Capital Metro Proposes Fare Increase

• Today the Capital Metro Board of Directors began a process that may lead to a fare increase effective January 2010. The board directed the agency to begin public outreach regarding the proposed fares.
• Under the proposal, Capital Metro's planned August 2010 base fare increase would be accelerated to January. At the same time, some fares and passes would have additional increases.
• Local bus fare would become $1 per ride, and disability fare card holders and seniors (65+) would pay $0.25 per ride. Likewise, fares for premium services, such as Express bus and MetroRail service, would increase between 25 – 33 percent more than what the Local Government Approval Committee approved.
• The fare increase is one component of Capital Metro's draft FY2010 budget. Capital Metro is pursuing a combination of administrative cuts, service reductions, and a fare increase to help develop a balanced budget in challenging economic conditions.
• Capital Metro, like the City, is projecting a five percent decrease in sales tax revenue during FY2010, about $9.9 million less than the current year.
• Capital Metro is not alone in this situation. A recent survey by the American Public Transportation Association found that 90 percent of transit systems nationwide are increasing fares, cutting services or both.
• The fare proposal, in addition to Capital Metro's budget, will go through a rigorous public outreach process before being formally considered by the Capital Metro board on Sept. 28.

Read the full news release.