MARTA considers 50-Cent Fare Hike (Atlanta: sales, apartments, subsidized)

[RandyWatson13]

Everyone and everything has raised prices. This is only natural. Have you seen the price of milk?

[SW30303]

I thought MARTA had raised fares somewhat recently, but found they were still at $2 per trip. I think given MARTA's situation, a fare hike is a must despite some of the obvious drawbacks the prices increases would have to some people who have no other option except public transportation.

AtlantaGreg, of course as usual, has the great suggestion for those who are on very limited budgets (low income) to ask MARTA about a fare reduction.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by muxBuppie

Monthly passes too damn high of a jump. I think $75 or $80 would have been fair.

It's still a lot cheaper than driving.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by DTL3000

That is INSANE!

$95 for a monthly MARTA pass?!

I really feel sorry for folks who have no other option.

MARTA sure does know when to time these sorts of things, don't they?

I just can't wrap my head around paying the same amount to ride MARTA as the MTA. It just doesn't seem right.

Have you seen the price of gasoline lately? Their costs are going up. How else do you expect them to pay the bills?

[muxBuppie]

Originally Posted by wrcousert

Have you seen the price of gasoline lately? Their costs are going up. How else do you expect them to pay the bills?

New Yorker pay $102 for a monthly pass to one of the best systems in the world. Why do we have to pay $4 less premium then that for Marta's monthly pass?

[muxBuppie]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

While I fully think there needs to be changes in MARTA management (and security), I don't think the fare is unreasonable - and for the record, I hardly make tons of money, myself. But if you take into account even a very base-level car's monthly payment, insurance, gas, maintenance/upkeep, etc... the fares are FAR FAR cheaper than that. Those who are on "poverty level" incomes can get reduced fares, and/or MARTA can still offer them.

The thing is we don't live in Chicago or DC. I can't get rid of my car and still get to everything I would want or need to here unless I live in very specific locations, yet I have to pay a premium for low quality transportation compared to NYC which has $102 monthly fares for what is probably the best in the nation.

[testa50]

NYC is the best in the nation, but also one of the cheapest. $2.50 one way is a steal compared to DC or SF--round trips in those places can run $10.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by muxBuppie

The thing is we don't live in Chicago or DC. I can't get rid of my car and still get to everything I would want or need to here unless I live in very specific locations, yet I have to pay a premium for low quality transportation compared to NYC which has $102 monthly fares for what is probably the best in the nation.

You make a good point, mux. My guess (and it is but a guess): NY, Chicago and DC are likely better financed by their constituent governments. Likely, as a percentage of their operating budget, they collect a greater amount in fares than does Marta. While Marta may not be the best run institution, they still have to pay their operating expenses and, hopefully, expand the system. As with any business, it's the customers who must share in a portion of those expenses. Costs are not necessarily spread "fairly". For instance, I am sometimes bothered that folks living in Atlanta who use just as many resources as I do, pay far less in property taxes than I do. But, the government has to be funded some way.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by testa50

NYC is the best in the nation, but also one of the cheapest. $2.50 one way is a steal compared to DC or SF--round trips in those places can run $10.

Exactly.

And the reason NYC can be one of the cheapest is simply "supply and demand"... many people in NYC do not own cars, so use transit. The sheer numbers of riders support a cheap fare. Atlanta is more like a mini-L.A. than NYC - we are a sprawled "car city" and do not have the rider numbers to support the cheap flat-fare system they have been using for so many years.

Another (and I'm sure not popular) opinion: Cities change. Anyone who has lived in Atlanta for 25+ years (as have I) has seen the city, demographics, and everything else about it go through some radical changes. At one time people (maybe even MARTA planners) may have seen MARTA simply as a way for lower income people who could not even afford cars to move around the area. Today, MARTA's main goal should be to get cars off of the metro roads and reduce traffic congestion and smog. The city has changed - so should the goal/purpose of transit.

This is why MARTA needs to adopt the zone fare system where you pay per distance, charge for parking (or more for parking), charge for transfers, etc. Those who do meet certain real qualifications of "low income" could still be eligible for reduced fare cards, but those who can easily afford to pay for zone fares - should. Cobb/Gwinnett do not contribute to the 1% tax for MARTA, so a zone fare system would allow certain $$ to be recouped as they travel the longest distance. And they would continue to pay. Even $5.00 one way or even $10 one way to the airport is FAR cheaper than gas, driving time/maintenance, parking fees, etc.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Exactly.

And the reason NYC can be one of the cheapest is simply "supply and demand"... many people in NYC do not own cars, so use transit. The sheer numbers of riders support a cheap fare. Atlanta is more like a mini-L.A. than NYC - we are a sprawled "car city" and do not have the rider numbers to support the cheap flat-fare system they have been using for so many years.

Another (and I'm sure not popular) opinion: Cities change. Anyone who has lived in Atlanta for 25+ years (as have I) has seen the city, demographics, and everything else about it go through some radical changes. At one time people (maybe even MARTA planners) may have seen MARTA simply as a way for lower income people who could not even afford cars to move around the area. Today, MARTA's main goal should be to get cars off of the metro roads and reduce traffic congestion and smog. The city has changed - so should the goal/purpose of transit.

This is why MARTA needs to adopt the zone fare system where you pay per distance, charge for parking (or more for parking), charge for transfers, etc. Those who do meet certain real qualifications of "low income" could still be eligible for reduced fare cards, but those who can easily afford to pay for zone fares - should. Cobb/Gwinnett do not contribute to the 1% tax for MARTA, so a zone fare system would allow certain $$ to be recouped as they travel the longest distance. And they would continue to pay. Even $5.00 one way or even $10 one way to the airport is FAR cheaper than gas, driving time/maintenance, parking fees, etc.

I like your way of thinking on this.