To the editor:

On April 11, the Lawrence Public Transit Advisory Committee held an open hearing to take public comment on an eight-plank proposal to revise the T Lift paratransit program and fixed route and paratransit fare schedule. This hearing launched a 30-day notice and comment period which ends at close of business on May 11.

Because these proposed policy changes would launch radical changes in the direction of the community transit service, especially the paratransit side, I urge everyone to study the proposals carefully and present your comment to transit administrator Cliff Galante.

Some of the more disturbing proposals include requiring paratransit (T Lift) consumers to reapply for eligibility even if they have permanent disabilities, authorizing agency staff, mainly reservationists, to refuse rides to a person whom they believe to be able to use the regular bus on the day the consumer wants the ride and requiring children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult on all bus rides. As for increasing bus fares, a phase-in fare schedule will eventually result in all bus fares being double their current rates by Jan. 1, 2008.

Overall, the thrust is moving toward protecting the bottom line and away from our time-tested civic-minded model of community transit services. More information can be found at http://www.lawrencetransit.org.

Robert Tabor,

Lawrence