The San Diego Association of Governments and two transit agencies held a public meeting in the Chula Vista Civic Library Monday evening to receive feedback on proposed amendments to transit fares.
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has not increased fares in the last decade but MTS officials say an amendment to their transit fares is now needed.
Mark Olson, manager of public relations for MTS, said the reason for potential fare changes is to help offset a budget deficit and to keep up with operational costs.
“Over the last 10 years our operational costs have gone up to operate the bus and trolley while fare revenue has gone down,” he said. “We’ve had a decrease in ridership over the past few years so that’s contributed to a decrease in fare revenue.
Olson said in fiscal year 2015 MTS set a ridership record with 96.7 million trips; however, recently he said ridership has decreased by at least 10 percent to 86 million trips.
MTS has a $295 million budget and recent numbers show they face a $9 million deficit.
Among the proposed changes are a decrease in the cost of a monthly pass for youths 17 and under. Monthly passes for youths currently are $36, the new change would put monthly passes for youths at $26.
Brian Lane, SANDAG’s senior transit planner, said youths make up about 5 to 7 percent of the ridership on the trolley.
While youth would benefit from a decrease in a monthly price, under the proposed pricing system seniors, disabled passengers and Medicare recipients are set to see a proposed monthly pass increase from $18 to $26.
Olson said to balance the rate increase for seniors, MTS is looking into introducing a $3-day pass that would allow seniors to ride on an MTS bus or trolley all day long.
He said currently MTS only offers one-way fares for seniors.
Lane said seniors, disabled and medicare riders are about 20 percent of the trolley’s ridership population.
Chula Vista senior Mike McDaniel, 61, said the proposed changes are not fair for seniors.
“I think the seniors, disabled and Medicare people are getting whacked,” he said. “When you look at the overall picture it looks like seniors, disabled and medicare (riders) are picking up the most heat when trying to equalize the budget.”
Fare proposals for a single ride pass on MTS buses will increase from $2.25 to $2.50 with senior single ride bus pass increasing from $1.10 to $1.25. MTS single ride trolley passes are proposed to remain the same at its current $2.50 rate and $1.25 for seniors and disabled persons.
Olson said the general feedback by the public has been positive.
“I think people are willing to pay a little more to keep a high level of service,” he said.
Olson added that the proposed fare changes will also simplify the fare structure across the region between MTS and the North County Transit District.
SANDAG maintains the regional fare ordinance. Any changes made to transit fares has to be approved by the SANDAG board.
Coleen Clementson, SANDAG’S principal planner said the organization could vote on the fare amendments as early as December. If approved, the new changes will not go into effect no earlier than Jan. 27, 2019.
MTS, SANDAG and NCTD are sent to host five more public meetings throughout the month.
For more information or to provide comment on the proposed rate increases visit: www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=288&fuseaction=projects.detail.
