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COTA Fare Increase 2012

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Started 8 months ago by News
Latest reply from Walker

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News
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COTA board to debate fare increase for 2012
By Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
Tuesday September 27, 2011 4:52 AM

Although they’ve piled up nearly $42 million in surpluses over the past three years, Central Ohio Transit Authority board members will begin discussions today about a potential fare increase in 2012.

The agency took in $10.9 million more than it spent last year, but officials said they want to make sure passengers pay their fair share for an operation that’s funded overwhelmingly by a portion of Franklin County’s 6.75 percent sales tax.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/27/cota-board-to-debate-fare-increase-for-2012.html

Posted 8 months ago #
cc

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The agency took in $10.9 million more than it spent last year, but officials said they want to make sure passengers pay their fair share for an operation that’s funded overwhelmingly by a portion of Franklin County’s 6.75 percent sales tax.

I wonder how much the increase will be. If it is like last time it will be .25 cents, so $2 for a regular fare. With all that money I really hope they figure out some kind of refillable fare card system instead of just exact change or daily, weekly, monthly passes. At 2.3% of Franklin county workers using them to commute they really seem to be missing their sought after 'riders of choice'.

Posted 8 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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If $2 is the case, then at least it would be easier to have exact change compared to $1.75.

Also, if the daily rate jumps to $2, that would mean the monthly rate would jump to around $62 to $63? They're currently $55.

Hrmm...

Posted 8 months ago #
cc

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Walker said:
If $2 is the case, then at least it would be easier to have exact change compared to $1.75.

Also, if the daily rate jumps to $2, that would mean the monthly rate would jump to around $62 to $63? They're currently $55.

Hrmm...

I just hope they make some effort to tie increased value/service to what I percieve will be triennial fare increases. Making it easier to take my money should be a no brainer.

Posted 8 months ago #
bldng4jstc
Downtown
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Walker said:
If $2 is the case, then at least it would be easier to have exact change compared to $1.75.

Agreed. With the increase though, I'd like to see concrete statements to improve service. Something like priority lighting, local bi-hourly express routes, more prominant 'BRT like' bus stops, real time texting, or credit card readers etc.

Posted 8 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Improved service?

COTA has added routes, increased frequencies and added later service hours every year for the past several years.

It's been incremental, but I think a lot of progress has been made just with those small steps every 4 months.

Posted 8 months ago #
bldng4jstc
Downtown
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Walker said:
Improved service?

COTA has added routes, increased frequencies and added later service hours every year for the past several years.

It's been incremental, but I think a lot of progress has been made just with those small steps every 4 months.

I didn't mean to imply that service has not improved as it is definitely better. There are steps that could be taken to make COTA drastically better and it would be good to hear them attempting to do those things and voicing the holdups. Things like bus stop improvement and txting should be common place improvement for any business/service. Perhaps I'm jaded but it seems COTA is content being the last resort for transportation. All plans seems like 'great ideas' and not action items.

Posted 8 months ago #
lakeerietransplant
On the outskirts of Yuppieville (Weinland Park)
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What does everyone think it would take to bring about 24hr service?

Posted 8 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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lakeerietransplant said:
What does everyone think it would take to bring about 24hr service?

A major swing/shift in Columbus culture. Would 24/7 service work here? I'd like to think so. We just don't have the 24/7 culture/lifestyle here that other cities do who run 24/7. As a current third shifter, it would be great to see buses run outside of normal business commute hours. Would be great to see, at the very least, the major lines run till 2-3 to accommodate service industry employees.

And since no one has said it in this thread: smart fare cards. As CC said, make it easier to take our money. A smart card with a paired smart phone app to reload the card on the go seems like a no brainier way to increase ridership.

Posted 8 months ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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lakeerietransplant said:
What does everyone think it would take to bring about 24hr service?

24-hour activity

Posted 8 months ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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johnwirtz said:
24-hour activity

JohnWirtz wins again.

Posted 8 months ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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michaelcoyote said:
JohnWirtz wins again.

Thanks Michael. I'm just being cheeky of course. Being more serious, if COTA were to hear from the public and elected officials that 24-hour service in some particular area is a high priority, I expect they would do it. However, expanding service in the middle of the night means not expanding it in the middle of the day with better frequency or expanded coverage. I know service at 2 AM wouldn't be my top priority, but I work traditional hours, so what works best for me won't be best for everyone. Priorities are a community discussion that should be had when COTA updates it's short and long range transit plans, which I think may be coming up relatively soon.

Posted 8 months ago #
bman
New Albany
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With this surplus they should be investing in COTA High Speed Rail Service ... COTA could expand it's offering to rail. I am being "somewhat" sarcastic.

Posted 8 months ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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Thoughts on the potential fare increase:
http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/cota-considering-fare-increase/

Posted 8 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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bman said:
With this surplus they should be investing in COTA High Speed Rail Service ... COTA could expand it's offering to rail. I am being "somewhat" sarcastic.

Weren't you *just* complaining yesterday about people dragging rail transit into other discussions?

Enough with the trolling.

Posted 8 months ago #
noca1218
Worthington
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lifeontwowheels said:
Would be great to see, at the very least, the major lines run till 2-3 to accommodate service industry employees.

And maybe start running, on certain lines, before the 6am-ish time it runs now. I know that a lot of my employees have trouble getting to work (I'm on the south side, on Parsons) when our shifts start earlier, or even for their normal start times, because many of them are bus riders.

Posted 8 months ago #
Lisa Lisa Lisa
Campus
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A lot of concerns for hours to be expanded either earlier or later in the day would be solved if COTA (and the city) were to take a serious look as to which areas of Columbus are growing, and where traffic is flowing.

For instance, if there is a growing night life area in one part of the city - why not increase regular bus flow after hours to that part of the city? If I live in Clintonville and want to check out something in the Brewery District on a day that's not Friday or Saturday, well best of luck to me!

I would also be satisfied for an increase in the #4. Running only every 30 minutes during the day and only once an hour after 9pm is not acceptable for a bus that covers such a wide part of the city.

Posted 8 months ago #
bman
New Albany
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Walker said:
Weren't you *just* complaining yesterday about people dragging rail transit into other discussions?

Enough with the trolling.

I expect to see this exact comment directed at pro-rail posters when they post in a non-rail thread.

Posted 8 months ago #
News
Columbus Underground
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Press Release:
Public comment meetings slated on fare adjustments

Two Public Comment Meetings will take place regarding proposed fare adjustments and new 31-day pass for January 2012 on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. andThursday, Oct. 13 at 12 p.m.

Meetings will be held at the COTA Administrative Offices, William G. Porter Boardroom, 33 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. 6 p.m.

The new 31-day pass would replace the monthly pass and not have a specific day scheduled to begin use.

Fare adjustments being considered (will be presented) or (are as follows:) You decide!

Current and Recommended Fares are listed below:
• Local $ 1.75 $ 2.00
• Express $ 2.50 $ 2.75
• Monthly (31-Day)
Local $55.00 $ 62.00
Express $78.00 $ 85.00
Discount $27.50 $ 31.00
• 7-day $22.00 $ 25.00
• Single Day $ 4.00 $ 4.50
• Senior, Child, Key $ 0.85 $ 1.00
• ADA Mainstream $ 3.00 $ 3.50
• ADA Mainstream Monthly $89.00 $105.00
• Sedan Voucher $ 4.00 $ 5.00
• Will Call $ 3.50 $ 4.00
• ADA fixed-route FREE $ 1.00

All interested people are encouraged to attend and participate. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or familial status.

MORE: http://www.cota.com/News-Releases.aspx?id=185

Posted 7 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Interesting news on the consideration for the 31-day pass instead of the monthly. I imagine that makes it easier for people who don't want to have to remember to purchase at the beginning of the month.

Posted 7 months ago #