A 33% fare increase in the works?
A lot of riders have expressed their desire to pay more to maintain as much OCTA bus service as they can, and rumblings in the background say a fare increase may be on the books for September 2009.
OCTA staff answered a question about fare increases on the May 22 public hearing:
It is not feasible to raise the fare to a level that could totally avoid service cuts. For example, doubling the fare to $3.00 per boarding requires an $8.00 day pass and a $100 monthly pass and results in an additional $16 million in revenue. However, it is estimated 1/3 of the existing ridership would be lost; additional fare increases would deflect so many riders that revenues would actually decrease. A more feasible fare increase is shown on the chart below. This option would generate about $8 million with an approximate 4 million boarding - about a 7 percent deflection rate.
Regular fare Day pass ACCESS Current fares $1.50 $4.00 $2.70 Adjusted fares $2.00 $5.00 $3.60
Again, a fare increase is not official, but it seems very likely that OCTA will continue its trend of cutting service and raising fares.
Comments
Can you say DEATH SPIRAL?
Can you say DEATH SPIRAL? This is what happened to VTA in the 2000's. Higher fares, reduced service, rinse and repeat. What OCTA should do is cancel Metrolink to Midnight and roll that into the bus system. If nothing connects to Metrolink, then the train service is worthless.
Metrolink to midnight is
Metrolink to midnight is worthless anyway unless the trains go to LA. I agree with calwatch.
I agree with both Spokker and
I agree with both Spokker and Calwatch. OC Line does nothing without going to Union Station. The transfer penalty is just too big with OCTA (and with the future March service cuts) to get people out of their cars.
I disagree with their
I disagree with their assessment on fare doubling. Most people who take the bus do so because they have no other choice. If doubled fares mean a chance to keep their jobs, they'll pay it, even if it means having to give up their morning Star Bucks.
Metrolink til Midnight - not enough. I want to see the entire Metrolink system (not just OC) run 24/7, as often as every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours and no less than once an hour at night.
We also need an integrated pass for L.A. and Orange County, something like a super "EZ PASS" that includes Metrolink service within the two counties and all connecting bus lines. I'd pay as much as $150 per month for one of these, but only when Metrolink goes 24/7.