Jul 7, 2008 6:03 pm US/Central
Doing The Math On Rate Hike For Metro Transit
(WCCO)
In just a few months the price you pay to use mass transit in the Twin Cities might go up. If the Met Council votes in favor of the increases fares for the bus and light rail would go up by a quarter starting on Oct. 1.
Under the proposal, an additional hike of up to 50 cents would take place next year. Metro Transit also wants to extend the morning rush hours by 30 minutes. It's a direct response to the rising cost of fuel.
Metropolitan Council spokesman Steve Dornfeld says higher gas prices have increased ridership, but he says mass transit operating costs have also increased.
Officials are considering a second fare increase for 2009 depending on what funding it gets from the state and how much gas prices change.
So with a possible increase does it still make mass transit the affordable choice?
Dan Wydela enjoys taking the bus from his home in Coon Rapids to downtown Minneapolis for work. If the proposed rate hike is approved people who pay daily for the express trip at peak hours would see their roundtrip fare increase from $5.50 each day to $7 a day.
"I really feel they're long overdue for an increase according to our inflation standards. They've been able to accommodate it well," said Wojdyla.
He's done the math and so did we using Metro Transit's online commuting calculator:
It's more than $140 a month just to park in downtown. Add the cost of gas at about $3.93 per gallon on Monday. Then plug in an average gas mileage of 17 miles per gallon for the typical U.S. car.
The grand total for commuting per month from Coon Rapids is roughly $462.41 which includes typical maintenance and insurance costs.
Taking the bus, even if all the fare increases take place, totals $147 per month.
"The parking was one factor but now with the gas factor and the usage of the car, the wear and tear of the car itself is big savings too," said Wojdyla.
Opponents of the rate hike say that local income people can't afford any fare increases. A spokesperson for the group called, Transit for Livable Communities, said Metro Transit should use its rainy day fund to make up for any shortfall this year. Then next year it urges state lawmakers to find more funding.
The Met Council will vote on the issue on Aug. 13.
The public has a chance to sound off about a price hike on bus fares at eight public meetings this month. For a full list of the meetings, along with times and places click on the link below.
Met Council Meetings On Transit Fares 
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
