RTD weighing costlier rides

Economy, fuel other demands are factors in decision

Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

You may be digging deeper into your pockets come January for more than just keeping your hands warm. RTD is contemplating a fare increase.

Clobbered as much as everyone else by rising fuel costs, a stagnant economy and rising demands, the transit agency staff is proposing a hike of a quarter in the local, express and regional fares, and a dime for senior, disabled and student fares.

Express and regional fares for seniors, disabled and student riders would go up 15 cents.

That would put the price of a local bus or light-rail ride at $1.75, up from $1.50.

Express buses and light rail would go to $3 and regional service to $4.

The hikes also would affect most types of monthly and annual passes. A monthly local fare, now $54, would cost $60.

The elected RTD board will make the final decision, likely in September, following a round of at least 15 public hearings. RTD staff presented the proposal to a board committee Monday.

The increase would bring in an estimated $7.3 million in revenue to RTD.

If approved, the hike would take effect Jan. 1. RTD fares last went up in January 2006.

"Basically we have a few big reasons for this," said Cal Marsella, RTD's general manager. "As you know, sales tax revenues are down."

More than 60 percent of RTD's budget comes from sales taxes, and the agency hasn't hit its budget projections for revenue this year.

RTD also has been providing more mandatory service for disabled riders than expected. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the agency must provide rides to qualified disabled riders who cannot use scheduled bus service. Demand for this service has skyrocketed, eating into RTD's budget for regular service.

"And finally, the cost of fuel continues to escalate and we are having a difficult time with that." Marsella said.

Marsella's staff is giving the board the option of forgoing a fare increase in January, but at the expense of a scaled-back capital improvement program. The staff is recommending against that course because it would mean any improvements in bus service would have to come by eliminating service elsewhere.

"We will give the board some options for an adjustment, and a fare increase is the quickest way to do that."

RTD estimated that a 25-cent local fare increase, combined with hikes in other fare options, will cause a ridership drop of about 200,000 boardings annually, or one-third of 1 percent of the 66.9 million boardings RTD had last year.

Fare increases

The history of RTD's fares for local bus and light-rail rides:

• July 1997: $1.25 rush hour/75 cents off-peak

• March 2002: $1.10 any time

• January 2003: $1.15

• January 2004: $1.25

• January 2006: $1.50

• January 2008: $1.75 (proposed)