CLEARFIELD – On Tuesday, the Clearfield County Commissioners voted to approve local match funding to the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) through the end of the current fiscal year in June.
Prior to the board’s vote, Commissioner John A. Sobel, chair, reminded that the county previously executed a quarterly payment rather than one annual payment. He explained that the commissioners felt the ATA had lost its focus and was concerned more about its own needs than that of its customers.
When Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen and the county’s delegation to the ATA board started voicing opposition, he said they got a negative response. Despite that, Robinson-McMillen, according to him, stood her ground along with the county’s other delegation.
He said they recently met with the ATA director who appeared to indicate willingness to make changes for the better. For that reason, he said he would support the county making its local match to the ATA. He said if for some reason he ends up being “played for a fool,” he would not hesitate to withdraw his support for the next fiscal year.
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken said he would also support the county making its local match. He said the ATA director showed willingness to review local routes and to make changes to add service areas, such as Lock Haven University – Clearfield campus, where there’s student housing and likely transportation needs.
Many current routes, he said, have been long-standing and they need a fresh look. He said the county wants to make sure those who are using the ATA buses are getting the best service.
Prior to the meeting, Robinson-McMillen admitted she wasn’t sure how she would vote on the matter. She said it appears that the ATA staff members are starting to open up to change; however, she pointed out that it helped that PennDOT “showed its teeth” with the same findings as Clearfield County.
“I tried to impress upon the folks at the ATA that nobody on this board wanted to discontinue ridership,” she said. “We do want accountability for the $118,000 that we’re paying this year and the $124,000 that we’re being mandated to pay next year.”
According to her, instead of drivers riding around with empty or nearly empty buses, the county would like the ATA to combine those routes. Also, she said it would like to reach outer-lying communities while the county is more than just Clearfield, DuBois and Curwensville.
Robinson-McMillen said she would vote in support of the local match, as it was only through June 30. At that time, she said the county would have to vote on another resolution to pay its local match for the next fiscal year.