Rumor Mill: COTA Proposes Fare Increase for Summer 2009 « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Rumor Mill: COTA Proposes Fare Increase for Summer 2009

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Started 4 years ago by josephp
Latest reply from Walker

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josephp

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Editor's Note: Marty Stutz, VP of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations at COTA, confirmed that this information is speculation/rumor only and is not an official announcement from COTA.
Don't be surprised, this came across that COTA is thinking about proposing a fare increase in Summer of 2009 to help support the new double fleet buses that can be able to support the new expandision. What are the fares they are changing?
Local/Crosstown - Current: $1.50 Proposed: $1.75
Express Current: $2.00 Proposed: $2.25
Transfer: Current: Free Proposed: 15 Cents
LINK: Current: 50 Cents Proposed: 75 Cents
ADA Cardholders: Current: Free Proposed: Free
The people who are senior, disabled or kids with Key ID card will remain the same.
Monthly passes:
Local Current: $45.00 Proposed: $50.00
Express Current: $62.00 Proposed: $65.00
DayPass Current: $3.50 Proposed: $3.65
Discount Daypass Current: $1.75 Proposed: $1.85
7 Day Pass Current: $18.00 Proposed: $20.00
NEW:
3 Day Pass Proposed $10.00
What do you think?
Related Stories:
- COTA Service Expansion Plans for Fall 2008
- COTA willing to run streetcars, sees benefits
- COTA bus ridership continues upswing in 2008
- Gas prices help COTA attract riders
- COTA on the money with 2007/2008 budget

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I know Cleveland just raised their fares in January, but their system is also ranked as the best bus system in the nation by the American Public Transit Association. I think COTA might be a little harder pressed to justify a rate hike. But Summer of 2009 is still a good ways off and if the proposed improvements mentioned yesterday really take hold I think it would be worth while.
For comparison, Cleveland's rate hike also bumped their single local rides from $1.50 to $1.75, but their all day pass is more than ours at $4 per day. Their monthly pass is also quite a bit higher at $63/month.
Overall I don't think $1.75 for a ride or $50 for a monthly pass is that bad of a price to implement next summer. I'm curious though as to what the rest of the bus-riding public thinks, because people usually look at these types of things as having a more immediate effect.
Oh, and I think the $10 3-day-pass would be a great addition to the lineup. Anne & I used 3-day MUNI passes on our trip to San Fran last summer (they were $18/person) and they worked perfectly for us as weekend tourists. Something like that would be great for people in Columbus for a weekend especially if it worked for both the upcoming Streetcar line as well as the busses. Give them an excuse to ride on everything.

Posted 4 years ago #
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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I have no comparative basis for making this statement, but I think the monthly passes are already too pricey. They only make sense if you ride 30+ times per month.
When are they going to implement a rechargeable smart card? That suits my ridership better. I hate carrying around exact change, and definitely don't ride 30+ times per month.

Posted 4 years ago #
honavery
Arizona
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When are they going to implement a rechargeable smart card? That suits my ridership better. I hate carrying around exact change, and definitely don't ride 30+ times per month.
+1

Posted 4 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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honavery wrote
When are they going to implement a rechargeable smart card? That suits my ridership better. I hate carrying around exact change, and definitely don't ride 30+ times per month.
+1
Word. That would increase my ridership on COTA exponentially. I hate change, and often don't have enough quarters to hop on COTA on a rainy day.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Brewmaster wrote I have no comparative basis for making this statement, but I think the monthly passes are already too pricey. They only make sense if you ride 30+ times per month.
You mean 30 one-way trips. 15 round trips can be done pretty easily in one month.

Posted 4 years ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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joev wrote
honavery wrote
When are they going to implement a rechargeable smart card? That suits my ridership better. I hate carrying around exact change, and definitely don't ride 30+ times per month.
+1
Word. That would increase my ridership on COTA exponentially. I hate change, and often don't have enough quarters to hop on COTA on a rainy day.
+1
Also, of all the proposed fee increases, do you know which one irritates be the most? The proposed increase from free to 15 cents for transfers. Why? Because the whole reason you transfer is because the route doesn't go where you need it to. Transferring is a hassle, and now they're going to charge you for it.

Posted 4 years ago #
luchobucho
Philadelphia, PA
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yeah, 30 trips is pretty reasonable for a person who rides the bus to/from work regularly.
That being said, I think that fare card would be a pretty welcome addition. Only problem is that they're much more complicated to employ....since either the card or some central system needs to remember how much is on your card. Where as a fixed price pass only needs to be read-only.

Posted 4 years ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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I thought the transfers used to be a dime?

Posted 4 years ago #
heresthecasey
OSU
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Anne wrote I thought the transfers used to be a dime?
they were a dime, then at the last fare increase they made them free, and now i guess they want to jack it back up to 15 cents

Posted 4 years ago #
josephp

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COTA wants the fare to be increases to be able to cover the new costs for expands and new buses and new stuff they are going to have in the future.
The 15 cents transfer fare will help the paper costs and COTA is now loosing money ..
That's all I know of right now

Posted 4 years ago #
louie

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A fare card would be a big upgrade as far as I'm concerned. The fare increase for me would mean having to carry more change in my pockets. I use the bus regularly, but not every day. The monthly card doesn't help me. But if I could buy a $50 card and use it over the course of say a month and half, it would be great.

Posted 4 years ago #
bremkat
Columbus
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libratazjoe77 wrote COTA wants the fare to be increases to be able to cover the new costs for expands and new buses and new stuff they are going to have in the future.
The 15 cents transfer fare will help the paper costs and COTA is now loosing money ..
That's all I know of right now
The fare increase does not surprise me one bit. I'm actually amazed they lasted this long without a fare hike in recent months.
COTA as well as Cleveland RTA as well as the rest of the public transit industry in Ohio that is heavily dependent on fuel costs have to make up for decreased sales tax revenue AND cuts in state and federal support. The result is an increase in fares.
The unfortunate side of this is that COTA doesn't have a higher quality product (i.e. streetcars, lightrail, Bus Rapid Transit) to offer the public in light of a higher ticket price.
Want to fix the situation? Come to our Legislative Summit on April 30th:
http://www.allaboardohio.org
That's my lunch time two cents...

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I just got off the phone with Marty Stutz, VP of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations at COTA, who requested that I make sure peoople are aware that this information is speculation/rumor only and is not an official announcement from COTA. They've gotten quite a few phone calls about these announcements on ColumbusUnderground, and were surprised to see them here themselves, as they watch the site to keep up with public opinion about the bus system.
FYI, I moved this topic out of "transportation news" to hopefully settle some of the confusion and keep people from mistaking this information as official or confirmed.
Thanks,
Walker

Posted 4 years ago #