Undergraduate Student Government is taking a possible step toward “getting on the bus” by inviting the three major players in the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority discussion to talk to the student body.
TARTA is a business that runs bus routes throughout the Toledo area.
The student-led group, which is titled “BGSU students for TARTA service” and operates primarily from a Facebook page, states that their goal is to “provide BGSU students more options to travel for pleasure, work and freedom in the LUCAS and WOOD County areas.”
The student group asked USG for an endorsement, which prompted USG President Emily Ancinec to invite all the parties to speak at Monday’s USG meeting.
The meeting will feature 15 minutes each for TARTA, University administrators and the student-led TARTA group to address the assembled about TARTA and the possibility of it coming to the University.
“The bottom line is, we were invited to attend and if we can be of assistance, we will,” Steve Atkinson, director of marketing at TARTA, said. “We’re there to make ourselves available to answer any questions, this is purely reactive to the general interest of all parties involved.”
Atkinson said TARTA general manager James Gee will be attending the meeting along with introducing himself and answering questions.
“We’re going to the meeting to find out from all parties what’s going on,” Atkinson said.
Executive director of business operations at the University, Brad Leigh, will also be attending the meeting.
Leigh said the questions asked will determine what the University plans to say at the meeting.
“The goal is really to try and help clarify things surrounding this topic,” Leigh said.
The University spoke recently with TARTA officials on the topic, Leigh said.
“The intent was to gain a better understanding of TARTA’s position on this initiative,” Leigh said.
The student TARTA group posted a bulletin on their page, urging students to attend the meeting.
“IF YOU WANT TARTA SERVICE TO BGSU, be there. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. LET US VOTE !!!” The Facebook group page stated. “The time of talking is over, the stalling is over.”
Ancinec said she invited the group’s president and vice president to the meeting, but had not heard back from them as of Sunday night.
“I’m going,” said Amanda Milkovich, vice president of the student-led group. “I’ve put my heart and soul into this thing.”
Milkovich said she plans to give the students the opportunity to ask questions and that what she will say and present depends on what’s going on at the meeting.
“I don’t know what USG is going to ask, I don’t know what TARTA is going to say,” Milkovich said. “We’re just trying to get it through for next semester.”
Milkovich and the group she represents have a goal for the meeting.
“I want to have USG be all for it,” Milkovich said. “They’re kind of skeptical right now … all we have to do is persuade them to endorse us.”
USG will use the meeting, not to make a definite decision regarding TARTA or an endorsement, but to find out more information and discuss what will come next, Ancinec said.
“There will be no endorsing at this meeting,” Ancinec said.
What will come next for USG concerning TARTA will depend on a few things, Ancinec said.
“It will be one of those things where we decide depending on how the senate is feeling,” Ancinec said.
The meeting will help USG to determine whether they have enough information to move forward, Ancinec said, but the senate may decide to wait to make a decision or investigate further after hearing each point of view at the meeting.
“If we’re asked to help with this and if we’re able to do it under our FTA regulations and if it’s funded, we’ll provide that service,” Atkinson said. “That’s why we’re going to the meeting, to find out from all parties what’s going on.”
The meeting is open to everyone and will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Union Multipurpose room.