Laserfiche WebLink
Mass Transit Memorandum <br /> No. 05 1011-1 <br /> May 10, 2011 <br /> TO: Honorable Mayor McElroy and City Council Members <br /> FROM: Ryan McCrady, City Manager <br /> Paul McChancy, Mass Transit Administrator <br /> SUBJECT: Proposal to Increase Bus Fares for Some Senior Citizens <br /> SUMMARY Staff recommends that Council adopt a Resolution increasing the <br /> RECOMMENDATION: bus fare to $0.50 for senior citizens who are not certified under the <br /> State's Circuit Breaker program, effective July 1, 2011. <br /> BACKGROUND: The State recently passed legislation that rescinded the require- <br /> ment that all senior citizens be permitted to ride buses for free, <br /> and replaced it with the requirement that senior citizens who are <br /> certified under the Circuit Breaker program ride buses for free. <br /> The City still has the option to continue to allow all senior citizens <br /> to ride buses for free. <br /> The Transit System staff held two public hearings on the following <br /> proposed fare change: senior citizens who are certified for the <br /> State's Circuit Breaker program would ride buses for FREE,but <br /> senior citizens who are not certified for Circuit Breaker would pay <br /> $0.50 per bus ride—one half of the regular bus fare for an adult. <br /> Eight people submitted comments at the public hearings or sub- <br /> mitted comments by phone or e-mail during the public hearing <br /> period. A summary of the public comments is attached. Two <br /> comments were in favor of allowing free rides for only those who <br /> qualify for Circuit Breaker. Three comments were in favor of free <br /> rides for all senior citizens. And three comments were in favor of <br /> free rides for all senior citizens because they live on fixed incomes <br /> and can't afford to pay. Please note that the income limits for the <br /> Circuit Breaker program are high enough that those who truly can't <br /> pay will be given free bus rides. (See attached.) <br /> The proposed fare change would make the bus fares for senior <br /> citizens the same as those for disabled bus riders. Currently <br /> disabled riders who are certified for Circuit Breaker ride buses for <br /> free,but disabled riders who are not certified for Circuit Breaker <br /> pay$0.50 per bus ride. <br />