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A TOKEN EFFORT TO REFORM ATHENS TRANSIT
"An extra 15 cents to ride the bus would cause a financial
hardship for a lot of people," Rick Schott told Athens-Clarke
County commissioners Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Commissioners might not have heard him???and many others
who've lined up to oppose proposed Athens Transit fare hikes
over the past month???loud and clear, but at least it didn't go
in one ear and out the other.
This is an election year, after all. Mayoral candidate Tim
Denson and District 3 commission candidate Melissa Link were
among those who spoke out against the fare hike. They said
raising fares would hurt low-income workers, job-seekers and
students, leading to fewer riders and less revenue. Instead,
they lobbied for better marketing, more efficient routes and
more frequent service on popular routes as ways to improve
ridership, which has fallen by about 100,000 riders due to
competition from UGA and apartment-complex shuttles.
"You guys are moving in the wrong direction," Denson said.
"You're kicking the can down the road."
Kicking the can down the road is what the commission is
best at, but the kicking they did last week is better than what
they've been doing, which was shrug and raise fares or cut ser
vice whenever money for transit ran low.
Commissioner Kelly Girtz mustered six other votes???all but
Doug Lowry, Jared Bailey and George Maxwell???for a plan that
scrapped a proposed 25-cent transfer fee and does not charge
children under 6 years old to ride the bus. It does, however,
raise fares to $1.75 for adults, $1.50 for youths under 17, $1
for seniors and disabled riders and $35 for a 22-ride pass effec
tive July 1.
"We desperately need these funds if we're going to continue
the level of service our citizens need," Kathy Hoard said.
Smartly, though, commissioners did not wait until they were
blindsided and forced to raise fares in June, when they'll pass
a budget. By acting now, transit officials were able to negoti
ate a $1.60 payment, up from $1.36, from the University of
Georgia every time a student or employee boards a city bus.
Girtz also included in his motion a commitment to hire a
transit consultant at an estimated cost of $50,000-$100,000.
"Given the sense that we've had this recurrent cycle, I want us
to stop now," he said.
The consultant will "pull back, have some fresh eyes and
ask these questions" about marketing, fares, routes, develop
ment patterns and how to get more people who have other
transportation options to ride the bus, Girtz said.
BACK FROM THE DEAD: After it languished among the other
zombie "hold items" at the bottom of the agenda for four
years, the commission is finally moving forward with the City
Hall streetscape project. You should've put a crossbow arrow
through its brain, Daryl.
The $1.2 million SPLOST-funded project involves re-doing
the sidewalks around the City Hall block. The biggest change
will be the that the old bus bays???unused since the Multimodal
Center opened???will be converted into sidewalks with trees
and benches.
The long delay was due to an argument over on-street park
ing on Washington Street. Some wanted wider sidewalks; oth
ers, more parking. Former Commissioner David Lynn, a trained
planner, had argued that on-street parking actually makes
pedestrians more comfortable, shielding them from moving cars
and making the street look busier.
"I was concerned I may not be here when it becomes a real
ity," said Hoard, who's retiring next year. "I was concerned I
would not be here period when it becomes a reality."
The project popped up again because officials want to start
it at the same time as the Clayton Street infrastructure work in
January. Though long gone from the commission, Lynn finally
won out last week when Commissioner Mike Hamby marshaled
nine votes (Jared Bailey was the holdout) for 22 angled park
ing spaces on Washington Street.
Another debate in 2009 was whether ACC should do a down
town master plan first. It's almost done now, and Hamby said
the project won't preclude going through with professor Jack
Crowley's proposal for infill development and greenspace on
the block.
"What we're doing here doesn't interfere with what we can
do in the future if we move in the direction Dr. Crowley is rec
ommending," he said.
40 WATT MURAL: LEAD Athens members are working with the
40 Watt Club to install a mural on the music venue's mostly-
blank western wall.
The mural will represent Athens history, according to Airee
Hong, who took on the project as part of the Athens Area
Chamber of Commerce-run leadership class. And not just obvi
ous choices like R.E.M.???it will incorporate the rich history of
older African American venues like the Morton Theatre, as well,
she said.
"I felt that Athens needed a little more art represented in
our community, especially art that shows our love for the music
scene," Hong said. "Our appreciation for the music scene brings
a lot of people here, so why not celebrate that?"
A speaker from the Asheville Mural Project in North Carolina
will come to the 40 Watt on Wednesday, Dec. 11 to explain the
process of choosing and installing a
mural. The 5:30-8 p.m. meeting will
also be an opportunity to provide
input on what should be included in
the mural, Hong said.
A seven-member committee
consisting of 40 Watt owner Barrie
Buck and members of LEAD Athens
and the Athens Cultural Affairs
Commission will choose the artwork.
Preference will be given to Athens-
based artists and those with Athens
ties, Hong said.
Hong hopes to have the mural's
first panel up this spring at a cost
of $7,500-$10,000, all privately
raised. If it's successful, five more
panels would be installed later.
"I'm raising the money myself
with my [LEAD Athens] team," she
said. "I think we could do the whole
wall for $50,000."
In semi-related news, Nick
Napoletano's mural is now up at the
ACC Library. Bob Clements' sculpture is expected to be installed
in January.
CASE CLOSED: On a much sadder note, the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation has ruled that the UGA student whose body
was found in a creek near The Plaza last month killed herself.
Rebecca Greene apparently intentionally overdosed on sleep
ing pills, then passed out, fell into the creek and died of
hypothermia.
Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
Have at it, Photoshoppers.
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4 FLAGP0LE.C0M DECEMBER 11,2013