Facing revenue shortages, Valley Metro is considering a possible increase of bus, LINK and light rail fares that could affect the entire Valley as early as March 1, 2013, and a public hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Phoenix for Valley residents to provide input.
Passengers currently fund about 25 percent of Valley Metro’s operating costs and local and state taxes fund the remaining cost, Valley Metro said in a fare-change presentation.
In an attempt to raise revenues, Valley Metro proposed a blanket 25-cent increase to all transit services in 2011, but after deciding that the increase would create inequality among passengers, the proposed increases have been revised.
This year, the possible changes include an increase of 25 cents to single-ride fares, 50 cents on day passes, $9 on 31-day local passes, $11 on express passes, as well as possible price increases for Arizona State University U-passes and Platinum passes.
Valley Metro may also replace three-day passes with 15-day passes and implement a one-way flat fare of $4 for Rural Route services and Dial-A-Ride services. The increases are predicted to create an extra $6.5 million in revenue for Valley Metro.
Valley Metro must seek the public’s opinion before implementing any changes. If you would like to voice an opinion or learn more about the possible increases, you can fill out a survey and view a PowerPoint presentation at http://www.valleymetro.org/farechange. There is also a public hearing scheduled for 5 p.m. on Nov.1 in the Valley Metro Board Room at 101 N. 1st Ave., Phoenix. Contact Valley Metro at 602.262.7433 or by email at receptionist@ValleyMetro.org for disability accomodations.
• Michelle is a Senior studying print and multimedia journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Contact her at (480) 898-6514 or tribintern@evtrib.com
lleonar43 posted at 2:15 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
I have traveled around the country and have used other transit systems that work. I feel the system should cover the valley, and have access to the entire state with Amtrac connection stops. I think the system should also have an increase in its cost. To go 20 mile on the train in other places Ive had to pay as much as 25.00 one way. The other issue here is no security. Drunks, addicts, homeless use it as a bedroom. I would not ride the transit until that was taken care of.
Composite Sketch posted at 5:52 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Of course the Metro System is losing money--that's the way it was intended. Come in with a nice low (highly subsidized by the government) fare, get people excited, then raise the rates. They knew that the actual riders paying only one fourth of the cost would not cut it, but, Hey, let's get this monstrosity installed and running before the public catches on, then it will be too late.
Remember, it is free transportation for any one willing to try. Bundles of derelicts, low-lifes and outright thieves ride without compunction. They watch out the windows and when they spot cops about to board, they quickly boogie. No problem. Just reboard after the heat leaves. That way, they can rest up all day in order to party all night, free of charge.
The ONLY solution is to keep adding lines into Tempe, Chandler, Casa Grande until the mid-2040s by selling taxpayers on the promise that if they can just expand enough to make it economically feasible, surely they can break even. What we'll get is more government involvement, but less actual control.
Melete posted at 6:48 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
So... Gussying up the fancy lightrail cars as rolling beer cans doesn't generate enough revenue to matter, then?