News
Bus ride free to BRAC hearing
By Scott Aust, Journal Staff Writer
RAPID CITY -- People who want to attend Tuesday's BRAC hearing in Rapid
City can hitch a free ride on the city's bus system.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21, the city is offering free bus service
for people who want to attend the Base Realignment and Closure hearing
at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
Three of the nine members of the BRAC Commission will meet with local
officials from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Local efforts are focused on getting Ellsworth
Air Force Base removed from the Pentagon's proposed base-closing list.
Rich Sagen, RapidRide manager, said buses won't make route adjustments
to take people to the civic center. The city has a regular route that
goes past the civic center about every 35 minutes, he said.
All people have to do is inform the driver they are going to the BRAC
hearing, and they won't be charged, even if they have to transfer routes,
according to Sagen.
The honor system will be in effect, Sagen said.
"We're not going to question anybody. If that's where they say they're
going, that's what we'll do. So, if they started on the west side of town,
and they have to transfer to get there, that's cool. No problem,"
he said.
The city also will be providing no cost Dial-a-Ride service for disabled
people who want to attend the hearing, according to Dirk Jablonski, director
of public works.
"The city wants to provide the best opportunity for individuals
who have an interest in that hearing to be there, and this is one small
way of doing that," he said.
Dial-a-Ride service will still require scheduling of the trip a day in
advance, Sagen said.
Because the idea for free bus service was proposed late this week, the
city council wasn't able to put it on its agenda. But Jablonski said he
informed the council by e-mail and asked council members to contact him
if there were concerns about proceeding, and he had not received any as
of Wednesday morning's deadline.
"I'm taking that as a good sign," Jablonski said. "Whatever
small part that will play, we're ready to go."
Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com
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