 "Photo: Kari Rosenfeld/The Daily Texan")
Capital Metro bus riders could experience a fare increase of $0.25 per one-way trip if it’s approved by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The organization’s board of directors could vote as early as Monday on a January fare increase proposal that was approved by the Capitol Metro board of directors Wednesday.
If the increase is approved, it will be the second fare increase in Capital Metro’s history.
The last increase was in the fall of last year, said Capital Metro spokeswoman Misty Whited.
The increase from $0.75 to $1 base fare was previously approved by a Local Government Approval Committee in 2008. The increase was originally planned to take effect in August of 2010 but was moved up to January.
“The acceleration date is due to the decline in sales tax, which is what we get most of our revenue from,” Whited said. “The current economic state means that people are spending less money and we’re earning less.”
The new fare would begin on Jan. 18, 2010 and affect fares for local and express buses, MetroRail, MetroAccess and RideShare services.
Seniors, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders will continue to ride for free.
Single-ride bus fare will increase from $0.75 to $1, while the local metro day pass will increase from $1.50 to $2. A local 31-day metro bus pass will increase from $18 to $28.
“The board of directors carefully considered the range of issues and made the prudent decision to increase fares and forego the use of one-time stimulus funds toward operating expenses,” said Doug Allen, the Capital Metro interim president and CEO, in a statement.
The increase is expected to generate $2.3 million for the 2010 fiscal year.
Currently, 10 percent of Capital Metro service is funded by fare revenue. The other 90 percent is subsidized by sales tax, Whited said.
“We’re trying to bring our fare revenue up to the standards of the rest of the country,” Whited said. “We have one of the lowest fares and recovery rates across the state and the nation.”
Capital Metro held several public meetings in October, where many options were discussed, such as charging the elderly and disabled a small bus fare.
“Generally speaking, no one really likes a fare increase, but what we’ve heard is that customers would rather pay a little more than have their services cut,” Whited said.
Byron Harmon has lived in Austin since 1975 and has been using the bus service since he got here, he said. He takes the bus almost every day.
“Increasing the fare may be a little bit hard for people to handle,” Harmon said. “I’d rather they leave it like it is.”
Jorge Gomez moved to the U.S. from Mexico 10 months ago and works on campus as a Spanish and Latin American literature tutor.
He said that he parks his car on Lamar and uses the bus system to get around campus.
As a writer, he finds the bus to be a laboratory for new experiences and ideas and a way to get to know the people and culture of this country.
“In Mexico, the public transportation is not good, and it’s very expensive because you pay every time you get on a bus,” Gomez said. “Paying $2 isn’t so bad when the service is good and the driver is respectful.”
CAMPO executive director Joe Cantalupo said that Capital Metro will present the item Monday. The Board has 60 days to approve or reject the proposal.
“It’s difficult to say how the 20 board members will feel about the issue,” he said.
UT students, faculty and staff currently ride Capital Metro buses for free.
The University’s contract with Capital Metro is also under discussion, though will not directly affect the service UT students receive, Whited said.
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