LATHROP – Is it the city’s responsibility to provide transportation services for students to and from school?
That was the issue that polarized members of the City Council and residents Tuesday night during the discussion on public transportation needs in the community that are not currently being met.
At one end of the spectrum were Mayor Kristy Sayles and others who strongly believe that it’s the city’s responsibility to make sure that public safety is a number one concern. In particular is the concern for students, especially those who were affected by the cutback in school buses as part of Manteca Unified’s budget-crisis solution, walking to and from Lathrop High School in the winter fog and in dangerous intersections such as the one at Lathrop Road and Manthey Road, with the freeway underpass and on and off ramps exacerbating the danger.
There is a “multitude of safety issues” existing at this one location alone, the mayor said, adding, there is “no money comparable to the life of the children out there.”
She favored the second of three alternative transit service options presented by the staff which would involve putting in place a part-time bus route that would address this transit need for the students. The mayor said she considers this “a very good use of money.”
However, because that would cut into the funds that the city also desperately needs to maintain the integrity of its intercity streets, the mayor said this alternative is not entirely palatable to her.
“Do I like it? No! Is it the city’s responsibility? Yes!” said Sayles.
“Absolutely not; we cannot,” replied Public Works Director Steve Salvatore.
Funding for street repairs is “so slim right now,” he said, and “there’s plenty more to do that we’re not even touching yet.”
Resident Rosalinda Valencia said she also believes that “the children are our responsibility. The (grant) money is used first and foremost for unmet transit needs, not for the city to fill up their budget. The kids in our community are our future; they are our future leaders. (Student busing) is the city’s responsibility, along with the school district,” Valencia said.
The two options that would have the city subsidize the bus services for the students run a tab of $172,000 for Option #2 and a price tag of $230,000 for Option #3. The expenses would involve contracting the services of the county Regional Transportation District (RTD) for those fixed routes.
Under the provisions of the $450,000 grant, the city can utilize those funds to maintain city streets if it is established that there are no “unmet transit needs” based on the results of the public hearings which are held to gather input from residents.
Councilman Robert Oliver and others, however, do not believe that providing transportation service to the students is the city’s responsibility.
“This is not our problem. This is not a problem in this chamber, and we don’t have the financial resources to do both,” he said, referring to providing student bus service and maintaining city streets.
“If people want busing for their kids, they should go to the school district and make those busing demands,” said resident Dan Doyle, adding verbal ammunition to Oliver’s comments.
“The public has the right to go to (Manteca Unified School District Superintendent Jason) Messer. He was the one responsible for (cutting back school bus service), not the city council. This is not the place to talk about busing problems,” Doyle said.
J. Chaka Santos said he agreed with the mayor and Valencia’s arguments on taking care of the students’ safety.
“But the streets should be repaired. We need to take care of our own first. The money needs to be retained here, not for RTD to subsidize their income,” he argued.
One suggestion presented to the council was to have the students who would be taking advantage of the RTD buses pay their own way. An RTD representative said that a similar service they are already providing in the City of Stockton with $1.25 charged for a single ride and $3 for an all-day pass. There are other special passes available such as monthly fees, he said.
That is a great idea, said Vice Mayor Martha Salcedo who is a teacher at Lathrop Elementary School. However, she also pointed out that “a lot of (the students) don’t even have $1.50 to buy lunch.”
She added, “The ones who need the service the most can least afford the (bus) charge. Thirty-five dollars a month – that’s a lot.”
The council did not have to take action on the item at the council meeting. However, they agreed to a survey asking parents for their input into the matter.
The public hearing that evening is a pre-requisite for the city to receive the $450,000 grant available annually to fund existing unmet transit needs. Two such hearings are required. The first one was held in September.
If those public hearings show that there are no significant transportation problems existing in the city, then the money can be used to maintain and repair city streets. Street improvements such as the slurry sealing of Mingo Way and other thoroughfares in the city last year were made possible by this grant money made available through the federal Transportation Development Act.
That was the issue that polarized members of the City Council and residents Tuesday night during the discussion on public transportation needs in the community that are not currently being met.
At one end of the spectrum were Mayor Kristy Sayles and others who strongly believe that it’s the city’s responsibility to make sure that public safety is a number one concern. In particular is the concern for students, especially those who were affected by the cutback in school buses as part of Manteca Unified’s budget-crisis solution, walking to and from Lathrop High School in the winter fog and in dangerous intersections such as the one at Lathrop Road and Manthey Road, with the freeway underpass and on and off ramps exacerbating the danger.
There is a “multitude of safety issues” existing at this one location alone, the mayor said, adding, there is “no money comparable to the life of the children out there.”
She favored the second of three alternative transit service options presented by the staff which would involve putting in place a part-time bus route that would address this transit need for the students. The mayor said she considers this “a very good use of money.”
However, because that would cut into the funds that the city also desperately needs to maintain the integrity of its intercity streets, the mayor said this alternative is not entirely palatable to her.
“Do I like it? No! Is it the city’s responsibility? Yes!” said Sayles.
Can’t take care of both streets & student busing
Piggybacking on the mayor’s argument, Councilman Sonny Dhaliwal asked staff if the city could take care of the students’ safety and maintain the streets at the same time with the grant money. With the current economy appearing to make a turn for the better, “can we save enough money to take care of our streets?” he asked.“Absolutely not; we cannot,” replied Public Works Director Steve Salvatore.
Funding for street repairs is “so slim right now,” he said, and “there’s plenty more to do that we’re not even touching yet.”
Resident Rosalinda Valencia said she also believes that “the children are our responsibility. The (grant) money is used first and foremost for unmet transit needs, not for the city to fill up their budget. The kids in our community are our future; they are our future leaders. (Student busing) is the city’s responsibility, along with the school district,” Valencia said.
The two options that would have the city subsidize the bus services for the students run a tab of $172,000 for Option #2 and a price tag of $230,000 for Option #3. The expenses would involve contracting the services of the county Regional Transportation District (RTD) for those fixed routes.
Under the provisions of the $450,000 grant, the city can utilize those funds to maintain city streets if it is established that there are no “unmet transit needs” based on the results of the public hearings which are held to gather input from residents.
Councilman Robert Oliver and others, however, do not believe that providing transportation service to the students is the city’s responsibility.
“This is not our problem. This is not a problem in this chamber, and we don’t have the financial resources to do both,” he said, referring to providing student bus service and maintaining city streets.
“If people want busing for their kids, they should go to the school district and make those busing demands,” said resident Dan Doyle, adding verbal ammunition to Oliver’s comments.
“The public has the right to go to (Manteca Unified School District Superintendent Jason) Messer. He was the one responsible for (cutting back school bus service), not the city council. This is not the place to talk about busing problems,” Doyle said.
J. Chaka Santos said he agreed with the mayor and Valencia’s arguments on taking care of the students’ safety.
“But the streets should be repaired. We need to take care of our own first. The money needs to be retained here, not for RTD to subsidize their income,” he argued.
One suggestion presented to the council was to have the students who would be taking advantage of the RTD buses pay their own way. An RTD representative said that a similar service they are already providing in the City of Stockton with $1.25 charged for a single ride and $3 for an all-day pass. There are other special passes available such as monthly fees, he said.
That is a great idea, said Vice Mayor Martha Salcedo who is a teacher at Lathrop Elementary School. However, she also pointed out that “a lot of (the students) don’t even have $1.50 to buy lunch.”
She added, “The ones who need the service the most can least afford the (bus) charge. Thirty-five dollars a month – that’s a lot.”
The council did not have to take action on the item at the council meeting. However, they agreed to a survey asking parents for their input into the matter.
The public hearing that evening is a pre-requisite for the city to receive the $450,000 grant available annually to fund existing unmet transit needs. Two such hearings are required. The first one was held in September.
If those public hearings show that there are no significant transportation problems existing in the city, then the money can be used to maintain and repair city streets. Street improvements such as the slurry sealing of Mingo Way and other thoroughfares in the city last year were made possible by this grant money made available through the federal Transportation Development Act.
