LANTA Could Face 20% Service Reduction in January

Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) is seeking $701,727 from NorCo in 2026, and Executive Lamont McClure has proposed $701,800. 

Exec. Director Owen O'Neill explained that this money is leveraged to obtain much larger grants from the state and federal government to operate and maintain our region's buses. 

Funding for LANTA is based on the amount of service provided to each county. 57% of LANTA's bus system serves Lehigh County, while only 43% serves NorCo. 

Although funding is uncertain as a result of a state budget impasse, O'Neill noted that SEPTA and Pittsburgh have been approved by PennDOT for flex funding, and LANTA has applied for this as well. If this application fails, O'Neill said there would likely be a 20% reduction in service in January. He also said fare increases have gone into effect. "We have tried to keep them stable as long as we can," he observed, adding that fares had not gone up since 2014. 

NorCo Council Supports State Funding Increase For Mass Transit

Earlier this week, NorCo Controller Tara Zrinski issued a news release concerning the possible outright elimination of bus service to the slate belt. LANTA is currently planning a 20% reduction in fixed route bus service and a 25% fare hike even though 75% of its riders rely on it to get to and from work. This is because of a significant gap between stagnant state funding and costs.

Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a fix. Currently, mass transit statewide gets 4.4% of the sales tax collected every year. He has proposed increasing this allotment to 6.15%. This would result in an additional $292 million for mass transit statewide, including $7 million in revenue for LANTA, This would fix its funding gap. But it's unclear whether the state senate is willing to go along.

At their June 17 meeting, NorCo Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting a state increase in mass transit funding. 

Zrinski Wants Bus Service in Slate Belt To Continue

As most of you know, I'm an old fart. I live in an apartment building specially set up for old farts and younger disabled people with limited incomes. I like it. My next door neighbor (he passed away a few weeks ago) was a retired garbage man who spent 40 years on the back of the trucks. Another was a drummer for famous singers like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. One fellow - a giant of a man - provided security for celebrities in California before going blind. I could go on and on, and maybe one day I will tell their stories. One thing that most of us appreciate is the LANTA bus. There is a stop right outside the building. At one time, it was served by two separate routes. (217 & 216). Now it's just one (216), and that will no longer serve Nazareth at the end of June. There will still be service from another route, but it will be far more limited. This will affect several residents who rely on LANTA. It will also impact several other Nazareth residents whom I have seen on the bus from time  

I realize this is a "poor person" issue. I often hop on a bus, especially when riding my bike so I can pretend I went farther than I actually did. I've seen the people who rely on buses to get to jobs at restaurants, Walmart and local industrial parks. One Spanish lady - she does not speak a word of English or pretends not to when I'm on the bus - always has a piece of fruit for me. 

Although Governor Josh Shapiro is pushing for $292 million in mass transit funding statewide, his quest faces an uncertain fate in the Republican held state senate. LANTA is planning to reduce service by 20%. This should have little impact if you live in downtown Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton. But the farther you are from the urban core, the more difficult it will be to get around. It will be especially tough for Slate Belt residents. They are often little more than an afterthought among elected officials, so I was surprised to see a press release from NorCo Controller and Exec candidate Tara Zrinski about bus service to the slate belt (Route 217), which will be reduced at the end of the month.

Her news release states that Route 217 is being eliminated, but my understanding is that service is just being reduced. Here's what she says:

As the Democratic nominee for Northampton County Executive, and as a former county councilmember and current county controller, I am deeply concerned about the proposed elimination of Route 217 and other essential bus services in the Slate Belt region.

While I do not reside in the Slate Belt, I understand that public transportation is a lifeline for many Northampton County communities. Route 217 connects residents to jobs, medical appointments, grocery stores, and vital services. Surveys show that the vast majority of riders—about three-quarters—have no other transportation option. Eliminating this route would strand those without access to a car—especially in rural areas where alternatives are scarce.

It is especially important to recognize that many individuals in recovery from addiction rely on these bus routes to reach recovery centers, counseling sessions, and support group meetings. Reliable transportation is essential for successful recovery; without it, missed appointments can disrupt progress and increase the risk of relapse. 

Seniors, low income individuals/families and the disabled are all especially vulnerable to these proposed cuts. Reductions in fixed-route and paratransit services will limit their ability to reach medical appointments, grocery stores, and social activities, leading to increased isolation and diminished quality of life. The planned 25% fare increase on the Shared Ride for Seniors program and restricted service days and hours will further compound these challenges.

Removing Route 217 would undermine the hard-won progress of many in our community.

Northampton County has consistently advocated for equitable bus route allocation, ensuring that all residents—regardless of location—have access to essential services. To take these routes away now would undermine years of progress and jeopardize the well-being of those in recovery from opioid addiction and other substance use disorders.

Where can LANTA get the money?

LANTA’s funding challenges are real. The transit authority has relied on federal COVID relief funds, but those have now run out. Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget includes a $6.6 million increase in state operating funds for LANTA, which could help avoid devastating service cuts. Additionally, the Governor has proposed increasing the transit share of the state sales tax, which could provide LANTA with millions more annually if approved by the legislature. Federal grants, such as those from the Federal Transit Administration and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also remain important funding sources.

I urge LANTA and state leaders to prioritize these funding solutions and to preserve essential services for all communities. Northampton County is a growing community and, as part of the Lehigh Valley our services are essential to that economic growth. Public transportation is not just about mobility—it’s about access, opportunity, and dignity. We must not let funding shortfalls harm our most vulnerable residents.

Fred Williams On LANTA Board for 30 Years

Northampton County Council enthusiastically and unanimously voted last night to give affable Fred Williams another four years on the LANTA Board. Though Williams at one time owned an Exxon distributorship, he prefers walking or taking the bus to driving. In 1987, he saw then Executive Gene Hartzell soliciting voters one day as he he waited for a bus to take him to his home at College Hill. Hartzell was a bit confused to see a prominent local businessman using public transit, but Williams told Hartzell he loved riding in buses. Two days later, Williams received word he was on LANTA's board. He is currently their Treasurer.

Brown Makes Good Call For LANTA Board

One of Northampton County Executive John Brown's first appointments was that of Richard McAteer to LANTA, the Lehigh Valley's mass transit provider. McAteer is the same guy who helped run Easton into the ground as Shadow Mayor under Phil Mitman. He has continued to exert influence under Mayor Sal Panto as the Chair of Easton's Redevelopment Authority. Glued at the hip to Jersey developer Mark Mulligan, he helped orchestrate a reduction in the property assessment of the Wolf Building, which Mulligan was buying from the County, and then voted by proxy for the reduction because he just happens to be a member of the Revenue Appeals Board.  Mulligan was also a board member at RenewLV, and took then Mayor John Brown by the hand to introduce him to Lehigh Valley Partnership types like J.B. Reilly. At the end of last year, he was sitting on nine different boards.  

McAteer is a part of the urban growth regime in which developers like Mark Mulligan or J.B. Reilly, and politicians like Sal Panto or Ed Pawlowski, scratch each others' backs.

The last place someone like McAteer belongs is on a board that tries to provide effective bus service for people unable to afford a car or who choose, as a matter of principle, not to drive.

I opposed this nomination, not on my blog, but in person. I figured I might as well make an ass out of myself there, too. and spoke against it at the February 19 Personnel Committee. I am very leery of people who manage to sit on several "nonprofit" boards and end up somehow enriching themselves, as we saw at the Steel Museum and, to a lesser extent, at Illick's Mill.

"It has to stop being a musical chair arrangement," I brayed. "I don't think you'll see Mr. McAteer hopping on a LANTA bus anytime soon. ... Here's an idea. Put somebody on who actually uses mass transit."

Brown defended the appointment and McAteer's "strategic outlook," whatever that means.

McAteer was confirmed unanimously the next night, which shows how influential I am.

But guess what? McAteer is ill, which is unfortunate for him and his family. I oppose his involvement in government, but do wish him a speedy recovery. He has apparently stepped down from LANTA to concentrate on his health. Brown has proposed replacing him with Kim Schaffer, a former County employee who actually did take the bus every day and is now Executive Director of Community Bike Works.

Brown has put someone on a mass transit board who actually uses it.

Maybe I should become a consultant.

LANTA Increases Its Mass Transit Service

LANTA driver Rich Gubish blocked hit-and-run driver

Bethlehem Township's very own Tim Brady, LANTA's Board Chair, was at Northampton County Council on Thursday night with a status report for the region's mass transit provider. About a year ago, LANTA approved a new service restructure.

*  There's been an 8% increase in service.

*  A new Allentown bus maintenance garage is being built. It's funded by a $10.4 million federal grant and will be completed by the Summer of next year.

* The Easton Intermodal is moving forward. Plans are to break ground next Summer. Mayor Sal Panto, who was present, stated that the City will hire a "well known developer in the Lehigh Valley," but will not name this developer until the contract is signed. This complex will include a High School Hall of Fame.

*  Twenty new para-transit vans are in service.

*  An order has been placed for 10 heavy-duty hybrid buses, in addition to 5 of them currently in operation. in 2013, another 7-8 hybrids will be ordered. The average life span of a bus, incidentally, is 12 years. The money for this comes from a federal grant. LANTA will be looking to convert to natural gas, and is going to conduct a feasibility study.

*  On 9/10, there will be some new enhancements in evening service along Union Boulevard and from South Bethlehem to Lehigh Valley Mall. That will be another 3% increase in service.

*  Musikfest is always a challenge to LANTA, but Exec Director Armando Greco considers this year's experience a success. "We measure our success by how many windows are broken. This year, there were no windows broken, so we had a great year!"

*  LANTA locked into a fuel plan earlier this year that now is 30-40 cents below the market price for fuel. "We got lucky," Greco modestly stated.

Should We Fund $100,000 Per Year Bus Drivers?

LANTA's CFO, Melissa Gemelli, took a beating at yesterday's County Council budget hearing. The LV's public transit system is asking Northampton County to fund $407,000 of its $24 million budget next year. In fact the County money is leveraged to get more money out of the state and federal governments. But questions about the bus company's budget are bothering Council President John Cusick and member Ron Angle.

Cusick was concerned that the budget shows that 85-95% of the wages paid to LANTA employees are in the form of fringe benefits. When Gemelli claimed the real figure is closer to 50%, Angle disputed her assertion.

Cusick was also troubled that nearly $750,000 has been set aside for undefined service extensions. Gemelli conceded she does not know where these extensions of service will be located or their actual cost, which led Cusick to deride the amount as a "placeholder." He indicated that, at least at this juncture, he opposes "appropriating a pot for someone to dive into and get out as much as they can."

Angle was bothered that $12 million is set aside to pay the wages of approximately 125 bus drivers. That is the equivalent of roughly $100,000 per year for each bus driver.

"We're going to give a 10% tax increase so you can pay a regular operator just shy of $100,000 per year?" he asked. "How do we tell the guy who pays the tax bill that we're supporting this when he has no fringe benefits? You people in the public sector have to understand how people in the private sector are living."

"Are you unionized?"

"Yes."

"There you go."

According to Salary.com, the national average compensation to a bus driver, including salary and fringes, is $35,636.

LANTA Mourns 13 Year-Old Easton Boy Fatally Struck By Bus

At LANTA's web page, a small candle flickers for Robert Mitchell, the 13 year-old boy who lost his life yesterday when his out-of-control bike slammed into the front right corner of a LANTA bus traveling along Easton's Northampton Street.

LANTA's Board Chairman, Fred Williams, and Executive Director Armando V. Greco were at last night's Northampton County Council meeting to present a new transportation plan. But before doing so, Chairman Fred Williams said this:

"Our thoughts and our prayers go out for this young boy, his parents and his family, and also the driver who was involved in this tragic event. It's a difficult time for all the people that are involved. But on behalf of the board of directors, the drivers, the staff of LANTA, we all mourn the loss of this young man and his tragic event."

Norco Council Appoints Zorro to LANTA

Last month, Northampton County Council derailed alternative transportation advocate Steve Schmitt's appointment to LANTA's board. They disregarded pleas from LANTA board member Paul Marin, community activist Dennis Lieb and Schmitt himself. But last night, all eight council members unanimously approved Lázaro Fuentes (with an á, damn it!).

I call him LáZorro, but he's really a venture capitalist who helped make the Lehigh Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce a vibrant business voice. One of his latest projects is HipChicas.com, a virtual community with a focus on socially conscious, young Latinas, and an "eco-friendly" stance. He is also one of citizen-soldiers who has been honored with the Army Commendation Medal for his heroism and meritorious service during rescue efforts on 9/11.

When LANTA and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski ignored minority businesses devastated by routing changes along Hamilton Street, LáZorro is one of the civic leaders who peppered Pawlowski for a solution. He has asked The Morning Call to stop the bigotry and hate on its reader forums. He was outraged by the way Allentown police responded to the racial assualt of Kari Holmes.

LANTA is lucky to have this guy, and so are we.

Dennis Lieb: LANTA Despises Anyone Low Enough to Ride the Bus

On Thursday night, Northampton County Council rejected abrasive alternative transportation advocate Steve Schmitt as a LANTA board member. My rendition attracted many interesting comments, including a few posted ny West Ward activist Dennis Lieb.

In addition to lobbying for Steve, as he did during the Council meeting, Dennis makes some interesting abservations about LANTA. He claims that Southmont Shopping Center is designed to keep buses away. Second, LANTA is adding bus service to the Sands Casino while simultaneously cutting back service to Easton south side seniors at Shiloh Manor.

Stoffa's pro-rail, pedestrian and bicycle advocacy choice was Steve Schmitt. The guy he would have replaced on the board [Tim Brady] was a member of the Bethlehem Township Commission. In any event, [Tim Brady] worked closely with PennDOT in the design of the Southmont Shopping Center - the one at Rt 33 and Freemansburg Avenue. It was deliberately designed to keep LANTA buses off the property. People must now load and unload out on Freemansburg Avenue in the snow of winter, mud of spring and fall and blinding heat of summer and walk the quarter mile into the place, dodging maniac drivers, because the suburban mall owners don't want bus riff-raff encouraged to use the facility. This is the same guy that county council wants appointed to LANTA because of his "vast construction background"?
Last LANTA board meeting it was discussed that Shiloh Manor; a Southside Easton senior community would have its service cut from four to two trips a day. If you know the area it is isolated from most of town, steeply sloped and borders Canal Street...a long way from services for anyone less than fully-abled. At the same time, LANTA is adding two new buses and two additional drivers to service the Sands Casino so that middle class people can be shuttled in and piss away their kids’ college funds at the slot machines. Steve Schmitt alerted me to this situation because LANTA likes to hold its meetings at the headquarters in Allentown at noon during work days. I couldn’t make it either. Who knows what happened.

Point is that transparency, public input and rail advocacy are anathema to the LANTA board. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were actually trying to run the company out of business on purpose. Sort of like GM, Firestone and Standard Oil did with the trolleys in the thirties and forties. There is probably an angle under which that scenario could be plausibly put forth but I don’t have time to write it.

Steve Schmitt got bushwhacked last night. It may be that the Joe Long/Dem. machine hacks like McHale want to make a statement to the county exec, but more likely it is her despising of anyone low enough to ride the bus that drives her voting against Steve...an advocate for the rider. She has been asked many times, in her role as LANTA board member to participate in Try Transit Day and has refused. She won’t even pose for a picture in front of the bus. Ask her why that is. LANTA takes bus ads from JD Byrider - the loan sharks masquerading as car dealers - ads that actually insinuate that losers ride the bus and buying a car from them at usery interest rates will get you off of it. Why would LANTA take an ad that discourages transit use? Ask her about that.

Last night’s vote was a combination of two things: First, the anti-rail Republicans on council do not want a pro-rail advocate on the board. They want to protect the old boy network of highway expansionists, mega-warehouse builders, car dealers and PennDOT bureaucrats that want to preserve a dying way of life...as James Howard Kunstler puts it, the American automobile slum. Second, people like McHale hate anyone who tries to preserve an open dialogue between the public that LANTA serves and the organizational structure that tries to exclude them at every turn.

Schmitt Unfit for LANTA

They threw him under the bus!

By a 6 to 3 vote, Northampton County Council last night derailed alternative transportation advocate Steve Schmitt's appointment to LANTA's board. They did so despite pleas from LANTA board member Paul Marin, community activist Dennis Lieb and Schmitt himself.

Board member Fred Williams, in a very rare appearance, had several objections. He noted that Schmitt's Coalition for Alternative Transportation actually competes against LANTA for limited grant funds. "We are in direct competition with the Coalition for Alternative Transportation.(CAT)" He also claimed that Schmitt tried to enlist new members for CAT during transit meetings. Schmitt denies both accusations.

Schmitt was nominated to replace Tim Brady, a former Bethlehem Township Commissioner who "was in charge of the facilities and construction at Northampton County Community College for many years." Williams believes Brady would be more useful to LANTA during an upcoming maintenance expansion.

Ironically, passenger rail foe Ron Angle was passenger rail advocate Schmitt's biggest supporter. "The board should have a wide range of people who don't always think the same. Nobody has said he is anti-LANTA."

Reluctantly given a second opportunity to speak, Schmitt said "[t]he idea that I'm doing anything but trying to promote LANTA and trying to make LANTA better for the people that ride the bus, that's all I'm trying to do."

Lamont McClure noted Williams' extensive background as a 25 year LANTA board member and retired chief financial officer for the Diocese of Allentown, where he managed finances for the Diocese, 153 parishes, 58 elementary schools and 9 high schools.

McClure: "I didn't hear you say his service on the board compromised LANTA."

Williams: "I believe he did and I believe he compromised LANTA. I served as Director of the Personnel Committee and during sensitive negotiations, and he was privy to that executive session, and I was informed by a driver of what Mr. Schmitt had told him, and told the driver exactly what had happened during our executive session in a very sensitive negotiation and I went to Ann McHale immediately ... ."

McClure: "What was the negotiation about?"

Williams: "Our labor contracts."

Peg Ferraro: "Have you ever spoken out in your 25 years, have you ever spoken out against an appointment?"

Williams: "Never. I have never spoken out and I weighed this very heavily. I take it to heart. Believe me, I worked for the Church, the Catholic Church, and I take this very seriously."

Ferraro: "We have two people, the one who is serving and the one who is the nominee. I think there's two entirely different skill sets being brought here to the table. I think it's important that we look closely at the skill sets in light of what's coming down the road for LANTA."

Angle: "Under that scenario, there's no room for someone who thinks a little differently. there's no room for someone who doesn't have a certain level of skills. I don't think that's what America is about. Nobody has yet showed me where this man has done anything to undermine or destroy LANTA. He is a cheerleader for LANTA, the best I can see here. The Mayor of Bethlehem sent a letter over. That's a pretty high ranking official."

J. Michael Dowd: "I have never seen so many phone calls and so many comments about anyone appointed to an authority, a commission or anything else. I've received phone calls on a virtual daily basis and it's kind of interesting because there's people on both sides for whom I have an enormous amount of respect. I would ask the County Executive what he saw in Mr. Schmitt that led him to not reappoint someone who has expertise in construction and so on and to appoint Mr. Schmitt. "

Stoffa: "This was a tough call for me. But I spent some time with Mr. Schmitt because last time I did not reappoint him under certain circumstances. But the more time I spend with him, he's a different thinker. To me, LANTA is not just a bus company, it's a transit company, and it needs to think differently about what it does. I think he brings that to the forefront. When I saw buses go by with bike racks on, I understand he was the one responsible for that. I think any organization needs new, different thinking, and that's why I nominated him."

McClure: "You did not reappoint him because of certain circumstances. What were those circumstances?"

Stoffa: "Well, they were what I had heard about some bus routes in Allentown. When I sat down with Steve a number of times for a couple of hours, the man is a wealth of knowledge about different things. And that to me pales under what he offers. Nobody's perfect in what they do and I don't even know if what they said about him was accurate."

It was accurate. In the Fall of 2007, Schmitt did sneer at mostly minority merchants, like the House of Chen, along Allentown's Hamilton Street when bus routing changes caused a big decrease in foot traffic. "They wanted something to complain about, basically. ... I find it hard to believe. ... I'd like to see the books." He also ignored several emails from me about what was happening. Several of these businesses are now gone. His smug dismissal of the plight of hard-working people is cause for concern in any public official. Even those who like to wear tights.

In response to a question from Council member Joe Capozzolo, Schmitt denied ever interfering with bus drivers. "I don't think that's fair. That's sorta' like beating up your janitor."

When they voted, only Angle, Capozzolo and Dowd supported Schmitt's appointment.

Did Council make the right call? I honestly don't know. I do not think their rejection was intended as a snub to Stoffa, and I don't think some council members made up their mind until they heard from everyone. Schmitt is nearly as obnoxious as me, but is also the region's most dedicated and passionate alternative transportation advocate. I suspect their concern goes way beyond Schmitt's people skills. I'm unable to avoid the impression that there's more to this story, but no one is willing to say so publicly.

Will Controversial Cyclist Get LANTA Appointment?

As a LANTA board member, Steve Schmitt smugly dismissed the plight of the mostly minority-owned businesses along Allentown's Hamilton Street. Bus routing changes resulted in a decrease in foot traffic, hurting their bottom line. "They wanted something to complain about, basically. ... I find it hard to believe. ... I'd like to see the books." Several of these businesses are now gone. When Schmitt's term as board member expired, so was he. Northampton County Executive John Stoffa replaced Schmitt over a year ago with Cordelia Miller, who adds some much needed diversity at LANTA.

But Stoffa has had a change of heart. Thanks to Steve Schmitt and his Coalition for Alternative Transportation, our buses come equipped with bike racks. He is also an anti-car advocate who actually takes a bus or bicycle everywhere. He has refused to drive a car for many years. For whatever reason, Stoffa has nominated Schmitt to a LANTA board vacancy.

But this is one controversial cyclist. LANTA Chairman Fred A. Williams actually visited a County Council Personell Comittee meeting to claim this bike rack lover is "divisive." Ann McHale, also a board member, read portions of my previous blogs about Schmitt. But LANTA Treasurer Paul Marin came to another Council meeting, with Schmitt, to sing his praises.

According to Easton blogger Noel Jones, there's now an "ACTION ALERT" for Thursday night's council meeting to make sure that nomination is finally approved. Steve apparently supports "rails and trollies."

"WE MUST COME OUT IN NUMBERS TO ENSURE HE IS APPOINTED!!!

"If you want to see the future of LANTA include rail or trolleys-- Please come out and support one of the most progressive transportation advocates in the State!

"Steve Schmitt needs our voices to be heard by Northampton County Council, that his appointment should not be blocked because certain Board members are fearful of change."

Ozone Action Day on Monday

An ozone action day is forecasted this Monday. Because the air will be unhealthy, the following actions are recommended:

* Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature.
* Choose a cleaner commute -- share a ride to work or use public transportation. Bicycle or walk to errands when possible.
* Defer use of gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment.
* Refuel cars and trucks after dusk.
* Combine errands and reduce trips.
* Limit engine idling.
* Use household, workshop, and garden chemicals in ways that keep evaporation to a minimum, or try to delay using them when poor air quality is forecast.

The bus is FREE on ozone action days, and you can check schedules here.

Try Transit Day

Try Transit Day is the last Friday of every month. With fuel prices now creeping over that magical $4 amount, many more of us will be doing just that.

Northampton County To Diversify LANTA Board

Cordelia Miller , a twenty year veteran of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, was today unanimously recommended by Northampton County's personnel commmittee as a new member of LANTA's board of directors. Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, who has appointed Miller, explains her presence adds a "little more diversity."

When I appeared before that transportation authority last November, the only color I saw was in the peanut gallery. Its large, twelve-member board, appears to be entirely white, and only three are women. Of these three, only Northampton County Council member Ann McHale may actually cast a vote. The other women must make the coffee. This board has no resemblance to Lehigh Valley demographics, where woman actually outnumber men and we have just a tad more diversity.

If confirmed, Miller will replace Steve Schmitt, Director of the Coalition for Alternative Transportation. When Allentown's mostly minority-owned Hamilton Street merchants complained that bus routing changes were damaging business - two are now kaput - Schmitt displayed little sympathy and actually taunted them.

"They wanted something to complain about, basically," was his insensitive reaction to a petition signed by thirty-eight merchants and 1,800 bus passengers complaining about the routing changes. He failed to contact a single merchant. My own emails to him were ignored. When Hamilton Street business owners finally appeared at a LANTA board meeting en masse in November, Schmitt waited until they had all left before letting loose with another little snark behind their backs. "I find it hard to believe. ... I'd like to see the books."

Now, Steve can open an accounting business on Hamilton Street and finally get a look at those books. But with Hamilton Perk gone and Mish Mash on its way out, he might soon ask LANTA to change its bus routes, too.

Mike Molovinsky Wary About LANTA Improvements

After months of ignoring Allentown's suffering Hamilton Street merchants, mass transit provider LANTA finally responded on November 16, with a circulator bus that runs from its new transportation station and along Hamilton Street. Earlier this week, it also announced plans for additional stops on 7th & 8th Streets, close to their intersection with Hamilton Street. I don't know whether this will reunite Hamilton Street merchants with their customer base, but it certainly can't hurt.

Lanta is now being criticized for pandering to the "scumbag lobby." Some don't like seeing "minority areas" or what they call Hooker Central. But it's OK to run a Silverline Express, every half hour, to Victoria's Secret at the LV Mall.

I'm part of that scumbag lobby. State Senator Pat Browne, whose office is located among these mostly minority merchants, has advocated for them, too. But the chief scumbag, by far, is Michael Molovinsky. He believes the only answer that works is the restoration of a transfer station. Here's what he has to say.

You may have read my recent post concerning Lanta on Molovinsky on Allentown. Unless Lanta includes new stops to Allentown's east side, the predicament merchants face will have little improvement. Today a Lanta representative told me this latest change is the extent of their concessions to the merchants. They will not consider restoring even one transfer stop back near Hamilton Street or restoring stops going to Hanover Ave.

This is ironic. Lanta's new Transfer Station was created to help finance a new parking deck for the parking authority. But that authority was created to facilitate shopping in Allentown.

Lanta, Allentown Parking Authority and the City of Allentown are more interested in their agenda to "Move Allentown Forward" and the success of the new parking deck, than they are in the success of this "set of merchants." Unless Lanta is willing to make the necessary concessions to insure that the merchants survive, the Allentown Transfer Station must close. I ask all people from all communities who are fed up to again join me at the Lanta Board Meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 12 noon, 1060 Lehigh St. Allentown.

Mike must know that no one will support closing the Allentown Transfer Station. He'll lose a few scumbags if he insists on that approach. As for me, I'm delighted LANTA has responded at all. It's making a genuine effort to help downtown shop owners. Mike may be right about a transfer station, but it's a tad premature to condemn routing changes before they even occur.

I'll be talking to Hamilton Street merchants this weekend. They know.

Dennis Lieb: Is Easton's Riverwalk Floating Away?

Dennis Lieb attended Tuesday night's Easton Parking Authority (EPA) meeting, and has the only first-hand account: "At tonight's parking authority meeting, representatives of Rizzetto Construction and Tim Haas (garage architect) informed the EPA that project cost is now $29 million!!!

"This is about double the original estimate of 2005, and contingencies (like a sinkhole-prone site) could drive it up even more. They also told EPA that very few local firms can now get bonding for projects over $20 million (something they avoided saying at the January historic review public meeting), that concrete has increased 400% in a year, that steel framing and pilings, rebar, concrete and architectural precast panels are being re-priced on a week-to-week basis and the soonest they can get deliveries is at least 12 months out. I knew all this would happen two years ago when the same people told the LANTA board virtually the same thing at a meeting in Mayor Mitman's conference room, but no one listened to me.

"After this delightful news, EPA's solicitor read a letter received today from Concord Finance - the group providing the bridge loan of $5 million to get this thing started while additional revenue is sought. Concord has concluded that the rising funding gap (now at least $15 million) means that EPA will not be able to cover debt service for the loan out of projected parking revenue as they had previously promised. Concord will not be providing financing.

"After hearing all of this, EPA voted unanimously to once again reject all bids for the project.

"Strike two.

"They then went into closed executive session for 45 minutes to discuss the lawsuit filed by Riverkeeper Network. I'm sure they were trying to come up with a response to the November 30th hearing on the injunction to stop the project. (The public will receive a press release possibly tomorrow informing them that a federal judge has set a hearing date of 11/30/07 to address the motion by Riverkeeper Network for an injunction. The judge has not addressed any of the EPA's three motions for a dismissal.)

"EPA is in a very bad position, having spent lots of money to get nowhere. They tried to pass the buck to Rizzetto for not informing them sooner of the cost overruns but Rizzetto's honchos would have none of it and got pretty feisty, challenging Ferrone directly, telling him that they have been advising EPA since at least March that the project was well over the $23 million mark. They were not going to be EPA's scapegoat and things got pretty testy.

"So, right now we have no garage project in the form that Arcadia desires to have and we will have to see what EPA has up it's sleeve next. They didn't cancel the project...just rejected the bids. Whats next? Who knows, but we are going to court and will see what happens then.

"PS...No press showed up for this meeting. We called all the papers and Ed Seiger of the E-T eventually showed up to take some notes and interrogate the players after the meeting."

Ed Sieger's report, published in The Express Times, is located here. The Morning Call's Jarrett Renshaw, Easton's new beat reporter, also has a well-written report.

LANTA & Easton: The Sequel?

When LANTA rerouted buses for its new Allentown terminal, it did so without considering any adverse impact on small merchants who depend on bus traffic. It also ignored their complaints until business owners and bus riders invaded a board meeting last week. Now, it's finally making some changes.

But is it also getting ready to make the same mistake in Easton?

Last week, a reluctant LANTA conducted a public hearing on the environmental impact of Easton's controversial Riverwalk project, where the key to public money is a bus terminal in a flood plain, at the bottom of a fourteen story monster building. Easton's Dennis Lieb is one of the forty or so who attended. He claims nearly everyone who spoke is opposed to the notion of a bus station in a flood plain. Here is Dennis' report.

The bottom line with this project is this: LANTA has a pot of gold amounting to $4 million. It would normally not be available to any entity all at one time because lease payments for a transit facility housed in another building would usually be paid out monthly. Because LANTA has chosen to use their FTA capital improvements grant in the form of a 99 year lease payment in advance, it creates a pool of funds that many entities (Arcadia Development, Easton Parking Authority, etc.) would like to grab. It serves to defer construction costs for non-transit related projects in this so-called "public-private partnership" scam.

As they did in Allentown, LANTA has made a decision to subsidize construction of a parking facility whose need has no basis in reality. As oil becomes more scarce, the requirement to house more cars in our cities will no doubt be replaced by the need to house more people in denser, more pedestrian oriented neighborhoods - hopefully with access to rail service at some point. The bus/car paradigm is dying but our local bureaucratic bodies like LANTA still don't understand that they are supposed to be a transportation authority, not exclusively a bus company. Also, as in Allentown, LANTA has given little consideration to the impact that arbitrary relocation of bus transfer points will have on small, locally owned businesses. The fall-out from this has already created a firestorm of protest along Hamilton Boulevard resulting in 1,800 people petitioning LANTA to "fix" the problem.

This same pattern is now being foisted on Easton, where an even smaller core of local store owners struggle to survive off of the business generated by LANTA and NYC commuter bus riders along the the Third Street/Northampton Street axis. If this Riverwalk project proceeds (which I doubt as it is now clearly millions of dollars short of construction funding within a terrible real estate climate), it will destroy what is left of downtown and plunge the city off the cliff of fiscal solvency.

The Environmental Assessment process for this project is open to anyone for comment. The deadline is November 26th. The EA is available for review on LANTA's website and associated documents are located at the Easton Public Library. If any of you would like to make official comments I can forward the information regarding that process. If any of you would like to sign a form letter in protest of the project, I can forward you that information from the Delaware Riverkeeper website. They are the ones who have filed a federal lawsuit to halt the project. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. You would not only be helping us stop a desperately flawed project but you would be sending a message to LANTA that their continued disregard for the public good will no longer be accepted.

LANTA Finally Responds to Allentown's Hamilton Street Merchants

According to the Express Times, LANTA has finally responded to Allentown's suffering Hamilton Street merchants. The plan is to run a bus from its transportation hub along Hamilton Street over the holidays. It will also assist merchants with a marketing campaign.
Update: LANTA board member Ann McHale has been kind enough to email a news release that details both the need for temporary improvements as well as a long-term solution. Here's what LANTA has to say.

Lehigh Valley, PA – At their regular monthly public Board meeting this past Tuesday, November 13, the Board of Directors of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority was asked by a number of Hamilton Mall merchants and bus riders to make some accommodation for service along the Mall.

Service along Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown was changed on September 4, 2007 with the opening of the Allentown Transportation Center (ATC). Part of the benefits of the ATC is that buses can be routed in a more efficient manner through downtown Allentown with the central focus of transfers being the new center between 6th and 7th Street. One of the outcomes of this change was the reduction of the number of buses traversing Hamilton Street between 9th and 6th Streets. Eliminating the many bus trips from this narrow and congested area was an effort to streamline operations in and out of the central business district.

Mall Merchants and some bus riders stated at the Board meeting that their businesses were negatively affected due to a reduction of bus passenger patronage, and that navigating to the new ATC was causing hardship for some riders.

During the discussion, members of the Board expressed concern that any immediate changes not confuse transit riders, and not negatively impact long-term decisions on the downtown routing patterns and the effectiveness of the Allentown Transportation Center. However, based on a desire to take action, as may be appropriate, to address the concerns raised, LANTA will move forward with the following.

Immediate Action

1) Merchant Marketing Program. LANTA is willing to assist in a marketing / promotional effort of the merchants along Hamilton Street. The Authority is prepared to meet with merchants to discuss such a program.

2) Downtown Circulator / Holiday Season. LANTA will operate a downtown circulator service which will connect the Allentown Transportation Center to Hamilton Street (between 9th & 6th) throughout the holiday season. The circulator would begin service Wednesday, November 21, 2007. It would operate Monday through Saturday (exclusive of holidays) starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. The last day of service will be Saturday, December 29, 2007.
The estimated net cost is $14,000. The cash fare for the circulator will be 50 cents. Passengers with day passes and senior citizens will have free access. Transfers will be accepted. The fares are the same as those for other LANTA circulator services – the Whirly Bird and Rover.

Future Action

A more complete review of downtown operations has begun. This includes a review of the experience during the first months of operation to the new Allentown Transportation Center and the potential for improving stops on North – South cross Streets between 9th and 6th at Hamilton. The intent is to include the results of this review in the next operating schedule board set for implementation in early February 2008. A report will be presented at the December 4, 2007 meeting of the Operations/Metro Committee.

An analysis of the information being presented to LANTA customers relative to the ability to board and alight LANTA Metro services in and about the Allentown Central Business District will be completed as well. Better information will assist the transition to the new center city Metro operations. The results of the circulator service will be evaluated as well.

"We are pleased to be able to offer these actions to help the merchants and riders in downtown Allentown," stated Armand Greco, LANTA Executive Director, "It was clear from the passion expressed by those at the meeting this week, that some effort needed to be made and made quickly. We are happy to assist in the short term with these temporary improvements, as we continue to complete a long-term analysis."

Update #2: Before I posted LANTA's press release, Mike Molovinsky asked me to link to his opinion about the short-term solution. In fairness, I need to point out that Mike was unaware that LANTA is also planning future changes, to be implemented by February 2008.

McHale Comes Through For Struggling Hamilton Street Merchants

Ann McHale should be angry at me. During her reelection bid, I supported her opponent, Tom Dietrich. What's worse, I criticized her imperious style. Yet Ann McHale is the only LANTA board member who responded to an email I sent to each after Tuesday's meeting.

She has some promising news for Allentown's Hamilton Street merchants. "[T]he Business Development/Operations Committee discussed this very matter (I brought the subject up). The overall outcome is to try to work out a plan that addresses the merchants &/or riders concerns. Prior to adjourning, the Board requested the Administration work out a plan and have something to us by this Friday. Hopefully it will be something everyone will be satisfied with. I'll let you know."