Public Hearings on Proposed Transit Rate Hikes Start Today
Metro’s Board of Commissioners approved a plan on May 20, 2005 to hold public hearings regarding proposed fare increases for FY06 and FY07. The proposed FY06 fare increase could possibly go into effect by August 23, 2005, while the second increase would not occur until sometime after July 1, 2006 which begins Metro’s FY07 fiscal year. The first hearing begins today: June 8, 2005.
Proposed Changes to Cash Fares are that a one-way MetroLink (rail) ticket would go from the current $1.50 to $1.75 in FYO6 and to $2.00 in FY07. The MetroBus rates would go from the current $1.50 to $1.60 in FYO6 to $1.75 in FY07.
Upcoming Public Hearings are as follows:
- June 8, 2005, 11am – 1pm
- Met Center, 6347 Plymouth Ave., St. Louis, MO 63133
- Met Center, 6347 Plymouth Ave., St. Louis, MO 63133
- June 9, 2005, 5pm – 7pm
- East St. Louis City Hall, 301 EAst Riverpark Drive, E. St. Louis, IL 62201
- East St. Louis City Hall, 301 EAst Riverpark Drive, E. St. Louis, IL 62201
- June 13, 2005, 4pm – 6pm
- Urban League, 8960 Jennings Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63136
- Urban League, 8960 Jennings Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63136
- June 14, 2005, 6pm – 8pm
- East St. Louis Public Library, 5300 State Street, E. St. Louis, IL 62203
- East St. Louis Public Library, 5300 State Street, E. St. Louis, IL 62203
- June 15, 2005, 4pm – 6pm
- St. Louis County Government, 41 S. Central, St. Louis, MO 63105
- St. Louis County Government, 41 S. Central, St. Louis, MO 63105
- June 16, 2005, 6pm – 8pm
- Metro Board Room (Summary Hearing), 707 N. First, St. Louis, MO 63102
- Metro Board Room (Summary Hearing), 707 N. First, St. Louis, MO 63102
Great, just as I get used to riding the bus they are going to go and raise the fares on me. Sure the 4-6 times per month I ride the bus I can manage an extra quarter — it is not going to break me. But what about those that ride more often but not often enough to justify a monthly pass? They are going to be hit pretty hard. I need to determine if they are proposing increases in the monthly passes as well. I understand the agency has to stay solvent but the monetary imbalance between transit and private cars is too great.
We subsidize cars so much with low fuel taxes that don’t even begin to pay for the roads much less the destruction to the environment. Heaven forbid we put less money toward building out sprawl and providing urban mass transit.
– Steve
If we put an equivalent amount of money towards poublic transit as we do roads, the US could have an amazing system. But the sad truth is we don’t. Until we start providing more public funding, we will have to keep raising rates and hurting the people that need it most.
Matt makes a good point.
The sad thing is that we judge public transit — a _public_ service — on its ability to generate revenue. We don’t expect interstate highways or streets to generate revenue. No one expects that a $100 million highway project will generate at least $100 million in revenue, and no one complains that it’s a budget drain or wasted money. And few people argue that we should make the highways pay for themselves. Instead, the government lets most people drive on most roads for free.
On the other hand, people moan about mass transit’s inabilility to break even, despite inadequate funding. People jump to raise fares when transit can’t make the impossible happen — generate a positive revenue balance.
Transit users have already paid for the service with their taxes. Through the lower pollution generated by them, they are actually producing a benefit to society. Vehicle drivers don’t have to pay a use fare, nor do they give anything back in return except exhaust fumes.
We should subsiize free mass transit and begin to impose tolls on the interstate highways that run through urban areas. That two-fold approach would strengthen mass transit and lower car usage.
Of course, such a move isn’t yet politically viable. A few more years of rising gas prices should make it a much more “reasonable” position in the future, though.
Steve-
I came across something this morning that, odd as it reads, may be of interest to you…
The following I am typing verbatim as it appears in a newsletter I just received from a nonprofit organization based in North St. Louis County…
“In our previous newsletter we talked about some of the requirements during your housing search. Did you know?
The City of Overland requires the following:
> No person shall ride a bike in a business area. If a person is found riding a bike in a business area, the bike rider has the right away”.
—-
While the information is confusing, it sounds like there might be some prohibition on riding a bike in downtown Overland?
Things that make you go hmmmmmm….
RB