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The last two “Fare Forums” are being held this week by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority during their regular monthly meetings spread throughout Los Angeles County. The forums are an opportunity for the public to share their opinion on the two proposed fare restructuring options that were announced in January and could go into effect as soon as September 1.
In addition to a county-wide public hearing scheduled for March 29 at Metro headquarters, the following two nearby Service Countil meetings will also be opportunities for Long Beachers to discuss:
- Gateway Cities Service Council/Fare Forum, Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 2PM Salt Lake Park, 3401 E Florence Avenue, Huntington Park
- South Bay Service Council/Fare Forum, Friday, March 14, 2014 at 9:30AM, Inglewood City Hall, One Manchester Blvd., 1st Floor Community Room, Inglewood.
Public comment is being recorded and provided to the Metro Board of Directors on the two restructuring options, both of which would gradually increase the cost of a single ride on any Metro bus or train and also eliminate the cost of transferring for a 90-minute period.
The first option, however, would raise the cost of a base fare to $1.75 for the next four years with an eventual rise to $2.25 after eight years. A second option incorporates dual pricing for off-peak and peak hour riding with the highest base fare eventually reaching $3.25. Both options are intended to address a coming deficit that will hit the country’s second largest transportation authority by 2016 if nothing is done. Currently, fares account for only 26% of the system’s operating and maintenence costs.
“Metro faces an unsustainable operating deficit of $36.8 million in two years, growing to $225 million in ten years unless changes are made,” Metro stated in a report released along with the proposed fare restructurings. Metro has increased fares only three times in the last 18 years and its rates remain lower than agencies in other large cities such as New York, Chicago, Portland, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.
For those unable to attend the public hearing or the fare forums may submit written testimony postmarked through March 29: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932 Attn: Michele Jackson. Comments may also be submitted electronically to [email protected].
Read more:
- L.A. Metro Proposes Fare Increases to Address Growing Operating Deficit
- Blue Line to Receive $1.2B Renovation Over Next Six Years
L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Proposed Fare Restructuring 2014 by Long Beach Post