GRTC Proposes Fare Increase/Service Cuts (ARTICLE/NEWSCAST)

[MetroLinerXLZ]

For more information, watch/read here:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=11082&pageNum=1 (Article)
http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12205320 (Article with Newscast video)

This is similar to the same stuff WMATA is proposing. I only object to this because of the fact that they STILL aren't considering more viable fare pass options (i.e. a weekly unlimited use pass) and that there has not been a chance for a public comment on the issue.

Just to note, I am making efforts to see if there will be a public comment session in City Hall before these changes take effect. Note that the last time the fares were increase in 2004 (and brought right back down once Doug Wilder became mayor), there was no public comment session. I want to see things change this time around.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

I know that it's been A WHILE since I've kept everyone up to date on things, but since my intial post to this thread:

1) The fare increase was passed by a vote of 7-1-1 by City Council at the June 28th meeting. The current fares (as of 09-19/2010) can be seen at
http://www.ridegrtc.com/RideGRTC.aspx?pg=Fares-And-Rates

2) The proposed service cuts were scaled back. Instead of service terminating at 10pm (as proposed), night and weekend service will be reduced instead. Routes 6, 32, and 37 will not be affected as the ridership is too heavy on those routes to warrant a reduction. All other routes will run every 40-60 minutes on nights and weekends. Service will still run until 2:30am.

3) After some "skeletons" have come out over the summer, Richmond City Council is planning to form a Study and Task Force to audit the activities of the GRTC. This will be voted on by the City Council on Monday's (09-27/2010) formal meeting.

4) For those who may and may not know, the Richmond Transit Riders Union has emerged here in Richmond. And yes, I AM a member of that union. If the task force is passed by city council, the RTRU will have a seat in the task force. And you can take one good guess at who will be filling that seat......

That's all for now folks, I will (try to) keep you guys posted on things.

[Tritransit Area]

$1.50 isn't a bad price, especially since they haven't raised the fare (and kept it there) for 17 years!

I'm glad they are still running service till 2:30.  I'd rather have less frequent service than service that ends significantly earlier.   Congrats on your new seat!

[MetroLinerXLZ]

$1.50 isn't a bad price, especially since they haven't raised the fare (and kept it there) for 17 years!

I'm glad they are still running service till 2:30.  I'd rather have less frequent service than service that ends significantly earlier.   Congrats on your new seat!

I wouldn't think it was bad either, but the thing is, the fare options needed to be expanded. The new fares make these GoCards practically useless. Instead of getting 10 rides on a $10 GoCard (which you got at $1.25), you now only get about 6 rides; these being without transfers. If you have to use the same GoCard to pay for the now 25-cent transfer (which a lot of folks do around here), you lose even more rides.

My organization has already made several suggestions to the GRTC on how to improve the fare structure. The only thing they really need to do is expand the pass program to all instead of making it only exclusive to VCU and U of Richmond students.

[Tristan]

What about the skeletons?  TELL US ABOUT THE SKELETONS!

[MetroLinerXLZ]

What about the skeletons?  TELL US ABOUT THE SKELETONS!

1. GRTC had $1 million set aside specifically for marketing. Thing is, GRTC doesn't need that money as it has no competition.
2. As y'all know, fare increases can only be allowed if City Council approves them. Turns out they had already decided to pass the fare increase when they approved of the city budget (around the same time the "strikes" were in the air). This came to light during the 06-28/2010 City Council meeting (when the fare increase was approved).
3. It also came out that GRTC had plans to sell the old facility (101 S. Davis Avenue) for around $5 million, which would be more than enough to close GRTC's deficit ($1.5 million) and allow the fares to return to the original rates. IIRC, the sales has already been finalized. Confirmation as to WHO bought the facility is pending.

Speaking of which, forgot to mention that John Lewis Jr. (CEO of GRTC Transit System) is going south to Orlando to run LYNX. He was picked out of 36 candidates to take that position. And to that, I say good riddance to him.

Link to Times-Dispatch article:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/oct/15/grtc15-ar-564236/