Thursday, November 4, 2004
Bus ride cost could be going up; Metro seeks 13 percent increase
By Steve Kemme
Enquirer staff writer
Metro bus officials want to increase fares on Feb. 1 to offset rising costs and flat revenues - the first increase in basic fares since 1993.
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PROPOSED FARES
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Zone 1 (Cincinnati)
Weekday non-rush hours: from 65 cents to $1.
Weekday rush hours: from 80 cents $1.
Zone 2 (Hamilton County)
Weekday non-rush hours (no zone crossings): from 65 cents to $1.50
Weekday non-rush hours (crossing a zone): from $1.15 to $1.50
Weekday rush hours (no zone crossing): from 80 cents to $2.
Weekday rush hours (crossing a zone): from $1.30 to $1.50
Zone 3 (Clermont County)
Weekday non-rush hours to downtown Cincinnati: from $1.65 to $2.
Weekday rush hours to downtown Cincinnati: from $1.80 to $2.
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The overall rate of fare increases would be 13 percent, with individual increases ranging from a dime to $1.35 per ride, according to a fare schedule released Wednesday by Metro.
"We didn't want to change the level of service," said Michael Setzer, CEO and general manager of Metro. "So that leaves you with very little to manipulate except fares."
The proposed increases must be approved by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board of trustees, which manages Metro, and by Cincinnati City Council. The increases would cause ridership to drop slightly but would increase revenue by almost $2 million next year, Setzer said.
Mary Dooley of Colerain Township was upset when she thought the proposal called for her bus fare to downtown Cincinnati to jump by $1.70 per ride. She calmed down when she realized the fare increase actually would be 70 cents, from $1.30 to $2.00
"That's not too bad," Dooley said. "Considering what fuel prices are and the wear and tear on your car, it's worth it."
Tim Lynem, of Deerfield Township, also took the fare increase in stride. His daily fare to downtown would increase by 20 cents per ride, from $1.30 to $1.50.
"I guess they have to do it to stay viable," Lynem said.
The rise in the cost of diesel fuel is one of the biggest reasons for the fare proposal. Metro's fuel costs will be $2.1 million higher next year than this year, reflecting a jump in cost from 82 cents per gallon to $1.60 per gallon, Setzer said.
Other reasons include an expected increase in health insurance premiums and the stagnant level of tax revenue.
E-mail skemme@enquirer.com
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