By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFIELD - A week after West Chester officials made a similar move, Fairfield City Council unanimously voted Monday to support its Park-n-Ride service through the first part of next year.

The city will dip into its general fund to pay Metro transit system $23,625 to keep a bus running to downtown Cincinnati from Tri-County Assembly of God Church off Ohio 4 from January through March.

But if neighboring communities whose residents also take the bus, such as Forest Park, Hamilton and Springdale, don't put up some money, too, next year, the service could die, Fairfield officials cautioned Monday.

The city also plans to ask federal authorities for help or perhaps raise the $1.75 per trip rate riders pay.

"We are not going to let down those riders who depend on that," Councilwoman Jill Kinder said. "One of the things that attracted them to living in Fairfield is transportation to downtown jobs. But it is very expensive for us to fund it on our own."

The Park-n-Ride routes are at risk because Butler County's bus service is going out of business at year's end. County voters rejected a sales tax increase last month to keep it going..

Last week in West Chester, more than 70 riders descended on the township hall to urge trustees to support their Park-n-Ride route from the Meijer parking lot off Tylersville Road to downtown. At West Chester's Dec. 17 meeting, trustees are expected to scrape about the same amount of money out of their general fund as Fairfield did.

But some residents complained Monday that since voters didn't support the sales tax increase for the service, which also transported needy residents to and from work from their homes, municipalities shouldn't then use taxpayers' money to keep the Park-n-Ride running.

"My question to you is, what does it mean to vote? resident Mary Hammeran asked council. "Why can't you listen to voters?"

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.