Officials preparing for RTA takeover
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published March 9, 2005

As the final reading of the ordinance providing for the takeover of the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line by the Regional Transit Authority nears, officials on both sides are preparing for the change.

City Council is scheduled to consider final approval of the legislation at its March 15 meeting. City officials had been considering setting a special meeting for March 8. But they decided against that after Councilman-at-large Michael Gareau Jr. reiterated his belief in a March 1 Streets and Transportation Committee meeting that people should have every opportunity to speak their feelings about the takeover.

"It's an artificial deadline set by RTA," Gareau said later. "It's something RTA is seeking and I don't think its fair to do it that way. If we pass it in three readings schedule at regular council sessions, then at least we did it in a manner which would allow people to have their say and the city the opportunity to continue to negotiate."

Gareau said the city realistically had only two options left.

"That would be to negotiate another extension of the contract or to approve the takeover," Gareau said. "The first doesn't seem to be happening so we're having to go with the second."

RTA negotiators have told their North Olmsted counterparts that if another extension were granted, it would cost the city part of the money, which RTA is giving the city in the current draft agreement.

RTA Spokesman Jerry Masek said the agency is continuing to move toward taking over NOMBL's responsibilities later this month.

"Maple Heights has already passed its legislation (approving RTA taking over that suburban bus line) and our understanding is that North Olmsted will approve it the night of March 15," Masek said. He said the RTA Board of Trustees will meet the morning of March 15 and is expected to pass a resolution approving the agency taking over NOMBL's responsibilities as well. The takeover will be contingent upon North Olmsted Council approving its legislation that night.

He said RTA officials are planning on assuming the NOMBL routes March 20.

North Olmsted city officials are trying to make sure all other work and negotiations pertaining to the switchover are set before then.

Law Director Jim Dubelko said a special committee meeting was set last night to cover concerns of two longtime NOMBL workers who might not get benefits scheduled for them under the NOMBL contract if their contracts were assumed by RTA. He said RTA officials said they would discuss repairs of Kennedy Ridge Road when they go before North Olmsted to discuss a planned expansion of the Park-n-Ride facility in the city.

Council Streets and Transportation Committee Chairman George Nashar said there isn't much more the city can do.

"We wanted to make sure service was maintained and people kept their jobs," Nashar said. "We've done the best we can with those and now it's down to passing the legislation. I think city officials and the people at Congressman (Dennis) Kucinich's office did all they could in these negotiations."

Officials from Kucinich's office said they are still supporting North Olmsted and working on the situation.

Mayor Norman T. Musial said he wasn't aware of any new developments.

RTA officials sent out a press release March 4 detailing how the agency provided a service extension for the #263 route when a longtime sight-impaired customer asked RTA to extend the route a few more blocks downtown. The customer, who boards the bus at the North Olmsted Park-n-Ride, said the extension would stop the need for her and other riders to transfer buses for just a few blocks.

Beginning March 3, all morning trips on the #263 travel east on Chester Avenue to E. 21st Street and Cleveland State University, and then head westbound on Euclid Avenue with a final stop at E. 18th Street. This eliminates the need to transfer onto the #6 Euclid bus and improves service for those working in the Playhouse Square area, RTA officials said.

RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese said in the release RTA was happy make the change.

"We looked at the customer's request, it made sense and we are happy to comply," Calabrese said. "We are always open to suggestions and feedback from our customers, including those from North Olmsted and Maple Heights, who are integrating their service into ours on March 20."

RTA officials said if there are any other questions about the change, call Tom Terbrack at 716-4223.