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Bus Riders to Hold Press Conference on Higher Bus Fares, TODAY, Aug 27

Submitted by atrayn on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 17:50

Contact:
Austin Van Zant, (512) 934-2841
or
Glenn Gaven, (512) 220-8227
info@busatx.org

BUS RIDERS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON HIGHER BUS FARES

The Bus Riders Union of Austin, Texas, ADAPT of Texas, PODER, and other community organizations today will address the public before the Capital Metro board of directors will take their final vote on raising transit fares.

When: 3:30 pm, today!

Where: 2910 E. 5th Street, Capital Metro Headquarters (5th and Pleasant Valley)

Today’s vote by the board of directors follows a heated debate and near-tie of 6-4 by the Local Government Advisory Committee, who only voted for the fare hikes by eliminating those for the elderly and disabled. Today we call on Capital Metro to eliminate the fare increases altogether.

Higher bus fares will:

  • Impose the most regressive form of taxes on the working poor -- those who are least able to afford it -- and this usually translates to hurting a disproportionate amount of people of color.
  • Several bus riders have filed a federal complaint based on this reason.
  • Put more old, polluting clunkers on the road, clogging our roadways.
  • Increase smog as more people, including choice riders, choose their cars over higher transit fares.
  • Decrease ridership by 18-22%, using industry numbers. Capital Metro claims there is usually a “rebound” in ridership after raising fares, but this would be eliminated since they will raise fares again in 2010.
  • Risk abandoning federal grants. The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a $1.7 billion federal transit relief act designed to lower transit fares and expand services, but by raising fares, Capital Metro may not receive any of this money.
  • Take Capital Metro a step in the wrong direction: away from free fares, a policy that would save the system money in the short and long term, as well as take cars off the road.

    • As taxpayers, whose sales tax revenues comprise some 80% of Capital Metro’s budget, we are the true owners of transit. We own Capital Metro. We should set the fares. The fare should be free.