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Ellettsville to fund Rural Transit past end of March

By Lucas González

Posted March 12, 2024

The Ellettsville Town Council is offering to help fund Rural Transit past the end of March. (FILE PHOTO: WFIU/WTIU News)

The Ellettsville Town Council is offering to help fund Rural Transit past the end of March.

Council members unanimously voted Monday to extend the time frame on an appropriation it made last year of up to $33,000 from the town’s general fund.

This means the town will fund the service in conjunction with Monroe County until the $33,000 runs out — and not just through the end of March, which is what the council originally offered.

Council member William Ellis said this will likely secure service through April, or into May.

“We found out there’s a lot more money (left); they used a lot less than they projected,” Ellis said. “For them to use it past the end of this month, we changed it so there’s no end date; it’s until the funds run out.”

William Ellis *(Courtesy, Community Access Television Services)*

But officials have not yet found a solution to fund Rural Transit through the end of 2024.

Ellettsville has not typically funded Rural Transit — operated by the Area 10 Agency on Aging — but a lack of funding this year prompted the town and county to do so.

Rural Transit provides door-to-door transportation on demand in non-urban parts of Monroe and three other counties. Last year, the Indiana Department of Transportation said it would no longer subsidize trips between two urbanized areas starting in 2024.

Rural Transit currently provides trips between urbanized areas, such as from Ellettsville to the Walmart on Bloomington’s west side. Residents have come to rely on those routes.

INDOT’s action is a result of pressure from the Federal Transit Administration, which told INDOT it would further scrutinize nonurban transit systems to ensure they’re not providing trips between two urbanized areas.

Town Council president Scott Oldham said while he recognizes the importance of Rural Transit, the town must prioritize other essential services such as water, sewage and public safety.

“The Town of Ellettsville has never run a bus service, nor do we have a funding stream for said bus service,” Oldham said. “To say we can fund this year after year after year is simply not feasible at this point in the town’s lifespan.”

Scott Oldham *(Courtesy, Community Access Television Services)*

Several people — some elderly and disabled — spoke in support of Rural Transit Monday, saying the service is their only way to get to work and medical appointments.

Chris Myers, executive director of Area 10 Agency on Aging, said she understands the town has other priorities but highlighted the impact Rural Transit has on residents’ lives.

“It is something philosophically that local governments need to support,” Myers said. “The reality is that it is a public service that has helped build this town and this community. It needs to be addressed how it’s going to be continued to be supported.”

Chris Myers *(Courtesy, Community Access Television Services)*

Myers estimates $43,000 is still needed to fund Rural Transit for the rest of 2024, based on the latest ridership data.

Council members discussed possibly using local income tax funds to support Rural Transit. Officials say the exact amount the town will receive this year is not currently known but should be in a matter of days.

Ellis said he has spoken with State Rep. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) and Ninth District U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Salem). He said Heaton pledged to bring the issue to the state legislature but added potential action from the statehouse likely would not come until mid-2025 or later.

Last year, Monroe County offered $88,000 for the service from COVID-19 relief dollars it received from the federal government.