Residents can speak out at July 17 hearing about fixed route
increases
San Benito County residents who use fixed route bus service may
soon pay more on trips to visit the grocery store, Hazel Hawkins
Hospital or the Health and Human Services Department.
San Benito County Local Transportation Authority (LTA) board
members will vote on a proposed $.25 fare increase for fixed route
bus service July 19, said Betty Li, a transportation planner for
the LTA.
Residents can speak out at July 17 hearing about fixed route increases
San Benito County residents who use fixed route bus service may soon pay more on trips to visit the grocery store, Hazel Hawkins Hospital or the Health and Human Services Department.
San Benito County Local Transportation Authority (LTA) board members will vote on a proposed $.25 fare increase for fixed route bus service July 19, said Betty Li, a transportation planner for the LTA.
Currently, the fare is $.75. The new fare would be $1 and take effect Jan. 5, 2009.
“To us, $.25 may not be that much,” Li said. “To people who don’t have that much income, every little penny counts. In the best situation we would not raise the fares.”
Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007, people took more than 64,000 rides on fixed route.
Elias Maravilla works at Super Taqueria. He rides the bus Monday through Friday. He can afford the cost increase, Maravilla said. But he said he thinks it will be difficult for other people to pay. Staff will hold a public meeting Thursday, July 17 to get input from the community.
The fare increase will affect everyone who rides the bus, said Eugenia Sanchez, a member of Hollister’s city council.
“At this point it seems like there is no opposition,” Sanchez said. “I would advise anybody that had any concerns about the issue to really go and be part of that meeting.”
Li agreed.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Li said, “either on the phone or in a letter. I wish they would [contact us.] That way I know what’s going on.”
Fixed route has not had a fare increase since the service was reinstated in 1998, Li said.
Operating costs, including fuel, are increasing, said Lisa Rheinheimer, the executive director of the LTA.
The fare increase will allow LTA staff to maintain current services throughout the system, Rheinheimer said.
“It’s not a very popular thing to propose, but I think we’ve been very generous to the community in not raising fares for the past 10 years,” Rheinheimer said.
Dial-a-ride service and intercouty routes had a fare increase in 2002 when fares increased by $.75.
“We looked at fixed route because that was the only other route we hadn’t raised,” Li said. “We felt that would be the easiest one to justify.”
San Benito County Express is funded in part by state dollars. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to borrow money from the state transportation budget, Li said, so LTA staff need to plan ahead.
“We can’t react right away,” Li said. “We have to give the public notice with the fares. We have to have the time to do our research, too.”
Compared to other communities, the fare for fixed route bus service is fairly low, Li said.
In Santa Clara County, a single ride on a community bus is $1. A ride on Monterey-Salinas Transit costs $2.
LTA board members are restructuring fares for all services, Rheinheimer said. Some fares will decrease.
Although there is a discount rate for youth, seniors and the disabled on fixed route buses, intercounty routes do not have a discount rate.
Intercounty fares are $1.75. The proposed discount rate is $1, Li said.
Only seniors and the disabled are eligible for the discount rate on dial-a-ride. The fare restructure would add a discount rate for youth, Li said.
A public hearing on fixed-route fare increases will take place in the San Benito County board of supervisors chamber Thursday, July 17 at 5 p.m. at 481 Fourth St.
