VIA (Transit) to consider fare increases, eliminating senior-special rates, eliminating transfers completely & more (San Antonio: subsidized, income)

[xsa210tx]

Wow.

I can't believe that they are actually considering eliminating the senior-special completely along with transfers and raising prices on monthly passes and semester passes.

I understand it's inevitable that some "adjustments" will be made but IMO they are going way too far with this.

*I've attached a flyer (as a JPG file) which I received from VIA which shows in detail the proposed changes.

Next Monday, VIA will hold a public meeting where you can go and voice your concerns on those proposed changes.The public meeting: Monday, August 22, 2011 at 6pm at the VIA Metro Center located at 1021 San Pedro, 78212.

You can also call 210-362-2370 to voice your displeasure with these changes.

Their Facebook page (they will have to accept you as a friend first in order to post on their wall): http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/ViaTransit

[jb9152]

Any time a transit provider proposes rate increases and elimination of special fares, it's certainly not a cause for celebration. However, a consideration of fiscal reality also must intrude on the hand-wringing. VIA is a "pay-go" organization, meaning it does not go into debt. If its receipts are projected to be less than its expenses, it must balance its budget.

Now, there is certainly room to debate what's the best way to do that, by cutting in one given area rather than another, but there is no getting around the fiscal reality. The challenge for VIA, its riders, and the greater community that pays its operating subsidy is to identify the cuts and efficiencies that have the least negative effect to achieve the desired expense level.

[TexasRedneck]

With all due respect to the elderly, why is it that others should subsidize them? As a public entity, VIA has a responsibility to be fair to all their riders - young and old alike. In times of tight budgets, it's only right that they explore ALL revenue streams, IMO.

[rd2007]

Doesn't seem like that big of an increase and it's not like everything else isn't going up in price. Might as well get used to it and expect more in the future. The irony is the service will probably go down, which would be my main issue with all this. I've only seen one bus system that actually worked (Jackson Hole, WY) and it was actually free, except for one route that went to the Grand Teton resort, which was a whole entire $1..

[GlorifiedMalcontent]

it looks like they're boosting it by ten or twenty cents at a time for most common services, as apposed to a dollar fair increase like i've seen other services do. then again those other services actually worked and were more prevalent in the city's transportation structure and actually made notable improvements with the service, as apposed to via which will probably not get better or maybe even get worse.

[jb9152]

Originally Posted by rd2007

I've only seen one bus system that actually worked (Jackson Hole, WY) and it was actually free, except for one route that went to the Grand Teton resort, which was a whole entire $1..

But it "worked" in what way? It was certainly subsidized, if it's free to riders. Who pays for it? Is it an allocation from tax revenues or do the local businesses pay for it (which is in itself a form of voluntary taxation, when you think about it).

[xsa210tx]

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

With all due respect to the elderly, why is it that others should subsidize them? As a public entity, VIA has a responsibility to be fair to all their riders - young and old alike. In times of tight budgets, it's only right that they explore ALL revenue streams, IMO.

We subsidize corporate America too as taxpayers, don't we?! Yes we do. Most Americans would say the elderly earned their right to a discounted ride. There are many who are barely making ends meet.

VIA has bus drivers making 100,000 a year in overtime pay, yet...they see the need to trim by taking away a discount that many low-income seniors depend on.

[xsa210tx]

VIA has raised fare prices several times over the last several years and just about the only thing they introduced were "hybrid buses," which only really benefit those who ride express buses.

If they are going to increase fares they should justify it by increasing bus service or having some routes go 24-hours a day.

[GlorifiedMalcontent]

alright kids settle down.

Originally Posted by jb9152

But it "worked" in what way? It was certainly subsidized, if it's free to riders. Who pays for it? Is it an allocation from tax revenues or do the local businesses pay for it (which is in itself a form of voluntary taxation, when you think about it).

i personally wouldn't mind paying (more) for a comprehensive transit system, either through fares or otherwise, if the damned system worked and benefited the whole city. (but again, that just doesn't seem possible in a city san antonio, for a variety of reasons.)

[xsa210tx]

Originally Posted by GlorifiedMalcontent

i personally wouldn't mind paying (more) for a comprehensive transit system, either through fares or otherwise, if the damned system worked and benefited the whole city. (but again, that just doesn't seem possible in a city san antonio, for a variety of reasons.)

Agreed!

..... Hopefully one day we'll get up to speed (pun intended) in San Antonio with something that actually works (like you said).

Ok, gotta be up early in the morning! Time for sleep.