By Devon Turchan, The News-Herald

The holiday season means an increase in part-time work in retail stores and other industries because it also means more people are out shopping and dining. Those without cars in those two groups — seasonal employees and shoppers — have an increased need for a lift, Laketran General Manager Ray Jurkowski said.

At a “Committee of the Whole” meeting Monday evening, followed by a Board of Trustees meeting, Laketran trustees voted to temporarily restore holiday weeknights, Saturday and Veterans Day service Nov. 9 to Jan. 4, pending voter approval of the renewal of Laketran’s sales tax levy in November.

“We’ve managed to stay 6 percent under budget. If we continue this way we can restore that service temporarily this year,” Jurkowski said. “Then we will make that same assessment next year.” 

This would be the third year of the program, which Laketran director of marketing and public relations Julia Schick said is evidence that the restoration of service is not meant as an incentive to vote for the levy.  Without the levy, Laketran would run without 60 percent of its funding. This extension would not be a viable part of the equation if the levy does not pass, Schick said.

Three years ago the extended service kicked off with the popular shopping day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. Last year, it was moved up to earlier in November. “Two weeks earlier in November allowed there to be a lot more momentum and increase in ridership,” Schick said. “(Employees are) trained and ready to go by that big shopping weekend.”

That includes Veterans Day, on which service was not available for the three years before funds were shored up.
During the designated time span, local bus routes 1 through 6 will operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and routes 1/3, 2 and 6 will operate Saturdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“That’s huge for our commuters who are not off on those bank holidays,” she said. “And it’s a great way to give back to veterans.”

Last year, the program transported about 9,000 riders, according to a Laketran report.

The trustees also approved spending on a relocation and improvement project of the downtown Painesville bus transfer station at a cost not to exceed $68,530 with CT Consultants.

A contract with United Resource Group was approved for energy reduction renovations to the Laketran headquarters at a cost not to exceed $245,448.15, which will include a skylight in the bus storage area and energy efficient lighting. The renovations were recommended after an energy efficiency audit last year although the building received a 93 percent rating.