Hey Locals,

It's a critical week for public transportation with not one, but two major issues coming before City Council on Oct. 8. First, Fort Wayne's primary bus service Citilink is seeking a special tax levy to avoid "deep" service cuts. Plus, City Council keeps delaying funding for the Urban Trail despite data and public input. We delve into why.

We also have details on a vintage shop moving to The Landing and a new chef at BakerStreet Steakhouse competing on "Hell's Kitchen."

Don't miss our new deal with Swizzle Market, a cafe serving coffee drinks and non-alcoholic beer, wine, spirits and cocktails at Jefferson Pointe.

In October: all paid subscribers to The Local get a buy one, get one free deal on all fall coffee beverages at Swizzle Market, or half-off one non-alcoholic cocktail. Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get those drinks!

Now, let's get started!

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

It's a critical week for public transportation in Fort Wayne.

Citilink is seeking a special tax levy to avoid "deep" service cuts, and City Council keeps delaying the Urban Trail despite data and public support.

What's happening with Citilink?

Fort Wayne's primary bus service, Citilink, is facing a $2.5 million operating deficit in its $21 million budget for 2025. As a result, CEO and General Manager John Metzinger says its seeking a special tax levy from City Council next week to avoid "deep" service cuts – about 14% – "beyond the already meager levels of public transportation available in Fort Wayne after state funding went flat over a decade ago." (We reported on Citilink's impending fiscal cliff last year.)

• How much is the special tax levy? Taxpayers could expect to pay about $3.90 annually for a house with $100,000 in assessed value, or $11.90 annually for a house at $200,000 valuation. It would affect properties in Citilink’s taxing district that are not yet above the tax cap.
• Why the special tax levy? Recently, Citilink hosted a public input meeting about increasing fares in 2025 by 20%, but this only covers about one-fourth of its deficit. Beyond this, Metzinger says a special tax levy is the "only option" Citilink’s Board has to resolve the budget shortfall, without direct city or county contribution. If City Council doesn't approve the levy, it will result in deep service cuts at a time when the bus service is "growing substantially." Metzinger says: "Cutting service will swell the vicious cycle of decline that started a decade ago: service cuts bring ridership losses and less formula funding, resulting in additional cuts, declining ridership, less funding, further cuts, and so on. It’s a crucial moment."
• You might have seen: Citilink was recently featured in the Indiana Capital Chronicle for being “delinquent” on its pension plans, missing its minimum for the last five years. Metzinger says the transit agency has had "total turnover" in recent years and is in the midst of union negotiations to resolve this matter. He expects it to have "relatively minor effect" on Citilink’s budget and special levy.
• What's next? Citilink will go before City Council for its budget review on Oct. 8, at 5:30 p.m., offering a public hearing and an opportunity for citizens to speak and share stories. Metzinger believes it will be critical for citizens who care about public transportation to share stories about Citilink's value with council members.

Learn more in our full Q&A.

What's happening with the Urban Trail?

Despite data and overwhelming business and community support, City Council voted to delay funding for the Urban Trail – again.

• You might remember: The City's Community Development division is seeking $239,000 in ARPA funds for a design and engineering contract for the next phase of the Urban Trail along Washington and Broadway, connecting to Electric Works. (APRA funds must be earmarked by the end of this year, or they are lost.) Two weeks ago, council delayed funding due to concerns about removing one lane of traffic on Washington (a now four-lane highway) and restructuring it similar to West Jefferson Boulevard for improved safety and bikeability. Now, two weeks later, council has delayed funding again.
• Why reduce traffic lanes? Traffic Engineer Phil LaBrash says the proposed "road diet" on Washington represents a philosophical shift away from designing roadways exclusively to handle peak hour traffic, which encourages drivers to speed and actually creates more traffic challenges than it solves. "This older type of engineering and thinking results in roads that are over-designed and have more capacity than is required to move the traffic," LaBrash tells Council. "As we've seen with the reduction of lanes on West Jefferson, traffic is not hindered by the removal of this lane. Actually, as NIRCC has studied, following that lane removal, travel times along West Jefferson through that area have actually been reduced." So reducing lanes on Washington would likely improve traffic flow AND bikeability.
• So what's the hold up? City Councilman Paul Ensley, R-1, proposed holding time-sensitive funding for the Urban Trail another two weeks so that Community Development might redesign the trail without the "road diet" on Washington. Even though he and other councilmembers could not pinpoint any specific issues with removing a lane of traffic, council still voted along party lines, 6-3, to hold funding.
• Why not reroute the Urban Trail? More than just another trail, the Urban Trail is specifically designed to calm traffic Downtown and make the area more welcoming walkers and cyclists. Removing the "road diet" element of it automatically makes it less effective – and less safe – for families to utilize. (Who wants to bicycle near a four-lane highway?) What's more, international and local data, as well as business and citizen letter writers, have supported the change. Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, D-At Large, says she's received 35 emails about the Urban Trail the past two weeks, and only two were opposed to the lane reduction. "I don't see the need for another hold in that: we've been studying this project for over 10 years," she says. "This has been a design in the making for 10 years. I believe we have enough information, and most importantly, the constituents have spoken."

What's next? The Urban Trail is scheduled to come before council again on Oct. 8. Anyone may attend City Council tonight or next week and/or contact council representatives.

• There's a new chef at BakerStreet Steakhouse, and she's competing in Season 23 of “Hell’s Kitchen” with celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay. Fort Wayne's Chef Magali Ort greeted guests last Thursday at a watch party for the reality show at BakerStreet. A Southern California native, she's known for upscale California cuisine and will introduce new elements to the menu. The JG* reports she has worked with some of California's most notable chefs, including LA's Antonia Lofaso and Umberto Rubelli.
• Summit City Vintage is moving to The Landing this fall at the former House to Home design studio. The shop, currently at 5751 St. Joe Rd., will close its doors there following its Summit City Vintage Fest 4 on Oct. 6. It will then move into at 110 W. Columbia St, Suite 102, bringing vintage fashion, as well as regional vintage markets to The Landing. Stay tuned for an opening date on social media.

What else? A controversial casino coming to New Haven. Details on the 2025 city budget. A new hospital and more. We cover it all in our premium newsletter.

New deal with Swizzle Market!

Meet the non-alcoholic beverage shop filling a gap in Fort Wayne's bar scene and supporting regional makers.

What’s happening?

This month, all paid subscribers to The Local get a buy one, get one free deal on fall coffee beverages at Swizzle Market, or half-off one non-alcoholic cocktail. The shop and cafe at Jefferson Pointe was started by Fort Wayne transplant Crystal Vann Wallstrom after she gave up drinking in April 2023 and wanted more sophisticated beverage options. Now, working with employee Heather Grady of the 3Rivers Food Co-Op Natural Grocery & Deli, she's filling a gap in the city's bar scene and giving regional makers space to market their products.

We sat down with Vann Wallstrom and Grady for a few quick tips for your next visit:

• Ask for a tour. Swizzle Market offers a wide selection of alcohol-free beers, wines, cocktail mixers and spirits available by the can or bottle. It also has a refrigerator of singles, in case you want to try something before buying a full pack.
• Order a drink. In addition to its bottled and canned products, Swizzle Market has a cafe with a full menu of cocktails, espresso drinks and locally made gluten-free and vegan pastries. It also has two flavors of Lunar Infusions Kombucha on tap and savory snacks from the Charcuterie Shop, with breakfast sandwiches on the way.
• Buy a gift. The market sells products by several regional makers, including Relish Gardening plants; LumoLux 3-D printed lamps; AU Ceramics mugs, air plant holders and mushroom stakes; A. David Candle Co. candles, car fresheners and wax melts; Yellow Brand Cards; Cashdollar Creations cards, prints and moss boxes; Tactile Elements knitting kits and products; and Zelaki Leather Co. goods, just to name a few.

Learn more in our full Q&A!

• Try: exotic flavors of name-brand chips, cookies and drinks at the Marathon gas station at 5830 Coldwater Rd., including Peach Grape Oreos and Garlic Steak Doritos.
• Dine: at Rune's second Taco Fight on Oct. 2, 5-8 p.m., featuring tacos, beer, and cocktails.
• Drink: coffee and wine slushies at the new Crescendo Coffee & Cafe at The Pearl Downtown. Hours are Mon.-Sat, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sun. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.

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Got a story tip or idea?

Let us know at thelocalfortwayne@gmail.com.

Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett