City council passes new criteria for RTA bus stops

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN) - The Beavercreek City Council did vote about new bus stops Monday night, but the issue is far from over.

The council voted 5-2 in favor of proposed upgrades the RTA is required to follow inorder to build a new bus stop within city limits.

"We simply made adjustments and added a few things to the 2001 ordinance outlining RTA bus stop requirements," said David Beach, who is the Public Administrative Services Director for the city of Beavercreek.  "We are requiring surveillance cameras at bus stops in areas where there is heavy traffic.  We have also adjusted the spacing of transit stops." 

Beach said the residential requirement will go from one mile to one-half mile apart.  Bus stops in commercial areas are required to now be one-quarter mile apart rather than one-half mile apart.

The majority of the board members agreed the upgraded requirements are prudent for Beavercreek to maintain its standards as a community, economic development and public safety.

RTA Director Mark Donaghy has been involved in the dispute since the council turned down a request for three new bus stops near the mall at Fairfield Commons in March 2011. 

"I believe the criteria is an effort to keep people out," said Donaghy.  " I think had the city of  Beavercreek not wished to see transit in its city then it should have never developed the way it has.  This is a natural extension to the greater Dayton community.  There are jobs in Beavercreek and people want to get to those jobs.  All we want to do is provide that access."

Donaghy said he is now waiting on a response to a federal complaint Leaders of Equality and Action (LEAD) filed against the council which alleges they discriminated against minorities in the March 2011 vote.

The ordinance will go into effect in 30 days.

To read Ordinance No. 12-13 in its entirety, visit the city of Beavercreeks' website at www.ci.beavercreek.oh.us/ or use the link below.

http://ci.beavercreek.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/public-transit-stops-criteria-062512.pdf