TAKING ACTION – The Weirton Transit Corp. Board of Trustees, during a meeting Wednesday, voting to begin the process of dissolving the private, non-profit organization, with a plan for the public transit services to be taken over by the city of Weirton. -- Craig Howell
WEIRTON — While public transit buses are set to continue rolling in the City of Weirton, it may not be under the auspices of the Weirton Transit Corp. for much longer.
As part of its regular meeting Wednesday, members of the WTC Board of Trustees voted to begin the process of dissolving the private non-profit organization which has overseen the community’s bus service since 1989, with the goal of eventually transitioning it to run under the auspices of the City of Weirton.
The move, which was approved by votes in favor by board Chair Flora Perrone, Vice Chair Frank Bohach and member Jim Carey, with no votes against, and members Mark Cummings, Brian Maley and Debbie Larch refraining from the vote, follows a recommended path offered by officials from the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities.
“This is their recommendation to me,” Perrone, who also is a member of Weirton Council, explained. “I am bringing it to the board.”
Perrone, along with City Manager Mike Adams and City Attorney Vince Gurrera were called to a meeting last week with state transit officials, offering technical and financial assistance in planning the transition, including the work of a consultant to assess all of Weirton Transit’s assets, financials, liabilities and contracts. Weirton Council then would be requested to consider legislation to take over the operations.
“The first step is to resolve to dissolve,” Adams explained, noting the Weirton Transit buses will continue to operate and the board will continue to meet during the process. “It’s not something that happens overnight.”
Adams added he understands the “vital service” provided by Weirton Transit for the people of the community.
While not committing to any action, Ward 2 Councilman Chris Jonczak and Ward 4 Councilman George Ash were in attendance Wednesday, both saying they, too, recognize the importance of the public transit service.
Maley, who had noted his decision not to cast a vote was out of a feeling of needing to process the proposal, also admitted the move would make sense, noting city council provides funding for its operations each year, along with in-kind services such as office space, utilities, mechanical work and more.
“Transit and the city have been joined at the hip since the beginning,” Maley said, noting it also would provide more oversight of the transit service’s financials, which has been a recent issue as a result of WTC owing approximately $125,000 in unpaid taxes, fees and penalties to the IRS, an issue originally discovered by board members in 2021 and one which the board has been working for more than a year to clean up.
Transit Manager Phil Gilcrest noted WTC had been unable to access much of its grant funding while under a lien from the IRS over the owed payments.
While some on the board expressed concerns of having no guarantees, Mark Henne, a board representative from the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, explained this is realistically the only option remaining to keep the transit service viable in the long-run.
“What do we have as an alternative?” Henne asked.
Gilcrest admitted, by keeping the reduced level of services implemented for the current month so operations can continue through the end of the fiscal year, WTC could probably continue another 10 or 11 months based on current budgeting. Going back to previous service levels would have them operational for five to six months, he said.
Gurrera acknowledged the work of the current board is keeping public transit going in Weirton.
“Every person in this room is not the cause of all of this,” he said.
The City of Weirton already has stepped up its assistance for the transit service this year. In addition to its usual $75,000 budget contribution, city council previously authorized up to $75,000 to help pay off Weirton Transit’s IRS debt, and, in May, authorized up to $50,000 to help keep them operational through the month of June.
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