STA board ponders fare increase in ‘09

If bus riders paid the full cost of providing transit service in Spokane, a one-way fare would be $5. Sales taxes currently pay 83 percent of the cost of running Spokane Transit Authority buses. But expenses at STA are rising faster than tax receipts, especially in the current economic slowdown. As a result, the STA board is considering a fare increase later this year, but they want to hear from the public first. A series of open houses is scheduled for the Plaza, 701 W. Riverside Ave., to let riders and other members of the public voice opinions and suggestions. STA’s Citizen Advisory Committee spent the past year evaluating fares, and has recommended a two-step increase starting in September. The current $1 fare for youth and adults would go to $1.25 and in January 2011 to $1.50. The adult monthly pass would go from $33 to $40 in September and $45 in 2011. STA last raised fared in 2002. “This was not an easy thing for the Citizen Advisory Committee to do,” said Victor Frazier, a member of the committee, which looked at fares in other communities across the state. “We are one of the few in the state that has not increased fares since 2002. Seattle, for example, went to $1.50 just last fall.” STA officials and committee members said they recognize that a fare increase will be hard on low-income people who can least afford it. That is one reason for seeking a delay in higher fares until September and then phasing in the second increase in 2011 – to give people time to adjust. “This will allow riders and passengers to budget for it,” Frazier said. The proposal calls for a lower fare increase for monthly youth passes, which would go from $26 a month now to $28 in September and $30 in 2011. Similarly, a youth summer pass would go from $39.95 this year to $40 in 2010 and $45 in 2011. A single fare for seniors and people with disabilities would go from 50 cents now to 60 cents in September and 75 cents in 2011. Adult fares for express routes, increasingly popular with suburban commuters, have been the same as regular routes. The committee’s proposal would make those fares more expensive, increasing them to $1.50 in September and $2 in 2011. The express routes would have monthly pass of $45 in September and $50 in 2011. The STA board has a policy of collecting 20 percent of its revenue from fares, so the fare increase would bring what’s called the “fare box recovery ratio” closer to the 20 percent standard. The proposal from the Citizen Advisory Committee could be changed depending on public comment, officials said. On Feb. 4, the proposal is scheduled to go before STA’s operations and customer service committee in a meeting at 1:30 p.m. at STA’s south side conference room, 1229 W. Broadway Ave. Another community meeting is planned for March 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Plaza. A board vote could come as early as its May 21 meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. Members of the public may comment directly to the board at any of its regular 5:30 p.m. meetings at City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 19, March 19 and April 16. The STA board “very much cares about what the citizens feel about this and how fair it is,” Frazier said. “I would very much encourage the citizens to go and see what we are recommending and why and try to get their arms around it,” he said. “If they have a better idea we would certainly appreciate the citizen input.” // City officials sent out a plea last week; “Don’t park in travel lanes,” a spokeswoman said in a statement, “even where wide berms are blocking the parking lane. We have a number of vehicles blocking traffic and narrowing streets. This is especially a concern when large emergency vehicles need to maneuver residential streets.” Also, alley garbage collection remains suspended. Citizens with alley pickup need to move their carts to the street for pickup. The street at the end of the alley is OK. The city has not been charging for extra garbage that built up during the storm. It’s OK to put out the extra, but make sure it’s in plastic garbage bags to prevent it from being scattered. In addition, city pothole crews will be on patrol this week.