A Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority bus turns from Sixth Street onto Market Street Tuesday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council approved putting the renewal of an existing levy for the continued operation of the Easy Rider bus service on the primary ballot in May to cover the city’s portion of the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority levy.

All eight members during Tuesday’s council meeting voted to approve the measure, with Councilman Mike Reynolds absent. If passed in May, the levy would raise $2,581,238 as the City of Parkersburg’s portion of the bus levy. The City of Vienna would raise over $1 million for its portion for a combined total of $3,623,311.54 to fund the levy.

This was the second time this month a resolution for the levy renewal vote had been on council’s agenda. Tuesday’s resolution amended some language and the total amount of money the levy would raise.

Brian Hayden of Parkersburg spoke in favor of the levy during Tuesday’s public forum.

“We have had a number of good projects that have been beneficial to our community, with transportation being a fundamental growth opportunity for us in terms of what people are looking for when considering new communities,” he said. “I have spoken to many people who feel we need better access to public infrastructure, sidewalks, walkable streets and so on.”

He feels the bike path is a little out of the way and doesn’t serve the downtown area as well as some other things.

In order for a city to grow, the city needs to welcome people of diverse backgrounds, Hayden said.

He has a family member who is legally blind and he or his wife has to teach her how to ride a city bus as it has been a long time since he was in an area with a functioning bus service.

“Accessibility has been a cornerstone of growth,” Hayden said of things the city has already implemented.

Although some people might not like the word “diversity,” Parkersburg has been an inclusive community, he said.

“People do live here, and you can’t change that,” Hayden said. “I do support this bus levy and I support public projects that do good for maybe only a few people, but also the larger community.”

Officials encouraged people to see how the buses serve people in the community.

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce also encouraged council members to take a ride on one of the city buses.

“I have done it three (or) four times,” he said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com