too little information to approve the program. "I don’t have any figures to support taking that step forward," said board member Susan McKenzie. "We have finite resources to cover the cost of daily business. ... I’m hesitant to experiment." "I think it’s a great idea, a fabulous idea," agreed board member Kay Harrison. "If we had the information, it would be easier to go whole hog." DeBoer said he proposed giving RVTD $10,000 during the 90-day trial period. Coleman said riders would ride free on routes within city limits, extending south from the corner of Highway 66 and Oak Knoll Drive to north at Jackson Hot Springs on Highway 99. Valley Lift — a service for disabled passengers — also would be a free service under the proposal. DeBoer said city and RVTD officials would meet at the end of the trial period and discuss changes in ridership. Ashland would adjust the amount of funding given to the bus agency if needed. According to Senior Planner Scott Chancey, RVTD nets about $131 daily from the 25-cent fare charged within Ashland city limits, or roughly $3,000 monthly. An estimated 11,000 trips are made within city limits each month, he said. The program would be Ashland’s second with RVTD. The city and Southern Oregon University already subsidize bus service, resulting in lower fares in Ashland than elsewhere in the valley. Board members expressed fears that the district would lose money under the new proposal. "In my own opinion, we wouldn’t stand to lose that much," Chancey said. "Technically, we’re not allowed to make a profit anyway." The Ashland Transportation Transit Parking Committee, made up of business owners, transportation representatives and city officials, has been fine-tuning the proposal for nearly two years. The committee was formed to find alternatives for motorists during a slew of anticipated construction and road projects over a two-year period. They include overhauling Siskiyou Boulevard, construction of Ashland’s new library, building a new fire station and routine improvement and maintenance tasks throughout the city, plus several private development projects. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S