20 - K'KNING ^J^HAU)^^>l^^ugu^ Hearing on Dial-A-Ride elicits no public response By BARBARA RICHMOND Castleman said. side the core area meters would be HiaurlirBtpr Herald Reporter He said the two lines can work side used. VERNON — A public hearing by side but the taxi business doesn't "We’re willing to retain the core Thursday night on the proposed sale replace a federally funded program. area as a separate shared ride area of the Rockville Cab Company Inc. to Hockanum Valley has a van service because we understand the basic Dial-A-Ride of Connecticut Inc. of for the elderly and handicapped, needs of peopte who depend on cabs Manchester drew little attention and primarily to transport them to the as their sole means of transpor­ only Mayor Marie Herbst asked hospital or doctor’s appointments. tation,” Castleman explained. u questions and made some comments. He said such programs exist as He said to alternate this • \ The hearing, conducted by a panel separate units in Manchester and dramatically now would pose a finan­ of the Greater Hartford Transit East Hartford and they will in Ver­ cial burden on a certain segment of District, was conducted locally so the non too. society. "In effect, this is the best Evmng Mrralft prospective owners of the cab com­ He said they have had prelifninary compromise we know,” he seid. I Vol, XCIX, No, 271 — Mancheater Conn., Saturday, August 16, 1980_______________ • Since 1881 • 20t pany could explain plans that will in­ discussions with the Department of The company proposes to use a clude a change of fare computation Transportation concerning the fare basic charge of $1.20 within the core from the flat-rate zone fare method rates. He said DOT and the Transit area. There will also be a gasoline Funds for Manchester roads • S i i surcharge which presently is 35 to the metered method using the District have as their general policy, tariff approved on Jan. 18 for all to eliminate zones and put everyone cents. taxicabs operated under the jurisdic­ on meters, except in very rural The special fare system for within tion of'the Transit District. areas. He said their theory is that the core area would be a reasonable Roland Castleman, secretary and this would provide uniformity of saving over the metered rates, assistant treasurer of the treatment and a way to monitor the Castleman said. "It is in our es­ timate a very reasonable approach. Only one project cut Manchester outfit and Roger Talbot, rides. There is a desire to seek un­ ¥ The Rockville Cab Co, hasn’t had a president and treasurer, were pre­ iformity where population demands price increase since May of 1971,” sent at the meeting along with "and we feel Vernon demands this,” Castleman said. Castleman said. The increase before By MARY KITZMANIN Harriet Gardner, present owner of ting responses from town officials town funds Robert Weiss, general manager, said. He said there are discrepancies in that was 1957. Herald Reporter the Rockville Cab Co. could be used for the reported $135,000 reduction. The reconstruction ol the intersection is As an example it was explained Castleman said they plan to buy the way rates are applied in MANCHESTER— State funding for The state fulfilled its obligation in sharing strongly supported by the Chamber of Commerce that someone going from Reed Street tour new Checker cabs which is the Rockville now. "We are asking for a purchasing rights of way for reconstruction of costs for engineering and planning, Ginter said. and the Downtown Coordinating Committee, as in Rockville to Hartmann’s Super­ same type of equipment the firm now metered rate. We aren’t asking for a the Main and Center streets intersection has But the acquisition funds for the Main Street in­ vital to establishing the downtown as an active uses in Manchester and East Hart­ rate increase. The rate we are market on Windsor Avenue would been withdrawn, but three other proposed tersection and Adams Street are in question. pay a fare of about $3.55. There will business center. The Board of Directors recently ford. This will bring the fleet up to 15. seeking is already established. We Manchester projects are not affected. Ginter termed this $135,000 "high " for the reaffirmed its support of the project. The vehicles will be housed in are using it in Manchester and East also be special arrangements for two town’s loss if the state DO’T bonding committee or three people being picked up Clarifying earlier news accounts, which While the acquisition funds for the Intersection Manchester because “It isn’t Hartford,” Castleman said. does not decide to fund acquiring rights of way together and dropped off together. reported state funding for four Manchester reconstruction have been deferred, funding for economically feasible to do anything He sai(i an analysis of the business for the Main Street intersection reconstruction. The taxi service will go from a 12- projects was withdrawn, William Gintw, of the the Adams Street project is still being con­ else,” Castleman said. He ad d ^ that conducted by the Rockville Cab Co. Department of Transportation, said today the The DOT was about to begin acquiring the sidered. should the business expand then they shows that 90 percent of the business hour a day, six days a week operation state bonding commission deferred the expected rights of way for the project, which has had two Ginter said the projects are being re-evaluated will come back to the district to ask comes from within a core area. This to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, aquisition funds for the intersection project. The public hearings in Manchester, when the bonding for priority and he did not know how to house some vehicles elsewhere. includes the section of Rockville Castleman said. intersection reconstruction is strongly opposed committee balked. There has been private Manchester's project would fare He did say it For those traveling more than 10 If the district approves thq, switch bordered Franklin Park East, South by Stuart Carlson, owner of the Odd Fellow speculation among officials pressure was applied was questionable whether Manchester would to a metered system for Rockville Street and the Ellington border. miles the rate would be $1.30 for the to the committee, in the face of strong opposition first quarter of a mile and 20 cents building, which would be demolished by the receive the expected funding then new electronic meters will be Castleman said they are proposing to the project. Postmaster Laurie Fuller, 26, East Bow- years and when she sold the home to Laurie for each additional quarter mile. The project, along with four other buildings. Weiss said he was in the process of writing bought. to have a shared ride system within DOT expected to purchase the buildings which and her husband, the postal service wanted to phone number will be kept the same But state acquisition funds were never applied DOT for an explanation fo the sudden withdrawal doin. Maine, the mother of three small Castleman also allayed fears that that core area which would be needed to be demolished for the intersection's of the acquisition funds for the two projects. for Rockville and Vernon residents for or expected for work on Vernon Street and children, never leaves home when she goes to close the tiny post office, but residents members of the Hockanum Valley divided into three zones that would the renovation of the entire length of downtown. reconstruction, by the end of this year He said he was never notified of the new deci­ work The post office is open four hours a day, mounted a three year effort to have Laurie Community Council have expressed. be fairly equal in terms of miles and and Mrs. Gardner has agreed to stay State acquisition funding was applied for street However, while the acquisition was conducted sion, but called Ginter, after Giles received a on the porch of her family’s home here. become the postmaster and the move was "We have no interest or desire to terms of usgge. on as a consultant for one year and work and replacing the bridge on Adams Street. by DOT, the project could proceed using Town of call. Within the core area no meters the drivers will probably remain on Laurie s mother was the postmaster for 25 successful last month. (UPI photo) supplant or replace the services The acquisition funding for this project is under Manchester funding the state’s share. The "I want a full picture of what's happening," provided by Hockanum Valley,” would be used but for those eolne out­ also. review, and Ginter said, it is questionable project is mainly under the jurisdiction of the Weiss said He also wondered why there was a whether the funding will-be received. town, (Board of Directors.) sudden policy change. Ginter said the confusion over the state funding The four projects are being funded with Urban The four projects. Including the Main Street Post office battle won Upside-down fun for the projects could be attributed both to misin­ Trade-In money The town recently sent $48.0(X) reconstruction, were approved by voters in a 1977 South Windsor viewers formation from his office, and the news inter­ to the state for its share of the project. The town referendum. The projects planning has been WF.ST BOWnOIN. Maine ifP Ii - duly appointed postmaster day," she said. "I grew up in the Alicia Meiritz of 129 Green, Manor Road enjoys a few pretation.