City of Owasso, Pelivan Transit: Officials debate public transportation grant

OCR North: Says the grant plus help from the city and community would help older adults.

Owasso could be one step closer to providing public transportation. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded a $150,000 grant to Grand Gateway Economic Development Authority, which operates Pelivan Transit.

The grant is to start up a public transportation system in Owasso.

"It's exciting for the seniors so they can get to the doctor and people who don't have cars, getting them to their jobs," said Owasso Community Resources Executive Director Jeanette North.

North made the comments at a June 27 meeting with city officials, hospital staff and administrators, church leaders, retirement center administrators, OCR board members and Pelivan Transit Director Debra McGlasson.

The grant would pay for 83 percent of the cost for two six-passenger vans, which are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. The remainder of the grant would go toward operational and administrative costs, McGlasson said.

Approximately $82,000 would be needed to purchase the vans and cover the rest of the operational and administrative costs, she said.

McGlasson said she is also pursuing other grant options to lower that total.

One way to increase funds is to offer advertising opportunities on some of the vans' windows.

"These vans are going to be all over Owasso," she said.

Revenue will also come from rider fares. For those under age 60, the cost of a one-way ride is $2. For those over 60, the one way fee is $1.75. There is an additional cost for those living outside the Owasso city limits or if the destination is outside those limits.

With no one entity funding the remaining need, McGlasson suggested forming a consortium or advisory committee of those businesses and organizations that did provide funding to watch rider trends and plan for future growth. Liability and management of the transit system would be the responsibility of Pelivan.

Many at the meeting said they would like the city of Owasso to be the contracting agent with Pelivan.

David Phillips, CEO of St. John Owasso Hospital, said he thinks businesses and individuals would feel more comfortable if funding for the transit system is funneled through the city.

Sherry Bishop, administrative services director with the city of Owasso, said the city definitely supports the program.

"The city has no problem being the lead or contact for this. We can't fund it. We already have the budget set," she said.

"We're going to need other people."

Eric Wiles, community development director, said the city needs to take a closer look at this because if the city takes leadership of the program, it will eventually become a city program.

Grant money and private funding eventually go away, Wiles said, and the city is left to fund the entire program.

The city is also looking at commuter transportation and rail transportation to Tulsa, Wiles said.

"We don't have a lot of funding for transportation," he said.

"We are prepared to be in a position of leadership, but we have to determine if we are going to participate."

North said she hopes an agreement can be made with the city.

"We hit a home run the first time out and got $150,000. I'd hate to see that melt away because we can't get this together," she said.

City officials will meet with Pelivan representatives this week to discuss the program.

By Sara Plummer World Staff Writer