BusTalk

[ripta42]

Another agency, another fare hike and service cut...

RI transit system needs fare hike, service cuts or both
Bruce Landis, Providence Journal
4:35 PM Fri, Apr 23, 2010

PROVIDENCE, RI: The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority needs a fare increase, service reductions or both to balance its budget, the authority's top official said.

John Rupp, the authority's board chairman, said the board will try to design a fare increase that won't deny people transportation. and it will try to keep any service "adjustments" from doing more than inconveniencing riders.

"We're trying to target a fare increase that won't push people off the bus," he said.

He also said the board has asked RIPTA's staff to look into service reductions, although he said he hopes they would amount only to "inconvenience." For example, he said, early bus runs that are lightly used could be combined.

Rupp said he's also preparing to present the authority's situation and plans to state legislators, but said "I haven't asked anybody for anything yet."

He said the problem, a budget deficit expected in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, is largely caused by declining revenue from a key source, the state's fuel tax.

[HwyHaulier]

ripta42 -

These present day transit districts never cease to amaze me for sheer ineptness. Before the present tests of each and every one, did all use
happy and upbeat, "linear projections" on near every figure in their budgets?

Long time, private sector businesses, wise in the ways of business cycles, use projection scenarios which hedge against possible "bad news"
developments. I can only guess that all don't know how to do that...

Another bit of endemic naivete? A somewhat stubborn refusal to acknowledge constant (and wearying) ongoing decline in real values of
currency. That is, inflation takes its toll. The transit providers should not hesitate in use of periodic inflation adjusted pricing. If for no other
reason, so as maintain same percentage relationships of what they are to do under enabling legislation...

Besides, how ever to reconcile all this with the greenie crazy zany types? I thought reduced use of hydrocarbon fuels a good thing?

.........................Vern.................