NOMBL still on road as Musial,
Kucinich continue to fight RTA
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Dec. 22, 2004

City officials and Westshore Congressman Dennis Kucinich yesterday got extra time and continued their campaign to keep the Regional Transit Authority from taking over the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line.

Mayor Norman T. Musial and Kucinich both expressed their opposition to a merger when they spoke to the RTA Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting yesterday while the board also approved a three-month extension of the current contract between RTA and NOMBL. That five-year contract was set to expire Dec. 31. In related legislation, North Olmsted City Council last night was expected to approve the three-month extension of the agreement.

Musial said the extension gives the city additional time to try and find a solution that would prevent NOMBL from being absorbed by RTA.

"We'll continue to try and find some way to stop that from happening," said Musial.

While speaking to the RTA board, Musial again reiterated his arguments that RTA should consider how much money North Olmsted puts into the transit system via the county sales tax proceeds and that the city-owned system continues to run efficiently on its own.

"RTA really needs to consider all aspects of this," Musial said. "NOMBL has been an asset not just to North Olmsted, but to the Westshore in general."

Musial cited the service NOMBL provides to other communities such as Bay Village, Fairview Park, Rocky River and Westlake. It also provides intra-suburban and downtown Cleveland commuter service.

Musial said he felt his and the congressman's attendance at the board meeting Tuesday was important.

"I wasn't leaving until the extension was passed," Musial said. "We'll continue to work with the congressman and others on finding a solution."

Kucinich's press secretary, Doug Gordon, said the congressman and mayor have a close working relationship.

"We're in lockstep with the city on this issue," Gordon said. "The congressman will continue his opposition to RTA taking over the North Olmsted and Maple Heights bus lines."

He said while the congressman will be working on ways of finding additional funds or some other solution that would keep the two bus lines independent of RTA. The two city-run lines are the last of the 13 independent bus lines that were in operation when RTA was formed 30 years ago.

"I don't think this is what everybody had in mind when RTA was formed 30 years ago," Kucinich said in a press conference last week.

Kucinich said the takeover would not be a "good deal" for North Olmsted, NOMBL riders or its employees.

RTA officials already have received one letter from Kucinich earlier this month expressing his opposition to a takeover. In addition, Kucinich said if other efforts fail, he would try and stop any takeover through filing an injunction or other legal means.

RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese said he expected an extension to be sought and granted.

"We can continue to negotiate this way," Calabrese said. "There already are more negotiating sessions set for January. If the city and congressman can find more funds to continue to run NOMBL as it is, we would be very happy with that. We just can't continue to operate the way we currently are."

Calabrese said RTA could provide the same current service as NOMBL for nearly $2 million less. He also said all service will remain the same and that NOMBL employees will have the same seniority rights if they are absorbed into RTA.

Musial is trying to set up some town hall meetings to help rally opposition to an RTA takeover.

GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY:
www.gcrta.org