Rocky Mountain News Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1983, Denver, Colo.

New RTD board Oks lifts for 90 buses

By Burt Hubbard
News Staff

The news Regional Transportation District board, to the applause and cheers of wheelchair-bound onlookers, voted Monday night to spend $1.3 million to equip almost 90 new buses with lifts for the handicapped.

The decision, by a 13-1 voted, reversed a yearlong policy against the lifts by the old board. It was the newly seated board’s first official decision and was made despite a recommendation by the agency executive director L.A. Kimball not to buy the equipment.

“It’s not a question of money,” said RTD board member Byron Johnson. “It’s a question of federal, state and local government recognizing that the handicapped person has been ignored.”

About 30 disabled people at the meeting cheered and applauded the decision after the roll was called.

Only RTD board member Ann Walton voted against the lifts. The 15th member, Mary Duty, was in the hospital.

Kimball who opposed buying the lifts, said the decision would mean delivery of the buses will be delayed up to four months. The buses had been scheduled to begin arriving in August.

The lifts will cost $1.3 million with federal funds paying 80 percent.

In other action, Kimball reported that through 1983, the district has spent more than $9.3 million studying light rail and acquiring land for rights-of-way. In addition, six staff members will spend all year working on light-rail activities, he said.

The old RTD board has proposed a 77-mile system that would cost at least $5.8 billion by the time it would be finished in 2002. But several members of the new board have said they want to consider alternatives to light rail.

Boxed Text:
New RTD board elects chief

Retired banker William Johnson on Monday night narrowly was elected chairman of the new Regional Transportation District board after more than two hours of voting and 10 ballots.

Johnson, board member from Jefferson County, won by an 8-6 vote over former state Rep. Jack McCroskey, board member from Central Denver.

The decision came after three other candidates dropped out of the balloting.

Other candidates who withdrew during the balloting were Bill Rourke, Don Feland and Ann Walton.

Created on

Thursday 11 July 2013

Posted on

Saturday 4 June 2016

Tags

bus purchase, buses with lifts, cost, Denver RTD, Intercity/Over the Road Bus, LA Kimball, Washington ADAPT, weather, wheelchair bound

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