BusTalk

[Cyberider]

Valley Metro Requests Public Comment on New Fares

PHOENIX (July 25, 2007) - Valley Metro, the regional public transit agency, is hosting public hearings to review proposed changes to the fare structure that guides the price of bus service (local, express and RAPID) and light rail service. Public hearings allow riders and interested individuals to give input on the proposed fare structure. A final recommendation will be presented to the Phoenix City Council and the Valley Metro Board of Directors in fall 2007.

The last fare increase of the transit system occurred in 1994. In 2003, the city of Phoenix conducted a fare study and a new fare structure was approved, although it was not implemented. The 2003 fare structure was to follow the planned installment of new fareboxes. A new fare study was conducted in 2006 due to increased costs of service operations. In May 2007, the Valley Metro Board and Phoenix City Council approved the process to begin gathering comments on the revised fare structure by holding public hearings.

The fare study, which was conducted by external consultants, includes the pricing of light rail. Essential elements of the fare structure include:

· Base fare of $1.25, without transfers, for local bus and light rail

1 Base fare of $1.75, without transfers, for Express/RAPID bus
2 Eliminate tickets, tokens and transfer slips
3 Introduce selling all day passes at $2.50 on board local bus and light rail and $3.50 on board Express/RAPID bus

4 Introduce 3, 7 and 31-day passes valid on first day of use
5 Increase the price of the 31-day pass:

· From $34 to $45 for local bus and rail

1 From $51 to $68 for Express/RAPID
2 From $17 to $22.50 for discount fares

# Continue Bus Card Plus, juror and homeless programs



With the recommended new fare policy, the monthly pass program would be more consistent with similar-sized agencies across the United States . The average cost of the monthly local pass at peer agencies is $55, in comparison to the proposed cost at Valley Metro of $45 with the new fare structure. Currently, the Valley Metro local monthly pass costs $34.

If approved, the new fare structure would be in place with the complete installation of new fareboxes on all buses in late 2007. See below for public hearing information.

Regional Transit Fare Policy Public Hearings

Times for all Meetings:
Open House begins at 5:30 p.m.
Public Hearing presentations and public input starts at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Crossroads Church
7901 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85020

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Tempe City Library
3500 S. Rural Road
Tempe, AZ 85282

Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
City of Avondale City Hall
11465 W Civic Center Drive
City Council Chambers
Avondale, AZ 85323

Thursday, August 16, 2007
Glendale City Hall
5850 W. Glendale Avenue
Room B-3
Glendale, AZ 85301

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Downtown Phoenix at the Maricopa Association of Governments office
302 North 1st Avenue
Suite 200, Saguaro Room
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Comments can also be emailed to Valley Metro at fares@ValleyMetro.org