Current Size: 90%
The Bus Riders Union of Austin, Texas is committed to improving the quality and accessibility of public mass transit.
Bus Riders Union-ATX supports independent audit of Capital MetroThe Bus Riders Union-ATX, a group of bus riders and their allies dedicated to making transit better in Austin, Texas supports an independent audit of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority by the Texas State Auditor. As the once robust reserves, at one time totaling $214 million dollars, have dwindled to approximately $10 million dollars the bus riders are enduring cuts in service with more being threatened. The 72% of riders who are transit dependent stand to be hurt the worst. The reserves are supposed to be for "insurance" against unforeseen crises like natural disasters and economic downturns. It is alarming even to the casual observer that at the very time they are most needed they have disappeared. An audit will show where the money has gone and inform future stewards of the transit authority against repeating these poorly executed spending decisions. An audit will expose waste and possible impropriety. It will also reveal areas that need better prioritization , and departments that are unproductive and over-funded, like the massive budget allocation for PR in the Marketing and Business & Community Development. Most importantly, an audit will identify the true cost of fare collection, and likely bolster our belief that the net revenue from fares is negligible and is outweighed by the benefits and efficiency enhancement potential of a fare free system.
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Help Us Improve the System!We at BRU-ATX are serious about improving the Capital Metro transit system. We are kicking off a number of campaigns to this end. Stay up to date on our efforts to make improvements and point out deficiencies. Feel free to weigh in on any issue we're tackling, such as redesigning routes or picking the worst bus stop in town.
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Our Free and Faster Buses Proposal |
| Bus Riders Union's Free and Faster Buses Proposal -Endorse the proposal -See other endorsements and comments How It Would WorkAll buses, vanpools, and trains would be fare-free. Passengers would simply board without paying any fare through the front and back doors. 
Fares are paid by those who need buses to get to work and home, and they are only a very small fraction of Capital Metro's budget. Transportation costs usually cost working people the second most amount of their monthly paycheck, after housing costs. The effects of fare-free policy would be easier access to buses, getting people out of their cars and into buses. Also, bus performance would increase because riders won't have to scrounge for change. This would reduce congestion for cars, buses, ambulances, and fire trucks too. Free buses would also improve our decreasing air quality. Less cars means less emissions for the growing Austin area. As bus riders, we are the true owners of the bus company in town. Taxes pay for 80% of Capital Metro's budget. Eliminating the small amount of money that fares make up would provide much, much larger benefits than just not paying for buses: buses and cars would be faster, air quality would improve, Capital Metro could cut back on unnecessary spending, and working people could get to work and home faster. It is time that we show them that we want a better bus company. Read the Bus Riders Union's full proposal. Or give us a call at 220.8227 and we can talk to you about it. Our meetings happen at least once each month. 
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