Thursday, April 14, 2005
AC Transit Fare Change Proposals.
AC Transit Marketing
04/05/2005
On Wednesday, May 18, 2005, the AC Transit Board of Directors will hold public hearings at 3:00pm and 6:00pm to accept comments on proposals to restructure or increase bus fares and to place a parcel tax on the ballot in an upcoming election.
Public comments may be submitted in a number of ways before or at the public hearings (see below for details).
Fare Change Proposals
There are five proposals under consideration. Proposal 2 is a conventional fare increase across all categories. Proposals 1 and 5 present a "pay per ride" fare structure with cash fares lowered, and transfers and most tickets eliminated. Proposal 3 raises cash fares and most ticket prices, and offers a free transfer good for two uses. Proposal 4 presents a new concept of offering weekly, unlimited-ride tickets. (Note: Proposal 4 would not fulfill the revenue objectives of the fare change but allows for consideration of the weekly ticket.) In all proposals, the $20 monthly pass sticker for seniors and persons with disabilities is retained.
The five fare-change proposals are detailed in the chart below:
| Proposal | Proposal | Proposal | Proposal | Proposal | ||
|
| Current | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Cash | ||||||
| Local Adult | $1.50 | $1.00 | $1.75 | $2.00 | $1.50 | $1.00 |
| Local Youth | $0.75 | $0.50 | $0.85 | $1.00 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| Local Senior/Disabled | $0.75 | $0.50 | $0.85 | $1.00 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| Transbay Adult | $3.00 | $2.00 | $3.50 | $4.00 | $3.00 | $2.00 |
| Transbay Youth | $1.50 | $1.00 | $1.70 | $2.00 | $1.50 | $1.00 |
| Transbay Senior/Disabled | $1.50 | $1.00 | $1.70 | $2.00 | $1.50 | $1.00 |
| 31-Day Ticket/ Monthly Pass | ||||||
| Local Adult | $60.00 | --- | $70.00 | $70.00 | $60.00 | --- |
| Local Youth | $15.00 | --- | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Local Senior/Disabled | $20.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| Transbay Adult | $100.00 | --- | $116.00 | $116.00 | $100.00 | --- |
| 10-Ride Ticket | ||||||
| Local Adult | $15.00 | --- | $17.50 | $20.00 | $15.00 | --- |
| Local Youth/ Senior/Disabled | $7.50 | --- | $8.50 | $10.00 | $7.50 | --- |
| Transbay Adult | $30.00 | --- | $35.00 | $40.00 | $30.00 | --- |
| Weekly Pass | ||||||
| Local Adult | --- | --- | --- | --- | $20.00 | --- |
| Local Youth/ Senior/Disabled | --- | --- | --- | --- | $10.00 | --- |
| Transbay Adult | --- | --- | --- | --- | $35.00 | --- |
| Local Transfer | ||||||
| 1.5 hrs/1 use | $0.25 | --- | $0.50 | --- | $0.25 | --- |
| 1.5 hrs/2 uses | --- | --- | --- | Free | --- | --- |
| Transbay Transfer | ||||||
| 1.5 hrs/1 use | Free | --- | Free | --- | Free | --- |
| 1.5 hrs/2 uses | --- | --- | --- | Free | --- | --- |
Notes:
Proposal 1: Lowers cash fares and eliminates all pre-paid tickets and passes, except for Senior/Disabled monthly sticker. Also eliminates transfers; passengers would pay full fare on each boarding.
Proposal 2: Raises fares in all categories except Senior/Disabled monthly sticker and Youth 31-Day ticket. Also raises transfer cost to $ .50.
Proposal 3: Raises fares in all categories except Senior/Disabled monthly sticker and Youth 31-Day ticket. Transfers would be issued free (with payment of fare) and would be valid for 1-1/2 hours and 2 uses.
Proposal 4: Retains all current fares and introduces a weekly, unlimited-ride ticket. Please note: This proposal would not fulfill the revenue objectives of the fare change but allows for consideration of the weekly ticket.
Proposal 5: Same as Proposal 1 except that Youth 31-Day tickets would also be offered.
The Board of Directors may adopt any one of these proposals as written, or may modify individual fare types and prices within the ranges stated. (For example, the board may price the local adult cash fare at any level between $1.00 and $2.00, the minimum and maximum proposed.) The board may also decide to keep fares at their current level.
Following the hearings, AC Transit staff will compile and review all comments received before and at the hearings. A report of the comments and staff responses will be prepared for the board to consider, most likely at its June 1 meeting. Any fare changes adopted would likely go into effect in August or September 2005.
Parcel Tax Proposal
Offering the most affordable bus transit for youth is a long-standing interest of AC Transit and the community at large. To that end, the Board of Directors is also proposing to place a $24 parcel tax on the ballot in 2005 or 2006 throughout the AC Transit service area. A parcel tax can only be used for AC Transit operations, maintenance, and acquisition of property, although revenues from the tax could be used to offset a portion of costs now covered by fares. AC Transit could then eliminate fares for youth.
Background
AC Transit, like many Bay Area transit agencies, continues to be challenged by reduced sales tax revenues due to the sluggish economy. At the same time, the costs of fuel, health insurance, and other essential operating needs are rising. In 2003 and 2004, AC Transit declared fiscal emergencies and took steps to reduce service, staffing, and other expenses. Also, two parcel tax measures, Measure AA and Measure BB, were approved by voters. Despite these efforts, budget shortfalls are projected to increase each year, reaching $40 million—or about 15 percent of AC Transit's operating budget—by 2008.
Local and transbay cash fares were last raised in 2002. Ticket and pass prices were last raised in 2003. Depending on the fare changes adopted this year, up to $8 million in additional annual fare revenue could be generated.
Nearly every public transit agency in the Bay Area is facing similar or even more serious shortfalls, and many have implemented fare increases and/or service reductions.
How to Comment
Individuals, organizations, and agencies may submit comments on the proposed service changes in a number of ways:
- Speak at the public hearings
- Submit written comments at the public hearings
- Submit written comments, which must be received by 6:00pm, Wednesday, May 18:
--by mail to AC Transit Board of Directors, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612
--by fax to (510) 891-4874 - Leave your comments in a voicemail message by 6:00pm, May 18, by calling (510) 891-7293.
--by online comment form
Attending the Public Hearings
The Scottish Rite Center is located at 1547 Lakeside Drive near 17th Street. Lines 13 and 14 operate nearby on 14th Street. Line 59/59A operates nearby on Jackson Street. These lines run until approximately 7:00pm.
A free bus shuttle will operate between 14th Street (at Broadway) and the Scottish Rite Center every 15 minutes, between 2:30pm. and the conclusion of the public hearings. Attendees may board the shuttle on 14th Street on the west side of Broadway (near The Gap).
The public hearing site is wheelchair accessible.
Translation Services
Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin interpreters can be provided, if needed. Please contact the AC Transit District Secretary's Office at (510) 891-4851 by 5:00pm, Friday, May 13, to make arrangements.
