Lodi bus service slashed

Sharon Boyd never imagined being in a wheelchair and forced into retirement from Lodi Memorial Hospital before she turned 50 years old. But a brain tumor in 2006 left her unable to walk, and she said it has changed her whole perspective.

Boyd was one of more than 30 people who spoke against public transportation cuts during the Lodi City Council meeting Wednesday.

"I had no clue what a disability is like, there's a myriad of problems I've discovered. ... We are perhaps penalizing a small percentage of Lodi's population who desperately rely on this transportation to maintain contact with businesses and people outside of their homes," Boyd said.

In a 3 to 2 vote, the council reduced hours for fixed route service, Dial-a-Ride and VineLine, which is the equivalent of Dial-a-Ride for people with disabilities.

Here's the city's new transportation hours:

Monday through Friday, fixed routes, Dial-a-Ride and VineLine will operate from 7:45 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. Express routes will continue from 6:10 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

On Saturdays, fixed routes, Dial-a-Ride and VineLine will run from 9:15 a.m. to 3:08 p.m.

All service on Sundays will be eliminated.

Service on nine holidays will be eliminated.

People will no longer be able to call and make same-day appointments for Dial-a-Ride and VineLine service. Instead, everyone will need to make advanced reservations.

The cuts will begin Nov. 1 and continue through the end of the city's fiscal year, which is June 30, 2010.

About a month ago, the city found out that when the state legislature passed its budget, it included 20 percent less in transportation funding than the city expected to receive.

Mayor Larry Hansen said the cuts are not an isolated case because the city has reduced budgets throughout city departments due to the state taking city money and sales and property tax has decreased with the down economy. "This is not being done on the shoulders and backs of those using the transit system," Hansen said.

Councilman Bob Johnson and Councilwoman JoAnne Mounce voted against the cuts.

Mounce had made the suggestion of increasing fares to provide Dial-a-Ride and VineLine service from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays to help people get to church.

Notable quotes

"It's hurting not only us, but hurting the elderly and disabled."
— Joyce Looker

"Those of us that are disabled don't have many options, but you have options."
— Clifford Weaver

"I enjoy going to church on Sunday and if that's cut out of my life it's kind of like what's left?"
— Jean Schmitt

"They call me 'Super Girl,' so I need to live up to that, and seeing that I can't drive and my cape is in the shop right now, this is the only option I have."
— Kimberly Froberg

The council could not approve the rate increase because the public needs 15 days notice of a public meeting to raise bus fares, City Attorney Steve Schwabauer said.

Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock asked how many people would be willing to pay additional fares if it meant service on Sundays. About 10 hands raised in the room.

The council asked staff to look at how much fares would need to be raised to provide the Sunday service, and if it would be possible to add an extra hour on Saturday.

Johnson said he did not want to vote on cuts, if the council could modify the cuts in a few weeks.

City Manager Blair King said it was important to get started with reduced service to start saving money, so the cuts will be spread out over eight months, instead of a lesser period of time.

Resident Robin Rushing and several other members of the audience challenged the council to abandon their cars for a day or a week to see what it's like to be dependent on public transportation.

Some council members said they already have had to utilize the bus system.

In 2003, Mounce said there were six weeks in which she couldn't drive, and she used Dial-a-Ride to make it to work appointments on Saturday. Also, one of her cousins is a triplegic and depends on VineLine.

"She couldn't do what she does and have any quality of life, if it wasn't for you," Mounce said while holding back tears.

Johnson also said he used Dial-a-Ride service to get to appointments while in rehabilitation for his hip replacement.

The city will be working with passengers to get used to the new schedule, Public Works Director Wally Sandelin said. If someone calls for same-day Dial-a-Ride service, he said dispatchers might be able to get them on an already scheduled bus that is in the area.

City staff also warned that there will most likely be additional state cuts during the next fiscal year. Mounce recommended creating a transportation commission to study ways the city can deal with a shrinking transportation budget.

Many of the public comments praised the bus staff, and the residents described how they depend on bus service for work and social activities.

Resident Maxine Tate, who cannot drive because she does not see well, uses the service to get to Lodi Public Library, the doctor's office and to pick up medication.

"We never realize we will have these problems when we age. ... Without Dial-a-Ride, it would be a very unhappy life," she said.

Having worked as a driver and now as a dispatcher, Brenda Lemos stressed that people rely on the transportation.

"Passengers are pretty much family, sometimes we are the only family they have here," Lemos said.

Boyd said her main concern is how she will get to First Baptist Church on Sundays and for choir practice and Bible study on weekday evenings.

"That's most of my social life," she said.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

dogs4you wrote on Oct 22, 2009 8:05 PM:

" mp just how far and often do people in wheelchairs go, face it you are disabled. "

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T & C wrote on Oct 22, 2009 7:35 PM:

" a cab as far as safeway is $11.00 that's a $22.00 round trip if you work out that far. relax, it amounts only to $440.00 a month to go to work instead of riding the bus. "

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dogs4you wrote on Oct 22, 2009 6:47 PM:

" What a puke town this is, I wish I could move. Screw your praying and just be happy you got what you got. Think of the 18 year old kids that are scared out of the minds at the idea someone is trying to kill them to protect all these worthless people in this worthless town. I served and am damn proud of it, though at times loosing my life for people that whine and complain about the smallest things, get a grip, get a life and stop complaining concerning Dial a ride, make due and fend for yourself. "

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dogs4you wrote on Oct 22, 2009 6:36 PM:

" glad2babout, I stated that a cab was an option, no I can drive and therefore don`t need to worry about the services of a cab,---- yet. The day might come when I just might need one. Taxi`s will not work for everyone, so in that case enjoy walking or stay home and bitch you poor people and stop griping. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Oct 22, 2009 3:58 PM:

" Maybe Bob & Joanne can volunteer to run errands with the elderly, disabled, and poor who rely on the cities lil shuttle service.

Socially I think it's a wonderful idea to have this service. Financially I think it is a huge waste of money. Do you ever look in one of those buses? How many passengers do you see? One, two, maybe a family of four going from one side of town to the other? Honestly, the only time I see TONS of people (kids) is when there are 20 Hispanic students lined up on Ham Lane by Lodi High waiting for a ride to the east side. "

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glad2beout wrote on Oct 22, 2009 1:46 PM:

" On Oct. 22 dogs4u wrote "a cab is an option". When was the last time you took a cab? Those suckers are expensive, even if you're going just a short distance. I dare say they are not an option to those in a wheelchair(thanks mp) or on a fixed income. Any more brilliant ideas? "

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LodiFreeThinker wrote on Oct 22, 2009 1:06 PM:

" Shouldn't public transportation be self sufficient?

We shouldn't be running buses as a public service, but rather as a business.

Have enough routes, that serve enough people and have high enough rates to support the system. Simple as that.

It shouldn't take government funds to continue operation... maybe to get started, but not to continue.

If the bus system can't turn a profit, its because its being run poorly, or there simply isn't a market for it. "

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ordinarycitizen wrote on Oct 22, 2009 11:42 AM:

" Thank you JoAnne and Bob for voting in favor of not making the cuts on Sundays. I am so disappointed with the other three votes and boy, be sure that it will be remembered come election day. "

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mp wrote on Oct 22, 2009 11:39 AM:

" Taxi-Cabs will not work for people in wheel chairs "

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dogs4you wrote on Oct 22, 2009 11:02 AM:

" The vote these days always seems to come down to a 3-2 vote. jimp has the best idea, starting with the "big" five, going rock, paper, scissors until a winner is found and go with his or her decision. Better yet, go for a 4-1 vote or perhps a 5-0 vote, guess thats asking to much.

While this suggestion will not solve everyone needs, a cab is an option. "

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Lodi Living wrote on Oct 22, 2009 10:47 AM:

" With the fixed bus time changed people will not be able to get to work on time and will loose there jobs. I hope Lodi is ready for people not paying there utility bills. Which means more money lost to Lodi. Also kids will be skipping school because the bus does not run early enough to get them to school so the kids just won't go and the school will loose money because they won't get paid for that student. About Dial A Ride. What ever happened to the children of the elderly taking there parents to the doctors, Shopping Etc. That's what they did in the past. "

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Journey wrote on Oct 22, 2009 9:54 AM:

" From a financial point of view, the cuts seem quite reasonable. How about filling in the gap with volunteers? Most "likable, livable" communities do that. Where is Catholic Charities in that town? Why aren't people from the church picking up their neighbors for Sunday service and taking them to the drug store, doctor appointments, etc? Gee, Lodi, you are looking like a mean little place to live! "

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jbhiker wrote on Oct 22, 2009 9:27 AM:

" We want everyone who is unable to defend themselves to capitulate so the more powerful can prosper. Holy Smoke! Its 1350 again! "

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T & C wrote on Oct 22, 2009 8:07 AM:

" I am a disabled vet but I will adapt. These cuts will benefit the majority of passengers and allow the the least "Inconvenience! It was a better alternative then Option A was. Plus they did not raise the Bus Fare rates.

The sad part of this issue is that when State funds and Federal transportation funds are "Restored" at some future date, will Lodi "Reverses the cuts and expand the bus service the way it was before the cuts??

No They Won't! Once these cuts to service are made, they will NOT want to "Rock the boat"! Bus service cuts mean less employees, less fuel used!

The most any of us can do is adapt! "

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jimp wrote on Oct 22, 2009 7:36 AM:

" "In a 3 to 2 vote"
Now there's a shock. Why don't they just go, Rock, Paper, Scissors. "

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