Local News

TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL PART 3 OF 3: MORONGO BASIN TRANSIT AUTHORITY WANTS LOCAL CONTROL

The Twentynine Palms City Council covered a wide range of topics in its meeting this week. Dan Stork broke his report into three parts. Today: Possible jeopardy to local control at the Morongo Basin Transit Authority…

Morongo Basin Transit Authority General Manager Joe Meer briefed the Twentynine Palms City Council on an emerging threat to the local autonomy of the agency. Meer said that two months ago, he got wind of a plan by the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) to form an Ad Hoc Committee to study consolidation of ALL San Bernardino County Transit Agencies. Privatization, as well as investigation of “efficiencies,” is also on the table for discussion. There was no Morongo Basin representation on the committee at its inception, although Twentynine Palms Council member and representative to SANBAG Jim Harris was subsequently added to the committee. Meer explained to the City Council that the SANBAG study is driven by expected shortfalls in funding for transit initiatives elsewhere in the County. Meer is concerned about integrating the financially stable and already-efficient MBTA with a larger entity that has had management issues, financial difficulty and is about to embark upon major infrastructure projects such as heavy rail and a bus rapid transit system. The City Council responded by approving a resolution opposing consolidation of the MBTA into a larger agency. Yucca Valley, which participates with Twentynine Palms in the Joint Powers Authority that governs the MBTA, has made a similar move.

Z107.7 News

Z107.7 Joshua Tree News - Staff Reporters


Google Ads:
Z107.7 Joshua Tree News - Staff Reporters

Related Posts

1 of 9,742