Metrolink to cut mid-day Inland Empire-Orange County Lines, fare increases, and cuts across nearly all lines
Submitted by Steven on 16 March, 2010 - 8:50pm
Metrolink's proposing some massive service cuts — along with a possible increase of up to 13% in fares plus elimination of some discounts — to solve a plunge in state and local transit funding. I've put together a map showing all of the proposed cuts to date, combined with the recent service cuts that put Orange County transit service in a hole:
The Transit Coalition says it best. In their most recent newsletters, they've summarized it as follows:
Metrolink is preparing for another round of service cuts and/or fare hikes. While the last round of cuts focused on trimming weekend service, current proposed cuts appear to decimate the Antelope Valley Line and the Ventura County Line, which may lose eleven and eight weekday trains, respectively. The San Bernardino Line would lose two trains on weekdays and Sundays and four trains on Saturday. The Inland Empire-Orange County Line would see four trains disappear on weekdays, and one train will terminate in Laguna Niguel instead of Oceanside.
Riders may also see a fare increase between 3% and 13.1%, depending on station pairs. Aside from the usual 3% to 6% increase, discounts would be eliminated or tempered for 10-trip and monthly passes, as well as senior/disabled, student, round-trip and weekend tickets. The proposed plan would also see the 80-mile cap on tickets lifted, meaning that the highest fare, Lancaster to Oceanside, would rise from $14 to $23.50. Those who wish to comment on the proposed fare hikes and/or service cuts may do so online at theMetrolink web site or in person at the public hearing on Friday, April 2. ...
Metrolink is one of the Southern California agencies proposing drastic service cuts to nip a $17 million budget shortfall. The Ventura County Starand the Los Angeles Daily News have provided coverage and editorials. Transit advocates have been meeting with Metrolink staff and directors to propose cost efficiencies by linking the spoke and hub train system into a series of corridors. For Ventura County and Antelope Valley Line riders that want to help save the service, you may join the TTC campaign, as we need volunteers aboard the trains to circulate line specific post cards linked above. Contact TTC to help.
If you'd like to comment, attend the Metrolink Board of Directors meeting on April 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), 818 W. Seventh Street, 12th Floor, Board Room, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Comments
SIDE EFFECT OF CUTS
WHAT ALOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF PARATRANSIT THAT AREAS HAVE TO PROVIDE IS BASED ON THE TRANSPORTATION ROUTES AND SCHEDULES. SO IF A ROUTE IS CUT
OR A TIMELINE REDUCED IT ACTUALLY REDUCES THE AREA THAT PARATRANSIT HAS TO COVER UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ACT. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF THE ACCESS SERVICES ARE NOT MANDATED UNDER THE ADA BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ACT.
THE BOTTOMLINE IS THAT FOR MANY SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO ANY WAY TO GET TO DR. APPOINTMENTS, GROCERY SHOPPING...ANYWHERE.
WE REALLY NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PARATRANSIT ISSUE ON MY OWN AND WOULD LOVE TO HELP WITH YOUR CAUSE.
Paratransit also provided by Metrolink?
I wasn't aware that Metrolink had paratransit service too. Who provides this service?
Thanks for bringing this up, Pat.