[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Public Hearing #1 - Metro Transit Fare Increase

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Public Hearing #1 - Metro Transit Fare Increase
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1215517955.shtml


   I was at the first of eight public hearings for raising Metro Transit
   fares this fall and next year. Obviously this will happen, a 25 cent
   increase this year and at least another 25 cents next year. These
   hearings are largely a formality, service cutbacks being all but
   politically impossible.
   As others have noted, the meeting schedule is not going to generate
   much reaction given their places and times, held during a short 8 day
   period in the peak of our summer vacation season. This first meeting
   is indicative, held in a third ring suburb at the edge of regular
   transit service. Scheduling it from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm makes it hard
   for most with daytime jobs to get there in time, even with a car. Then
   you have to find the "Community Room" in the Northtown Mall, which is
   not shown on the big display maps around the center. I had to ask the
   Guest Services rep, who directed me to an obscure hallway.
   The turnout was perhaps 10 to 20 actual citizens like me, the rest
   being with the Metropolitan Council or Metro Transit. Chairing the
   meeting was Kris Sanda of the Council, flanked by Transit's Gerri
   Sutton and Ed Petrie. Met Council member Natalie Steffen was also
   present.
   I in fact spoke, saying that they need to break out the numbers by
   bus, rail, and Metro Mobility, for it looks like this increase is
   largely going to cover light rail losses. I added the Metro Mobility
   when during the formal presentation they broke out the fare percents.
   Overall, fares cover about 27% of costs. For buses, it's 32%, light
   rail 40%, Metro Mobility 12%. You do the math. (A friend said I made
   the Fox 9 coverage.)
   Next up is Hopkins, 6:30 pm (July 8), again, not exactly where the
   Transit action is. How about holding one of these at, say, the
   Minneapolis Public Library at Fremont and Lowry, where your customers
   are?